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May 31, 2023
Praise a Weapon of Warfare and Deliverance
Beloved one, praise is a mighty weapon and the enemy fears you when you sing praises unto God. He literally detests your praise! Why? Because it is such a powerful weapon against him. (1 Timothy 2:8 TPT) Paul said, ‘I encourage all men to pray on every occasion with hands lifted to God in praise/worship with clean hearts, free from frustration or strife. (Nehemiah 8:6) Then Ezra blessed the Lord the great God. And all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. (Psalm 63:4) David said, ‘I will bless You Lord as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. (Psalm 141:2) May my prayer be counted as incense before You; the lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.
David not only praised and worshipped God but he also danced right out of his clothes. (2 Samuel 6:14) David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. (2 Samuel 6:20-22) When David returned home to bless his own family as he did all of Israel that day, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!” David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord. Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!” Are you willing to be so caught up in the spirit praising and worshipping God, that perhaps you humiliate yourself in your own eyes?
Let’s not forget Jehoshaphat! (2 Chronicles 20:1-26) Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “Vast armies are marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea. Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. The angel of the Lord told him to take his position, and he bowed low to the ground and worshipped God and so did every man, woman, and child seek God’s help! Jehoshaphat standing in the presence of Almighty God, cried to the Lord in Israel’s affliction, I declare you will hear and save us O’ God! For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, “Listen, all you inhabitants of Israel, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Someone needs to know today; this battle is not your battle. This battle you are walking through right now belongs to the Lord! The Lord is with you! Someone needs to know today; this battle is not your battle. This battle you are walking through right now belongs to the Lord! The Lord is with you!
All of Israel stood and praised the Lord with loud voices! ‘You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord!’ The next morning, they arose, and Jehoshaphat stood and declared the Word of the Lord, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: believe in the Lord our God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” Then he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise in the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army they were singing:
“Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.”
Can’t you just hear them singing now? You will defeat the enemy with your praise! When they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the armies, who had come against Judah; and they destroyed themselves and left no one alive. All Israel did was stand and sing praises unto the Lord our God! It took three days for Jehoshaphat and his men to carry out the valuables the dead had on them. On the fourth day, they gathered in the Valley of Blessing which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the Lord there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today. If you are in a battle, get your praise on! Your praise will bring forth the breakthrough!
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