The Battle Shout

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 13

The men of Judah raised the battle shout. And when the men of Judah shouted, God defeated Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. (2 Chronicles 13.15)

Devotional Thought: This chapter highlights the reign of King Abijah.  One of the milestone events of his kingship centered around a conflict he had with King Jeroboam—a clash where he was outnumbered two to one.  In addition, Jeroboam pulled a slick move and maneuvered some troops around to where they came at Abijah’s army from the opposite direction.  When they realized they were being attacked from both the front and the rear, they cried out to God.  And God stepped in on their behalf and enabled them to emerge victorious.

How God did it—whether through supernatural intervention or merely granting the men in Abijah’s embattled army a unique dose of courage—we don’t know.  All we know is the victory was thorough in spite of the long odds.  The writer wants us to know that the reason Judah defeated Israel - even though they were surprised and outnumbered - was because they relied on, and cried out to, the Lord.  God defended His people when they couldn’t defend themselves.

Where is the enemy attacking you these days?  Where do you feel outnumbered and exposed?  Where has he pulled a crafty maneuver and come at you from a direction, or in a way, you weren’t anticipating or expecting?

When Abijah’s army found themselves in this unexpected and vulnerable place, they cried out to God.  Perhaps the exposure and vulnerability we feel is meant to turn us to God with a fresh urgency and heightened sense of desperation.  As the prophet Jeremiah said, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29.13).  Lets come to God with the unanticipated and unnerving situations of our life, trusting He can do for us what He did for Abijah’s army when they found themselves stuck and surrounded.

John Whitsett

Prayer: Father in heaven, there are so many time that the odds are stacked against me.  But they are never stacked against you!  Help me to remember that when I am overwhelmed and to raise the battle shout of prayer.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 65:9-13

9 You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it.

10 You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.

11 You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.

12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy,

13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.