It is hard to imagine this sentence uttered in any modern-day field commander’s tent, or in a meeting in the Pentagon. But have you noticed God has a way of doing things against normal expectations?
Recently, I came across this great story in the Old Testament. Israel is under attack (again). The odds seem overwhelming. The leaders doubt their chances. God shows up in the person of a prophet named Jahaziel (not a top ten name today). His message can be read in 2 Chronicles 20:15, “This is what the Lord says to you; ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours but God’s… Stand firm, take your positions and see the deliverance the Lord will give you.’” The story goes on that the king listens. The people hear and Levites from the Kohathites stand up and begin to sing songs of praise to God.
Here is where it gets interesting. The king then talks to the people, and in Verse 21, he sets his battle plan into motion. “After consulting the people, Jehoshapat appointed men to sing to the Lord and praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army saying, ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.’” The king’s battle plan is to send out a worship team to lead the army into battle- and Israel wins the day. Who plans that kind of battle strategy and keeps their job? God has His own plan.
If you have been in ministry for more than few years, you may have run into the so called “worship wars” where people sometimes elevate individual preference over congregation benefit. Churches have split, members have left, and pastors are left exhausted. Less frequently do we see and or hear people thanking, praising those who lead their churches faithfully each week.
In this story in my mind’s eye, I pictured choirs in robes, guitar players, percussionists, organist, singers of all shapes, sizes, colors and languages marching in front of the army encouraging them with their songs of praise; reminding God’s people of who He is, and what He has done. That is what our worship leaders are challenged to do each week in the place where they serve. It is a great place, and a tough place to be as they have their own personal, family and sometimes congregational conflicts as well.
So today, I want to give a word of thanks to all the worship leaders, teams and participants out there. If you lead in robes, jeans or shorts… whether your hair is white, pink or non-existent… whether your favorite instrument has keys, strings, pipes, sticks, cymbals or just your hands… no matter if you sing in Old English, Urban slang, Spanish, Telegu or Swahili… if your age is young, old or “none of your business”… if you are musical, or technologically adept… Thank you that each week you remind God’s people of His power, presence and promises. As you do so, you lead all of us into whatever may come before us each week and remind us, “Thanks be to God who gives us the victory in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
We are thankful for all the servants, all the different areas they serve but mostly that we serve freely to our God, listening to His voice, doing His will.