Worship Wars

The term “worship wars” was coined a few years ago describing different styles of music and settings for God’s people as they gather to worship Him. The disagreement among the people of God over these preferences has caused a great deal of grief, especially our Father. But in the Bible, the term has a totally different meaning. True worship is a powerful weapon in defeating the enemies of God when it is learned from God, according to His word.

One of the places this is seen is in 2 Chronicles 20:1 – 30, the story of king Jehoshaphat and the war that was won with worship. The first few verses describe the situation as three great armies gathered together to invade and conquer Jerusalem and the nation of Judah. When king Jehoshaphat received the news of the armies and their location, just south of Jerusalem, the Bible says that he was afraid. But the next phrase is telling, “Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.” 2 Chronicles 20:3.

The word “set” is instructive. It is the Hebrew word nathan, which means to give, to appoint, to place one object before another for the purpose of an exchange. The first place this word is used is in the creation account in Genesis 1:17, “And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth…” When God “set” the sun, the moon, and the stars in place it was for the purpose of providing seasons and signs for man. This word nathan, is also used in Genesis 1:29 describing the food that God provided for man to eat, “…Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of the earth…every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.” The point is this: nathan puts one thing before another for a particular purpose.

When Jehoshaphat nathan his face to seek the LORD, he was setting himself and giving himself completely to God for the purpose of seeking the Lord. For Jehoshaphat, the threat of being invaded and destroyed was a call to worship; it was an invitation from God to show Himself mighty on behalf of those who trusted in Him. Jehoshaphat was afraid, but his fear guided him in the right direction to worship, rather than driving him away in the wrong direction of trying to fix the problem on his own. King David wrote, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” Psalm 56:3 – 4.

Jehoshaphat must have learned this worship song by reading and worshiping with the song that David wrote. In that song, David repeats the directive confession twice for emphasis (56:3 – 4, 10 – 11). It is the theme of Psalm 56. And king Jehoshaphat knew what to do because he had learned to worship from God’s word before he found himself in the threatening situation of that moment. The question is, have you?

Learning to set your face to seek the Father is done each day as you present yourself before God, giving Him all of your attention, to worship Him. Some call this “the quiet time,” others call it “being in the secrete place,” and still others “the morning watch.” Whatever you call it, make sure you do it, and make sure all of you is there when you do. Your mind will wander if you are not prepared to keep it “set” before the Lord.

One of the ways you can keep your mind focused is by reading the psalm for the day and the Bible reading out loud, with your mouth; maybe not too loud; others may still be asleep! But by engaging your body in the activity of worship, especially your voice, something actually happens in the atmosphere around you; it gets filled with God’s word! Like humidity, you can saturate the space around you with the truth of God, from the word of God, for the glory of God! As you do, you may want to be prepared for lightening to strike! The good kind.

Today, try speaking your prayer from Psalm 119:81 – 88 out loud. Practice before closing your time with the Lord, and then throughout the day, say it and watch God do it! AMEN and Hallelujah!!!