When Worship Becomes a Weapon

By Ashley Anderson

I’ll be honest—Chronicles has never been my favorite section of the Bible to read. Yes, God’s presence is clear and His plan never fails, but the repeated cycle of brokenness is hard to take in: one king follows the Lord, the next turns away, another sinks even lower. It can feel heavy and heartbreaking. Yet, tucked into these accounts are flashes of hope. Imperfect though they were, some kings chose faithfulness, and through their lives we see glimpses of God’s mercy, power, and provision. Even in the midst of failure and inconsistency, there are heroes who point us back to God and lessons worth carrying into our own lives. 

In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat of Judah faces an impossible problem. A messenger warns him: “A great multitude is coming against you”—a coalition of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites. He had every reason to be very afraid, and he was. Yet instead of counting troops or mapping out strategies, Jehoshaphat does something surprising: he turns first to the Lord.

He proclaims a fast, gathers the entire nation, and lifts his voice in prayer. His prayer is a model for us:

1. He acknowledges God’s power: “In Your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand You.”

2. He remembers God’s past provision:“Did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham, Your friend?”

3. He pleads for God’s protection: “For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 

God’s answer is both stunning and reassuring. Through a prophet He declares publicly:

• “Do not be afraid.”

• “You will not need to fight in this battle.”

• “Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf.”

I doubt Jehoshaphat expected this. Perhaps he imagined God would empower Judah’s army to fight and prevail, but instead God says, “I got this. Watch me work.”

So what does Jehoshaphat do? He doesn’t sharpen swords—he organizes the worship team! At dawn they march out, not with weapons in front, but with singers declaring: “Give thanks to the Lord, for His steadfast love endures forever.” And when they began to sing, the Lord threw the enemy into confusion. Their foes turned on each other until the battlefield was littered with bodies. Judah arrived only to collect the plunder.

The outcome? Not only did God give them victory and abundance, but verse 30 tells us of Jehoshaphat: “His realm was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.”

The lesson for us: When we face impossible problems, our first move should not be panic or self-reliance. Like Jehoshaphat, we first pray. We remind ourselves of God’s power, remember His past faithfulness, and plead for His intervention. Then we trust Him to fight for us—and in ways that exceed our expectations. And while we wait, we worship. Our praise becomes our weapon, and our God secures the victory.