The Day After
August 22, 2021
Jehoshaphat has no choice but to go to the temple, fall on his knees, and pray that God will listen. The army that will destroy Judah is on its way. So he reminds God of his love for his people, his friendship with Abraham, their ancestor, and his honor. He proclaims, “God, we do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” (2Chr. 20.12). But that’s not the end of the story.
The next day Jehoshaphat gathers the army and hits the road, his spirit being strengthened by the word of the prophet, “This battle is not for you to fight; take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem… the LORD will be with you.” (vs. 13-17).
As they march, Jehoshaphat has them sing, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.” (vs. 21). They get to the place where the destroying army is camped, and the destroying army has itself been destroyed. God had them attack one another; Judah was delivered without raising a weapon.
I suspect few of the Judeans actually wanted to sing praises as they marched to what was promising to be a hopeless battle. Sure, they may have heard the words of the prophet, but they were frustratingly vague on details—how will God fight for them, when will he do it, and where will it all go down? You can imagine some of the tone shifting from praising to pleading as they approach the invaders, “his steadfast love endures forever (right, remember that, God? You’re not going to forget at a most inconvenient moment, will you?).”
You can imagine the tension the front ranks feel as they come up to the watchtower of the wilderness, knowing that they’re about to get their first glimpse of the destroying army, straining their eyes to see the enemy, has God been faithful or not, and then shock, awe, and elation! The dark threat of the invaders fades into joy and thanksgiving in the light of God’s salvation.
Life is full of struggles and trials, times of darkness and stress. Sometimes it’s hard to know what to do. Sometimes our only recourse is to look to God. In those times, may we take comfort in God’s steadfast love, trusting that the day after the darkest moment will be a day of light and joy.
In the words of Isaiah, “Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God”? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isa. 40.27-31)
—John Coffey
