Go to war singing praises

[jerry ralph]

“Our creator would never have made such lovely days, and given us the deep hearts to enjoy them, above and beyond all thought, unless we were meant to be immortal.” NATHANIEL HAWTHORN

After consulting the leaders of the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: “Give thanks to the LORD; his faithful love endures forever.”
2 Chronicles 20:21 NLT

When I was in Vietnam and the combat situation would escalate, we would call for artillery to go ahead of us. Then the chopper gun ships would do their thing. Next the Air Force jets would make their runs and soften up the enemy. If needed a B-52 bomber strike could tenderize an area. All of this went out ahead of the troops on the ground. We saw the same thing in the Persian Gulf War, and again in the War with Iraq. We always use extreme force ahead of the soldiers that have to walk in and do the cleanup. Can you imagine having enough faith in God to send in a praise team first? The enemy is lined up, and the battle lines are drawn, and instead of sending out recon or your crack military warriors first, you send out a bunch of singers singing praises to God. That’s exactly what king Jehoshaphat did. Israel had three nations against them that were lined up and ready to do battle. The situation did not look well for the nation of Israel, when out of their midst a man stood up with a message from the Lord. “Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this great army, for the battle is not your, but God’s.” What a message, and you know what? They accepted it. The message also said that they would not even have to fight. The next day they set out believing totally on the Word of God. It must have taken great spiritual strength to send out the singers ahead of the army, but that is just what they did. At the very moment they began to sing and give praise to God, the armies of the enemy began to fight amongst themselves. By the time the army of Judah arrived the battle was over. The truth is that when it comes to spiritual battles, the battle is not ours, it is God’s. Oh we can try to physically fight the battle, but the real battle takes place in the spiritual realm. The lesson to be learned from historical account is to send out the praises first. I can relate to this on a weekly basis. From Sunday to Sunday sometimes seems like longer than seven days. I have entered the church on Sunday morning with a multitude of problems that I have gathered up during the week. I don’t intentionally come to worship this way, but sometimes that’s just the way it is. As the praise team begins to play music and the singers began to sing I am lifted above the natural realm into the spiritual. When I join in and sing giving praises to God, and I meditate upon the amazing grace that has been bestowed upon me, my worldly troubles seem to melt away giving birth to victory through praise. Spiritually the battle is not mine. It is God’s and as a member of God’s army, I am commissioned by the blood of Jesus to be a soldier. I will sing praises because I don’t have to fight. God has done for me what I could not do for myself…………………..JRE

“Let us say it again: the universal Presence is a fact. God is here. The whole universe is alive with His life. And He is no strange or foreign God, but the familiar Father of our Lord Jesus Christ whose love has for these thousands of years enfolded the sinful race of men. And always He is trying to get our attention, to reveal Himself to us, to communicate with us. We have within us the ability to know Him if we will but respond to His overtures. (And this we call pursuing God!) We will know Him in increasing degree as our receptivity becomes more perfect by faith and love and practice.”
A.W. TOZER……..The Pursuit of God, page 67

 

[justanobserver]

“Our creator would never have made such lovely days, and given us the deep hearts to enjoy them, above and beyond all thought, unless we were meant to be immortal.” NATHANIEL HAWTHORN

After consulting the leaders of the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: “Give thanks to the LORD; his faithful love endures forever.”
2 Chronicles 20:21 NLT

When I was in Vietnam and the combat situation would escalate, we would call for artillery to go ahead of us. Then the chopper gun ships would do their thing. Next the Air Force jets would make their runs and soften up the enemy. If needed a B-52 bomber strike could tenderize an area. All of this went out ahead of the troops on the ground. We saw the same thing in the Persian Gulf War, and again in the War with Iraq. We always use extreme force ahead of the soldiers that have to walk in and do the cleanup. Can you imagine having enough faith in God to send in a praise team first? The enemy is lined up, and the battle lines are drawn, and instead of sending out recon or your crack military warriors first, you send out a bunch of singers singing praises to God. That’s exactly what king Jehoshaphat did. Israel had three nations against them that were lined up and ready to do battle. The situation did not look well for the nation of Israel, when out of their midst a man stood up with a message from the Lord. “Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this great army, for the battle is not your, but God’s.” What a message, and you know what? They accepted it. The message also said that they would not even have to fight. The next day they set out believing totally on the Word of God. It must have taken great spiritual strength to send out the singers ahead of the army, but that is just what they did. At the very moment they began to sing and give praise to God, the armies of the enemy began to fight amongst themselves. By the time the army of Judah arrived the battle was over. The truth is that when it comes to spiritual battles, the battle is not ours, it is God’s. Oh we can try to physically fight the battle, but the real battle takes place in the spiritual realm. The lesson to be learned from historical account is to send out the praises first. I can relate to this on a weekly basis. From Sunday to Sunday sometimes seems like longer than seven days. I have entered the church on Sunday morning with a multitude of problems that I have gathered up during the week. I don’t intentionally come to worship this way, but sometimes that’s just the way it is. As the praise team begins to play music and the singers began to sing I am lifted above the natural realm into the spiritual. When I join in and sing giving praises to God, and I meditate upon the amazing grace that has been bestowed upon me, my worldly troubles seem to melt away giving birth to victory through praise. Spiritually the battle is not mine. It is God’s and as a member of God’s army, I am commissioned by the blood of Jesus to be a soldier. I will sing praises because I don’t have to fight. God has done for me what I could not do for myself…………………..JRE

