LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil
Friday 26th September 2025
PRAISE THE LORD
Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 20:1-30
And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever.” 2 Chronicles 20:2
The story of King Jehoshaphat of Judah leading his people into battle against the kings of Moab and Ammon is recorded in 2 Chronicles chapter 20. The armies against Judah were far more numerous and in strength than anything Judah could put together.
King Jehoshaphat called the people of Judah to prayer and sought the face of the Lord. After the people had prayed, the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the Levites in the land to deliver God’s word to Judah. The word from the Lord showed where the armies of Moab and Ammon would approach from and how they would attack. The Lord further assured His people that He would fight for them.
In response to God’s assurance, King Jehoshaphat arranged His army with the singers going ahead. Jehoshaphat figured that if the battle was God’s battle, then he and his people must demonstrate their faith in the Lord. That is why they got the worshippers to lead the battle.
The words of the song that Judah sang to the Lord are familiar to us. We sing those words in many hymns and choruses – Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever. The words of the song did not speak of the battle before the people. The lyrics did not focus on the enemy facing Judah – it focused on God. The passage says, the singers praised the beauty of God’s holiness. They directed all their praise to God.
We can learn from King Jehoshaphat and how he fought this battle. We can also go into battle with the full assurance of God’s victory. If we trust the Lord to give us victory, then our singing should praise the beauty of His holiness and not the severity of the attack or the nature of the enemy.
Let us sing to the Lord today. Sing into the battle facing you – He is good, and His mercies endure forever.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I sing in praise of the beauty of your holiness. You are good, and your mercy endures forever. In Jesus’ name, *Amen.*_
