Today’s Reading

Second Chronicles 20-22; John 16:1-15

Selected Verses

And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say,

“Give thanks to the Lord,
for his steadfast love endures forever.”

And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.  For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.  2 Chronicles 20:21-23

The ruler of this world is judged. John 16:11

Reflections

Here we have one of the most bizarre battles in all of history.  Three armies are drawn up against Judah and King Jehoshaphat.  The king is terrified, but he wisely turns to God for direction and wisdom.  Reassured by the Lord, Jehoshaphat appoints a choir and marching band to go ahead of the army praising God.  The Lord intervened on their behalf so that the three enemy armies began to kill each other.  The praise band played while the opposition forces self-destructed.  Jehoshaphat’s army watched.  God was glorified.

Jesus spoke solemnly to His disciples on the night before His crucifixion.  He told them they would suffer hatred, ejection from the synagogues, and even martyrdom, but He promised them the Holy Spirit.  He assured them they would be at an advantage since the Helper would be with them unlimited by the confines of a human body.  The ministry of the Spirit would be to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.  The Lord told them “…the ruler of this world is judged.”

Think about it

Do you believe that what seems like the hopeless situation of the Church of Jesus Christ today is completely under God’s control? Do you trust Him to bring ultimate victory over the forces of the ruler of this world? Can you, like Jehoshaphat’s praise band, give thanks to the Lord, knowing that his steadfast love endures forever? Might we suffer?  Of course, but our hope is in the Lord.

Take heart. The ruler of this world is judged and his armies will self-destruct.  Praise God in advance.

© 2017 John A Carroll  Used by permission