"When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the Lord your God and rescued from your enemies."
In the desert God began the plan of the battle cry: sound the trumpets!!! And from this point on, trumpets were used for every battle, large or small. The first major use of the trumpets for battle occurred at Jericho, and we all know what happened there! The Lord God told Israel what they had to do to get His attention, and they obeyed.
We don't blow trumpets today to get the attention of the Lord. We are not fighting a natural people for territory we are marching through and claiming in the Name of the Lord. We certainly are engaged in war in various places, but these wars are not being fought in God's name nor for His kingdom.
Today our warfare is spiritual and the manner of gaining God's attention and going into battle are different. Today we fight our spiritual enemy, the powers of hell, with praise and worship of the Living God. Jehoshaphat dkd that in the Desert of Tekoa and God gave him a fabulous victory. When we begin to praise and worship, the gates of heaven are thrown wide open and the glory of the Lord spills out into the universe. The demons of hell don't stand a chance when God is being glorified and honored through praise and worship. This is one of the reasons corporate worship is so wonderful and so powerful; if one praising can put a thousand demons to flight, and two can send ten thousand screaming to hell, what can a roomful of true worshippers accomplish?
"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men take hold of it." Matt 11:12 Our spiritual battle is not for the faint-hearted. It is a very real war with many, many casualities and deaths. It is not to be taken lightly or pooh-poohed away. Praise and worship are not to be used in an off-handed manner, but to the glory of God, our Commander-in-Chief. Then, He has promised to hear and rescue us.
How are you doing in the battle against the enemy of your soul? Are you lifting holy hands to the glory of God as you sing and exault Him? Have you abandoned yourself in worship of the Living King? Are you sounding your trumpets?
"Lord God Almighty, King of the Universe, I lift my heart, my hands, my voice in worship of You. I declare that You and You alone are Lord and Master of my life and my praise is only for you. The battle is Yours, Lord, to You I pledge my alliegence. I will stand and glorify Your Name throughout eternity. Praise be to the Holy One of Israel. Now and forever. Amen.
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
2 Chronicles 20:22
Joel 2:1
Psalm 3:4
18:6
28:2
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