Holy Highway, Sacred Road

The word of God gives life.  It tells us how to make it through hard times in ways that are pleasing to Creator.  It is full of stories that show us that Creator does not live by man’s rules, but that the people must live by Creator’s rules to survive. One of  my favorites is in 2 Chron 20:1-30.  This is a story of a king who knew that to trust in Creator at all times was the only way to please Him and to be saved. 

Neighboring tribes were planning to make war on King Jehoshaphat.  In fact, reports came to him from his men that these enemies were already in the land.  The king and the people responded to the threat by doing 4 things:

1.        Everyone in the community gathered to fast and to ask Creator what He had to say about the situation. (20:3-4 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.)

2.        The people worshipped Creator publicly.  They reminded each other of all that Creator taught them and all that He did for them. (verses 5-9)

3.        They reminded Creator  that He gave them the land and that the people had obeyed Creator’s commands when they entered the land. (verses 10-11)

4.        They waited to hear Creator’s answer.   

20:12-13 O our God, will you not judge them? 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 upon you."  13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD. 

And this is the answer Creator gave (verses 15-17):

1.        Don’t be afraid

2.        The battle belongs to me

3.        Stand firm and see the deliverance that I will give you

4.        I will be with you 

All the people marched down to the place where the enemy was.  They marched with the worshippers on the front lines, praising God all the way.  And when they arrived, the battle was already over.  Creator had defeated all the enemy and there was nothing for the people to do except to gather up the ‘goods’, praise God some more, and go home in victory. 

20:29 The fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. 

I wonder what the neighboring countries must have thought when they first saw all these people coming to a battle field with their worshippers out front  instead of their weapons.  Singing love songs to God instead of battle cries.  In the end, it doesn’t matter what our neighbors think about us, about what we do, or how we do it.  It only matters whether we obeyed Creator, whether we loved Creator, and whether we did things His way.   

His plan of salvation for us is through His son, Jesus.  To some of our neighbors, this doesn’t make any more sense than going into battle with a drum and a song.  But it is the way of the Creator.  It is the answer to our prayers.  We receive it and live.  In the end, it is only what the Creator does that matters.  The more we allow the Creator to do, and the less we do ourselves, the more victories we will see.  He fought the battle of salvation and there is nothing left for us to do except to gather up the ‘goods’, praise Him some more, and go home in victory.