“Let us say it again: the universal Presence is a fact. God is here. The whole universe is alive with His life. And He is no strange or foreign God, but the familiar Father of our Lord Jesus Christ whose love has for these thousands of years enfolded the sinful race of men. And always He is trying to get our attention, to reveal Himself to us, to communicate with us. We have within us the ability to know Him if we will but respond to His overtures. (And this we call pursuing God!) We will know Him in increasing degree as our receptivity becomes more perfect by faith and love and practice.”
A.W. TOZER……..The Pursuit of God, page 67

Lol. never quite heard of using God as an Arc Light Strike before... but I would agree it would work - but would it relegate things to a "kill 'em or fill 'em mode"? I mean if God is the B-52 and the resultant efforts is scorched earth... But as it is written, if God be before us, who can be against us? And since His word shall not come back void, then whether it be Snake and Nape or Psy-Ops flyovers, His will I would presume will be done.

Well, from a christian standpoint, every day spiritual life is a spiritual firefight where the one who isnt prepared may get greased.

but I digress. I do enjoy your posts and until now wasnt aware your a 'Nam vet. I salute you sir. The war was coming to the very end when I enlisted in '74 at the ripe old age of 17 so I didnt endure the nightmare of In Country. Had to deal with the Post War stuff - Evac refugees (after the fall of Saigon) arriving stateside, etc. Got out of the Marines and later went Army. I did 18 yrs total time when I walked out of the Orderly Room with my papers at Ft Lewis, WA in Dec '00.

anways, again, I ramble on.

You, sir, have my respect as a fellow recovering alcoholic and as a fellow veteran.

Norm

 

[jerry ralph]

Hey Norm........thanks for your kind word and encouragement.

I grew up in the military, my father was a career soldier. I loved the army and would have made a career of it, but became discouraged after the Tet Offensive in 1968. I was an E-5 Sgt. Team leader in a Long Range Recon Patrol (LRRP), with the 3rd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division.
I got turned loose within 48 hours of coming back states side.....at Oakland........I had 2000 dollars in my pocket and it was the summer of "love" (1968) across the bay in Frisco. When i finally got home to KC I had turned on, tuned in, and dropped out. This life of self-centered drug and alcohol abuse lasted for thirty years until in 1998 I surrendered to a loving God, who loved me regardless of my past. I was given a new live, fueled by the love and grace of God.

I want to thank you for your service to this great country.........Welcome Home Brother..........jerry

 

[justanobserver]

Hey Norm........thanks for your kind word and encouragement.

I grew up in the military, my father was a career soldier. I loved the army and would have made a career of it, but became discouraged after the Tet Offensive in 1968. I was an E-5 Sgt. Team leader in a Long Range Recon Patrol (LRRP), with the 3rd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division.
I got turned loose within 48 hours of coming back states side.....at Oakland........I had 2000 dollars in my pocket and it was the summer of "love" (1968) across the bay in Frisco. When i finally got home to KC I had turned on, tuned in, and dropped out. This life of self-centered drug and alcohol abuse lasted for thirty years until in 1998 I surrendered to a loving God, who loved me regardless of my past. I was given a new live, fueled by the love and grace of God.

I want to thank you for your service to this great country.........Welcome Home Brother..........jerry

You was a "LURP"???

You guys were crazy!! (and I say that with affection and the utmost respect) and also the eyes an ears of the Commander - units can live or die depending on the skills and abilities of the Lurps to get in, get out and report back.

Among the different "all other additional duties assigned" stuff I had thru out my career, one was Scout in a grunt unit but nothing like LRRPs.

And to you, sir, welcome home also.