Battle Belongs

Post by Amanda Dablemont, Developer of Worship & Music Ministries

There is a song that we sing at Alive in Christ often, called “Raise a Hallelujah” written by Jonathan and Melissa Helser.  The song came out of an extremely difficult situation with a member of their church, whose 2 year old little boy was very sick.  As they struggled with that situation and felt very hopeless, they remembered this account in 2 Chronicles 20.

It is a  story about Jehoshaphat, King of Israel, surrounded by armies.  He declares a fast and calls the people together to seek the Lord.  Jehosaphat says, “For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”  (2 Chronicles 20:12).  Then the spirit of the Lord comes upon a Levite, Jahaziel, and here is what he says,

“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. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

Needless to say, the Lord “ambushes” the armies and the Isrealites prevail.

We will sing a new song on Sunday, “Battle Belongs,” that again, speaks back to this passage.  We see time and time again in the book of Acts how a guy like Paul is consistently protected, given just the right words, and led in the right direction.
It reminds us, as we enter into a Visioning process, that our vision is so extremely limited!  We see so very little of what God sees.  We understand so little compared to what God knows and understands. (Sort of like the encounter  in 2 Kings 6 when Elisah can see what his servant cannot… the heavenly army of chariots).   What WE see is completely different!  We see armies that are unbeatable and God sees VICTORY.  We see ministries that need resources and staff, God sees opportunity.  And most important, when we see ourselves as sinful and broken, God sees redeemed and forgiven people through Jesus.

May we always seek the Lord FIRST when fighting any battle and as the song says, “fight on our knees with hands lifted high” for the battle belongs to HIM!

Watch the lyrics video here:

Read the whole encounter of Jehoshaphat here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2 Chronicles 20&version=NIV