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Monday, August 24, 2009

The Ultimate Fighting Challenge

It was the time of year when kings went out to war. The year was 870 BC. The king was Jehoshaphat, King of Judah and the attack came from the land of Edom. After King Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast in all of Judah and inquired of the Lord, this is what happened next:

Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel...as he stood in the assembly. He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow march down against them...you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.' " Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord...Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." ...Jehoshaphat 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." As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men...who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. [2 Chronicles 20:14-22]

I find it personally significant that this battle was won in the desert. The desert can represent different things for different people. For me, desert means the place of drought, lack, brokenness - broken dreams, broken promises, broken hearts. It is the place where it seems as though God has turned His face away. (Notice I said 'seems', for God cannot desert his kids as it goes against His very nature.) It is the place where you don't wish to set up camp. You want to get out of there as quickly as possible, yet it seems as though it represents such a large portion of the journey.

In this desert is where the people of Judah find themselves. They are given one task: worship. What? In this awful place? Here where there is a godless army ready to annihilate an entire nation? Here where the dust clings to one's throat? Here where there is unbearable thirst? Here where nothing grows? Here where all is barren? Yes, here. Here is where I believe purest worship is found. It is not intended for human ears. Worship sends it song into the spiritual realm, where the real battle is staged. The war to take back stolen dreams, to see the fulfillment of long-awaited promises, to see prophetic words established, to receive restoration for locust-infested years, bringing barrenness to its fateful end.


Sometimes I find myself in a place where nothing I can do in the natural will change the situation. No amount of scheming, working, financing or strategizing will prove effective. This is the place where only one thing is required: worship. It is in this place that the King of Heaven fights on your behalf. Victory is imminent.