Praise glorifies God and defeats the enemy

Praise in Troubled Times

2 Chronicles 20:1-25

Faced with his nation's certain demise, King Jehoshaphat responded with worship. Read his prayer in today's passage, and you may find it difficult to separate the petition from the praise. Going deeper than familiar expressions like "hallelujah" and "praise the Lord," his prayer celebrates God's personhood and extols His virtues.

Furthermore, the king led the nation in glorifying God for His past redemption. As the Israelites focused on the Lord (and away from the incoming armies), the people recalled anew how He had intervened, sometimes dramatically. This was exactly what God had told the Israelites to do—to instruct their children about His ways so they could honor Him every day (Deut. 6:7). This builds courage and strengthens faith.

The people's praise paved the way for their complete dependence upon Him. The odds of the small Israelite army beating the united force of three enemies were slim. However, in the people's worshipful state of mind, they could admit their weakness and await divine intervention. God gave them an outrageous solution to the problem: to do nothing. Even so, Israel was spiritually prepared to go against human reason and obey. God loves it when we throw ourselves upon His mercy, because then His power can be released in its fullness.

God is also willing to lead you to victory in troubled times. The Israelites' story is recorded in His Word so that all believers may apply its principles. Bend your heart and mind toward the Lord, and He will enlarge your vision of who He is and what He can do on your behalf.

Troubled? Try Praise!

Deuteronomy 20:1-4

A lot of negative emotions accompany hardship: frustration, despair, fear, and doubt. People ruled by those feelings often make poor choices. This is why I recommend that you decide now to respond to troubled times the way the Israelites did: with praise. Even in the darkest hours, worshipping God fills the heart with joy and the mind with peace. A believer who is filled in this way can wisely keep a commitment to obey the Lord no matter what.

Worshipping the Lord enlarges our vision. By doing so, we begin to see how He is at work in the world, perhaps in ways and places we never noticed before. More particularly, we see what God is doing in our situation and notice areas where He requires our obedience.

Our human tendency is to plot a course through a situation toward the easiest solution. But believers who strike out on their own do not mature in faith. Moreover, they miss out on the blessings of following the Lord's plan. Stopping to praise can divert us from the easy way out and direct us to the right path—namely, the way of God's will. Taking a step forward in faith can be frightening. However, believers are completely safe risking their whole future on the Lord's faithfulness. He has never disappointed anyone!

It's hard to despair while honoring the Lord for His love and strength. We can dispel doubt by recalling His past faithfulness—and ease frustration by committing our future plans to Him. Praise is not the obvious reaction to hardship, but it is the wisest response.

a hymn of praise

Praise Him! Praise Him!

Praise Him! praise Him!
Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O Earth,
His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! hail Him!
highest archangels in glory;
Strength and honor
give to His holy Name!
Like a shepherd,
Jesus will guard His children,
In His arms He carries them all day long.

Chorus:

Praise Him! praise Him!
tell of His excellent greatness;
Praise Him! praise Him!
ever in joyful song!

Praise Him! praise Him!
Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
For our sins He suffered,
and bled and died.
He our Rock,
our hope of eternal salvation,

Hail Him! hail Him!
Jesus the Crucified.
Sound His praises!
Jesus who bore our sorrows;
Love unbounded,
wonderful, deep and strong.

Praise Him! praise Him!
Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Heav'nly portals
loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever;

Crown Him! crown Him!
Prophet and Priest and King!
Christ is coming!
over the world victorious,
Pow'r and glory unto the Lord belong.
—Fanny Crosby, 1869

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit

www.intouch.org.