PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING-INSTRUMENTS OF OBTAINING HELP OF GOD
PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING -INSTRUMENTS OF OBTAINING HELP
2Ch 20:2-9 KJV 2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi. 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. 5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? 7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? 8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, 9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.
They informed Jehoshaphat of the gang up of the three nations against Judah.
Isa 54:15 KJV Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.
He was afraid and he did something wonderful.
2Ch 20:3-4 KJV 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
They proclaim fasting and prayers in order to seek help of God in their situation.
No 1 lesson is whenever we are compassed with myriads of issues and challenges, rather than be afraid, we should gather like minded people together to seek help of God . This is not help from God but help of God. Help that comes directly from God.
This prayer of Jehoshaphat is deservedly one of the most excellent that we meet with in sacred history.
He begins with an acknowledgment of God’s supreme and irresistible power, which extends itself everywhere, over all creatures in heaven and earth, which are every one subject to his authority.
Then he remembers the peculiar relation which the people of Israel have to him; the promise that he made to Abraham, as a reward of his fidelity; and the deed of gift which he made to him and his posterity, of this country for ever, 2Ch 20:7
He made reference to the prayers of Solomon during the dedication of the temple:
1Ki 8:44-45 KJV 44 If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the LORD toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house that I have built for thy name: 45 Then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
Then he appeals to the justice of God, the righteous judge, who helps those that suffer wrong, especially when they have no other helper; for this is the last argument he makes use of to conciliate the divine assistance, even the weak condition wherein he and his people were, which made them the objects of the divine pity, especially since they placed their hope and confidence in him alone, 2Ch 20:12.
2Ch 20:12 KJV O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
After the prayers, they all waited on God. Another big lesson in prayer. Prayer is two-way radio. We must learn to listen and have God’s input.
Then the Lord started speaking and gave them direction. When we are faced with challenges, we need help.
The counsel God gave them was to sing praise. Who does that in the face of the enemies? But God is an extraordinary strategist according to Is 9. He gave Joshua and David war strategy because He is called an Extraordinary strategist. That word ” wonderful, counsellor is joined together in some Bible as Wonderful counsellor but the actual rendition is this:
Isa 9:6 KJV For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:6 NET For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called: Extraordinary Strategist, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Why praise?
1. Praise is a spiritual weapon when a physical weapon will not get the job done. Engage the force of praise.
Psa 8:2 KJV Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
When Jesus our Lord quoted this place, this is how he renders it:
Mat 21:16 KJV And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
Praise is interchanged or replaced strength. Praise is now a weapon. What strength will do to still the enemy and the avengers; praise will do the same.
2. The Psalmist also said God inhabits the praise of His people
Psa 22:3 KJV But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
Inhabitest the praises of Israel.] Thou dwellest in the sanctuary where the praises, thanksgivings, and sacrifices of thy people are continually offered.
so praise brings His attention and presence into situations. Angels attend to our prayers according to Rev
Rev 8:3 KJV And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Rev 5:8 KJV And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
but He by Himself takes our praises.
What does He do with such praises?
1. Praise “motivates” God. anthropopathy: The attribution of human emotions to a God.
Isa 42:12-15 KJV 12 Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands. 13 The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies. 14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once. 15 I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.
When you want the Lord to roar against the situation, then praise Him when the situation does not warrant praise.
Praise still the enemy and the avengers. Praise paranoid them
2. God is everywhere, sees all things and knows all things but praise brings His manifest presence into that situation.
Act 16:25-26 KJV 25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
3. Praise drives out evil
On the account that God inhabits the praise of His people, demons tremble and flee.
1Sa 16:23 KJV And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
David is a Psalmist, singing praises unto God. When he plays, his praise brings God into the situation and the devil tormenting Saul would have to leave. As you praise God, every tormenting devil disappears in Jesus name.
4. Praise calms our nerves and gives clarity of mind enabling us to be spiritually sensitive.
2Ki 3:15-16 KJV 15 But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. 16 And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.
Praise is a tranquilizer. Something that tranquillizes or soothes. In pharmaceutical drugs, it is a drug used to reduce anxiety or tension.
How to render the praises
Psa 33:3 KJV Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
Psa 51:14 KJV Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
Psa 81:1 KJV To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
Psa 98:4-9 KJV 4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. 5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. 6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. 7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together 9 Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.
Noise
Any sound., sound or signal generated by random fluctuations. Various sounds.
Summary is this, give praise and thanksgiving when it makes no sense. When the battle is still there, when the situation has not changed, the body still hurts, Doctor’s report is on the table, people are still mocking and jesting, quotations and applications are not yet attended to. Praise Him.
It’s natural and humanly to say praises and render thanksgiving but it goes beyond human natural make up to give thanks in the midst of crisis. We can easily murmur and complain. It’s easier to murmur and complain due to the depravity of human nature. We gravitate and incline in that direction effortlessly.
Finally so what happened when Judah followed the instructions given and they started praising God in the face of the battle:
2Ch 20:22-23 KJV 22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. 23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.
The Lord came personally into their battle and joined them with His host
This couple had challenges and the Doctor had written them off. But they listened to a message like this, they got home to do all night of praises and thanksgiving. No prayer request or petitions. They just danced, praised God. A few months later the same Doctor pronounced the wife pregnant.
Hab 3:17-19 KJV 17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.