The closer they approached the terribly strong enemy, the harder it became to go on with a song in their hearts. The night before there had still been real faith, but facing the facts, it was a lot harder to keep trusting. King Jehoshaphat was keenly aware of this and therefore he stood and spoke to the people these great words, which we want to engrave in our hearts as the Bible verse of today. ‘Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in His prophets and you will be successful.’
Now that was a real shot in the arm, so that their faith would not waver when the terrible enemy would loom. But King Jehoshaphat did not leave it at that. He appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever!’
What is this? Fanaticism? Madness? No, this is the great challenge of faith: to put trust in the Lord when darkness and enmity overwhelm us, and to simply obey Him in spite of our inclination to act according to our own views. Now this is taking a chance with Him in obedience.
How often the Bible tells us: As they began to sing and praise… ‘the walls of Jericho collapsed’ (Joshua 6:20); ‘the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah were defeated’ (2 Chronicles 20:22); ‘all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose’ (Acts 16:25,26).
Would there - also today – not be more deliverance, if we were to sing God's praise more often, even when it is getting very dark?