See A Victory

I’m gonna see a victory, for the battle belongs to You, Lord.

- “See A Victory,” Elevation Music, 2020

He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.

- 2 Chronicles 20:15

Friends, we are continuing our daily devotionals focused on the release of Garden Music’s new album, For the City. Today’s song… “See A Victory.”

While we are not exactly sure who the author is (possibly Ezra), 1 and 2 Chronicles record the history of Israel around 500 years before Christ. This was the period following their exile to Babylon when God had restored them, and they are rebuilding. It focuses on God’s promises to be faithful to them, ensuring Israel’s future.

In 2 Chronicles 17, Jehoshaphat becomes King of Israel. He was a good king and God was with him. When the Moabites and Ammonites (enemies of Israel) came to wage war against Jehoshaphat and the Israelites, people came to him and warned him of this vast army that was marching against them. Jehoshaphat and the people stood before God and prayed, “Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you...But now here are men...coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us...We have no power to face this vast army...We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:5-12, paraphrased).

But, in verses 14-15 of chapter 20, we read that the Spirit of the Lord spoke through one of the Levites, saying, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

God delivered the Children of Israel from the Moabites and Ammonites, and they rejoiced in the Lord.

What a powerful story and reminder that our battles are not ours, but God’s.

Rather than take on the world, we are reminded to recognize our need for God, cry out to Him, then watch as He delivers us.

Regardless of the battles we face, whether sadness and sorrow, pain and suffering, worry and anxiety… whatever they may be, our God is “the God who is in heaven, who rules over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in His hand, and no one (or anything) can withstand Him.”

As the lyrics of “See a Victory” remind us...

There’s power in the mighty name of Jesus

Every war He wages He will win

I’m not backing down from any giant

‘Cause I know how the story ends.

I’m gonna see a victory

For the battle belongs to You, Lord.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 8:37,

In all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

And again in 1 Corinthians 15:57, Paul writes,

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

May we claim that victory today, not from our efforts, but in the strength and power of our God, for the battle belongs to Him.

Pastor Ken

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