Worship him

    I will sing a new song to you, O God;

Upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you. (Ps.144:9)

Worship is war. This verse is sandwiched between David’s plea to “stretch out your hand from on high and rescue me” and “rescue and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a hand of falsehood.” Things on the battle fronts are not going well and yet David sings a new song to God. Perhaps the Holy Spirit instructed him to do so. Perhaps he used music as a familiar pathway to draw near to God and to express his heart to Him. Either way it is quite stunning for David to pull out his harp and compose a song at such a perilous time. Though there are moments in our battles that require the utmost urgency, most do not. It requires exercising faith and trust in our God who can fight our battles in his way and in his time, to pause and worship. 

Indeed we see God lead King Jehoshaphat to employ worship as the chief weapon when faced with a coalition of three invading armies. In the account of Jehoshophat preparing to face these external enemies, we see many of the same training principles that David wrote about.

When he first hears that these armies are advancing we read, “Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout Judah.” Then he stands in the assembly of all the people declaring to God in prayer, “In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.” He humbly acknowledges in front of all the people that these enemies are too strong for them. “We are powerless against this great horde. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” Then we read that God answered by the Spirit coming upon Jahaziel to prophecy. “Thus says the Lord God to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s’.” Jehoshaphat’s first response to this word is to fall down before the Lord and worship. The next day he speaks to the people saying, ”Believe in the Lord your God and you will be established.” Then he appoints those who are to sing to the Lord this song as they approach the enemy for battle:

Give thanks to the Lord,

For his steadfast love endures forever.

Not only did Jehoshaphat appoint singers, not only did he request that they sing this song, but he placed them as the vanguard of his army. Worshipers were the front-line troops! “When they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush… and they [the invaders] all helped to destroy one another.”

In this example, worship and praise are both Jehoshaphat’s response before the battle and his weapon in the battle. “Tomorrow go out against them and the Lord will be with you.” Worship affirms that the battle is truly the Lord’s. (all quotes from 2 Chron. 20:3-23) 

Worship helps us to remember who God is. Worship lifts our gaze off of our adversity. Worship clears the clutter of fear and confusion. Worship opens our ears to His will and His direction. Worship trains, equips and fights.