THE PRAISE THAT OPENS GATES
Text: 2 Chronicles 20:13-23
Memory verse:
“Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, And I will
praise the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord, Through which the righteous shall enter.” (Psalm 118:19-20).
True praise draws our attention away from ourselves and our problems or circumstances, no matter how overwhelming they are, and turns our focus on God alone. The nature of true praise requires that you praise God even when you don’t understand what He is doing. Praise is offered based on God’s worthiness, not our needs. That was what Jehoshaphat did. “And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of His holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.” (II Chr 20:21)
In spite of their trouble, they praised God for His holy splendor and His faithful love. They offered the sacrifice of praise, which is the highest form of praise. It is that which cost you something. It is praising God when you don’t feel like it, when you are weary or when you are struggling. It is praising Him when life blows hot on you, with losses, disappointments and seemingly unanswered prayers.
In our text, three nations suddenly joined together to call Judah into battle. It was a fearful situation, because of the multitudes of the enemies’ army. Jehoshaphat turned to the Lord for help. Having consulted with the people, Jehoshaphat appointed singers, not fighters; men with singing skills and not shooting skills, for the battle. They wore their sacred robes to sing. “After consulting with the people, the king ordered some musicians to put on the robes they wore on sacred occasions and to march ahead of the army, singing: “Praise the LORD! His love is eternal” (GNT). The AMP Bible describes it thus, “who praised Him in their holy (priestly) attire”. That was very important. It was a battle against the kingdom of darkness and must be confronted with light (John 1:5). He knew that the gate of the Lord is the gate of righteousness and only the righteous could enter, according to our memory text.
Therefore, He ensured that those he appointed to sing in order to open the gate put on their robe of righteousness. Today, believers are holy priests unto Christ, clothed with the righteousness of Christ (2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:9). However, we must, by grace, daily live the crucified life to maintain our given status of righteousness. We must also carefully select who we bring into the church to sing or play instruments. The appointment made by Jehoshaphat wasn’t just based on musical skills, like some choir members and church leaders do today. That’s why some of our praises today are just unpleasant noises and entertainments, rather than ministrations. Instead of God inhabiting such praises, demons do and dance to them.
So, rather than focusing on their strength, the people of Judah focused on the mightiness of God. They turned their eyes from the multitudes of the well equipped and fiery looking armies stirring at them to gaze on the face of the Almighty God. And as they praised God in the beauty of His Holiness and declared that His mercy endures for ever, the Lord stepped in and defeated their adversaries.
Friends, take your focus from your challenge also and praise the Lord in the beauty of His Holiness and for His mercy. He will display His power again in your situation and He will answer you by awesome deeds in righteousness in Jesus name. Hallelujah!
Prayer points
1. Father, please, sanctify me now and help me to continue to live in righteousness and to worship You in the beauty of Your holiness in Jesus name.
2.Father, I turn my eyes from my challenge and I look to You declaring that Your mercy endures forever in Jesus name.
Today’s declarations
1. I know that, only the praise offered in righteousness opens the gate of the Lord.
2. I turn my eyes away from my challenge to offer the sacrifice of praise to God.