The Choir: God's Commandos

Judah was in trouble. The Moabites, Ammonites, and some Meunites were coming to invade Judah. Jehosophat was a faithful king, but God decided to test Jehosophat and the people of Judah. They passed with flying colors. The first act Jehosophat did was to 'set his face to seek the Lord'. He then called a fast and called the people to gather so that they may seek the Lord together. Here's the passage in 2 Chronicles.

Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's. Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say,

“Give thanks to the Lord,
for his steadfast love endures forever.”

And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another. (2 Chronicles 20:13-23, ESV)

The front lines in this battle was the choir. God wanted to demonstrate to Judah that God protects those who wait on Him. God will not fail those who trust Him and praise Him. What better way to thank God than through music. One of the main tools God has in his arsenal to fight his battles in this world is corporate worship. It helps the body of Christ to worship God in unison.

Paul and Silas had a similar experience with worship. They were in Philippi. Paul and Silas were captured, dragged through the streets, stripped of their clothes, beaten by rods, imprisoned and placed in stocks. These missionaries set the example for all missionaries that followed them in suffering: they sang hymns and glorified God.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. (Acts 16:25-26, ESV)

God again responded to their praise of His commandos (missionaries); he set them free. The following passages exhort us to sing corporately to celebrate God's work in our lives, to teach one another about Christ, to admonish one another, and to give thanks in our hearts to God.

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)