A newborn is oohed and ahhed over for lots of good reasons, but one of the biggest is the anticipation of what’s ahead: his first words, her first steps—the forts he’ll build, the trips she’ll take.

There’s all this joy surrounding his birth; so much wonder and hope for her future. He’s God’s promise of more to come. She’s his little bundle of possibilities.

Today’s passage includes something like this kind of enthusiasm for what God promises, even before it begins. His people are so sure of what he’s said, they celebrate the victory beforehand, the way we celebrate when a new life begins. There’s a lot of faith in trusting God that much.

2 Chronicles 19-20

King Jehoshaphat’s legacy of ruling over Judah is impressive. Hanani, the prophet, tells him he’s applauded for being “single-minded in seeking God,” which is high praise, since you can count on one hand how many good kings there’d been up ‘til then,
2 Chronicles 19:3-11, MSG.

But Hanani also mentions where Jehoshaphat’s weak: he sucks up to wicked kings, as if he needs them. God’s not pleased, but still, he gives Jehoshaphat his attaboy. Turns out, God’s not looking for perfection: he’s looking for folks who trust him, 2 Chronicles 19:1-3; 20:31-33.

When Jehoshaphat hears that his enemies have joined up to wage war against him, “shaken, [he] prays.” It’s exactly what all the bad kings before him didn’t do. They didn’t listen to God’s words or do what he says or ask him for help. It’s astonishing to me how often God faults a king for failing to turn to him, 2 Chronicles 20:3, MSG.

I mean, doesn’t God want us independent and making good choices, like any parent of grown children does? Nope. God wants us to depend on him, because dependent is what we are, and God is who he is.

This is the genius of what Jehoshaphat does: “He went to God for help….” He orders everyone to fast, and they come to Jerusalem for a nationwide prayer breakfast—without the breakfast. Even little kids are invited, 2 Chronicles 20:3-13, MSG.

In what might’ve been his finest moment, Jehoshaphat prays at his lowest, “We’re helpless before this vandal horde ready to attack us. We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” And just as soon as he’s finished, a prophet speaks up with God’s answer–don’t be afraid; march out boldly tomorrow; watch what I’ll do. God says he’ll do all the fighting, so they won’t have to, 2 Chronicles 20:14-17, MSG, NIV.

So the people do their part and show up early to march and watch and trust. It had to feel weird to hear they’d not have to fight to win. Many of these were soldiers, after all, and trained to defend. But the battle was God’s: that’s what he’d said.

Maybe even more surprising was that the king admitted he’s clueless, but God says, “no worries. I’ve got you.” Over and over in the Bible, God tells us to look to him for help. This is what he wants from us—faith and trust in the clutch.

What is it in us that thinks we’ve got to solve our problems, fix ourselves, and save the world? This is God’s job description. He wants our dependence, not our valiant efforts. If we could save ourselves, Jesus came for nothing.

It’s marching time. As if he’s reading their minds, Jehoshaphat tells the people, “Believe firmly in God, your God,” and he puts a robed choir in front of those assembled that sings and shouts praises as they all march together, 2 Chronicles 20:20-21, MSG.

Why a choir?

As far as I can tell, they’re celebrating their victory before it’s begun. Following the king’s order, the choir sings as if the bad guys are already belly up. This is what strong faith looks like–trusting God’s words so much that you celebrate as if what he’s promised has already happened.

The text says “as soon as they started praising and shouting,” God sets ambushes among their enemies, and they end up killing one another. All that’s left for God’s people to do is carry off the loot when it’s over, 2 Chronicles 20:22-26.

Did you catch it? It’s at the moment they praise and shout that God confuses their enemies and they turn on each other. God doesn’t need their help, but he lets his people participate, and he lets their celebrating kick start their rescue.

I’m reminded of Joshua at the walls of Jericho a few hundred years before. On that occasion, the musicians were up in front with trumpets, and the people followed behind. As they finished their last round, the trumpets sounded and the people shouted and God collapsed the walls. It was the same strategy–praise for God’s rescue just before it happens, Joshua 6.

Could God want us to have this kind of faith in him—so much faith that we praise him for what he’s promised beforehand and celebrate, rather than worry over it? How would that change our attitudes? Our behavior? Our relationships? Our moods?

After reading this morning, I let myself feel the joy of having my most heart wrenching issue healed. I let myself believe it had already happened. It took some doing–my rational self didn’t want to cooperate. This is silly, I thought. But then I remembered how God once let a donkey talk. God’s not too proud for silly.

I had to believe enough to shout my praises, not just think them with my hands in my lap, like the unexpressive-praise Presbyterian I’ve been.

And then…here it came: I did believe the healing happened. The relief! The joy! The utter bliss! I had an hour of such raging energy and light-heartedness afterwards–long enough to ride my bike faster than I’ve ridden it in years–that I’ve been wondering about this insight ever since.

It takes a lot of faith and trust in God and what he says to shout out praise as if it’s already happening. But kickstarting my rescue from what troubles me is worth it. And so is the supercharge of joy I didn’t see coming.

There’s a partnership I feel in waking up and engaging with God in the fights of my life. I can’t fix anything but God can, while I get to holler his promises and praises out loud. One thing’s for sure, it got me going this morning.

Jesus said faith in the God of the Universe moves mountains, casts out demons, heals people. No telling what all else can happen when we believe him. Like a newborns’s brand new life, the possibilities are endless, Matthew 17:20; Mark 6:7-12.

Will we believe him like this?

2 Chronicles 19-29, Romans 10, and Psalm 21 are selected for today in The One Year Bible.