Context No. 2666 of 4322 · 2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 20:18-23: in context

18Jehoshaphat 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. 19The Levites, of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with an exceedingly loud voice. 20They rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. As they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, so you will be established! Believe his prophets, so you will prosper.” 21When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and give praise in holy array as they go out before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his loving kindness endures forever.” 22When they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushers against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were struck. 23For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. When they had finished the inhabitants of Seir, everyone helped to destroy each other.

Facing an invading coalition, King Jehoshaphat and all Judah bow and worship, and then he does something remarkable. He appoints singers to go out in front of the army, praising God and singing, give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever. And the text records what happened the moment they began: when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the enemy, and the invaders turned on and destroyed one another.

The order is the point. The singers went out ahead of the soldiers, praising God before a single blow was struck, before there was any visible reason to celebrate. Praise came first, at the front of the battle, not after the victory as a thank-you. And it was as the praise began that God moved. This is a striking picture of faith: worship put ahead of the outcome, thanksgiving offered before the deliverance is seen, praise as the front line rather than the afterthought. We tend to wait until the battle is won to be grateful. Judah sang on the way in, and God fought while they sang.

Do I put praise at the front of my battles, worshiping God before I see the outcome, or wait until the victory is in hand to be thankful?

Sources

2 Chronicles 20:21: he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD... as they go out before the army, and say, Give thanks to the LORD, for his loving kindness endures forever.
2 Chronicles 20:22: When they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushers against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir.
Psalm 22:3: But you are holy, you who inhabit the praises of Israel.