2 Chronicles 20:24-30: a reflection

24When Judah came to the place overlooking the wilderness, they looked at the multitude; and behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and there were none who escaped. 25When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their plunder, they found among them in abundance both riches and dead bodies with precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away. They took plunder for three days, it was so much. 26On the fourth day, they assembled themselves in Beracah Valley, for there they blessed the LORD. Therefore the name of that place was called “Beracah Valley” to this day. 27Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies. 28They came to Jerusalem with stringed instruments, harps, and trumpets to the LORD’s house. 29The fear of God was on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel. 30So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.

This is the aftermath of a battle that God fought for his people. Jehoshaphat's army had gone out against an overwhelming enemy, and God had thrown the enemy into confusion, so that when Judah arrived, they found the enemy already destroyed. But notice what the people do before they return home. They gather, on the fourth day, in a valley, and there they bless the LORD; and so they name the place the Valley of Beracah, the Valley of Blessing. Before rushing home, they stop to bless God for what he has done.

Notice their response to God's deliverance: they paused to bless him. They did not simply gather the plunder and hurry home, taking the victory for granted; they stopped, together, to give God thanks and praise, and marked the place with a name that would remember it, the Valley of Blessing. The deliverance was God's, and they took time to acknowledge it, to bless him for it, before moving on.

That is a practice worth imitating. When God delivers us, answers our prayers, brings us through, our tendency is often to move straight on to the next thing, to take the good outcome for granted and hurry ahead. But these people stopped to bless God, to name and remember his goodness. Do not rush past what God has done for you. When God delivers you or answers your prayer, pause to bless him, to give thanks, to name and remember his goodness, rather than hurrying on as though it were nothing. Make yourself a Valley of Blessing, a habit of stopping to thank God for his deliverances, so that his goodness is acknowledged and remembered, not taken for granted.

Lord, after you fought the battle and delivered your people, they did not rush home with the plunder, but stopped to bless you, naming the place the Valley of Blessing. Teach me that practice. When you deliver me, answer my prayers, and bring me through, my tendency is often to move straight on to the next thing, taking the good outcome for granted and hurrying ahead. But these people paused to bless you, to name and remember your goodness. Help me not to rush past what you have done for me. When you deliver me or answer my prayer, help me pause to bless you, to give thanks, to name and remember your goodness, rather than hurrying on as though it were nothing. Make my life a Valley of Blessing, a habit of stopping to thank you for your deliverances, so that your goodness is acknowledged and remembered, and not taken for granted. I bless you for all you have done.