What Do Our Actions Say?

He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. [2 Chronicles 20.15]

When the Levite Jahaziel made this proclamation, the people of Judah (men, women, and children) had already been informed that their enemy was marching against them. Everyone had already been fasting. Jehoshaphat had already been publicly praying and acknowledging that they did not know what to do.

What Jahaziel went on to say was remarkable:

Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!” [2 Chronicles 20.16-17]

What's even more remarkable is that the people heeded Jahaziel's encouragement and simply began to worship God for the rest of the day.

The following morning, Jehoshaphat further encouraged the army of Judah as they positioned themselves to encounter their enemy:

Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.” [2 Chronicles 20.20]

Then, after some discussion amongst themselves, Jehoshaphat and the people agreed upon an unprecedented move to put singers in front of the warriors to sing and praise God for His "faithful love that endures forever."

The Word says "at that very moment" the singing and praising started, Judah's enemies' demise began as they turned on each other and literally wiped themselves out.

Nice story, huh?

Jehoshaphat and all Judah put themselves in a dangerously vulnerable position. They did so however while reminding themselves and God of their trust in Him alone. 

But this story is just a story, right? In our advanced age of knowledge, we should never make such a foolish assumption that God would deliver us, right? I mean, that was just a Bible story that should really only inspire passive faith in us, right? Faith IS passive, personal and private right?

No, no, no, and no.

In fact, faith is NOT passive but very much active. Faith is obedience. To say a child is obedient in his heart even though his actions are rebellious is just silly. So, for a person to say he or she has faith in God in their heart even thought their actions say otherwise is just as silly.

In the book of the Bible named after him, James said:

So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. [James 2.17]

It wasn't enough for Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah to quietly and privately meditate on the idea that God could protect them. Faith only produces results when acted upon. Judah advanced from, "God can protect us," to, "God will protect us!" So confident were the people of Judah that God's desire was to deliver them, that they intentionally ignored human reasoning as an act of faith in God their ONLY source of deliverance. 

Acting upon their faith put the people of Judah in a highly vulnerable position in the eyes of human reasoning but put them in a highly powerful position in the eyes of God! Instead of focusing on the battle, they focused on the character of God.

After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: “Give thanks to the LORD; his faithful love endures forever!” [2 Chronicles 20.21]

I suspect, Jehoshaphat and the people genuinely believed it when they proclaimed, “Give thanks to the LORD; his faithful love endures forever!” 

Do you believe it? Do I believe it? What do our actions say?

Father, thank You, Your faithful love endures forever!