The Lord Had Made Them To Rejoice Over Their Enemies

Today’s Word of Encouragement from Wayne:

"Every man of Judah and Jerusalem returned with Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies"

2 Chronicles 20: 27

We have seen how God directed Jehoshaphat, concerning the great army that had come against him, saying, "You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf" (2 Chron. 20: 17). Scripture goes on to say that, "when they began singing and praising, the Lord set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, so they were routed" (2 Chron 20: 22). So, when the people of Judah and Jerusalem returned in victory to Jerusalem, I love that Scripture says their joy was in the fact that "the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies." Notice this verse does not say their joy was in the fact that were victorious over the enemy. No, their joy was in the fact that "the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies."

Don’t get me wrong; they were victorious and they were very happy about that I am sure. God had delivered them, praise His holy name. But this Scripture specifically tells us, for our own benefit, that they returned with joy because "the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies." Do you see this? Our great joy, as Christians, is in our being priests to our Lord, rejoicing in God’s presence with God’s praises, while He fights our battles. Yes, every Christian victory in our lives is sweet and praiseworthy indeed, bless God. But let us always declare, be aware, and understand, that our first great singular joy is in the rejoicing, the "singing and praising," to and for our God, while He sets ambushes and routes the enemy.

I encourage you to put your awareness of rejoicing in God’s presence head and shoulders above your awareness of the enemy, any and all enemies, and you will also possess this blessed joy. Know that God is strong on your behalf while you are strengthened in His praises, blessing in His presence, while He delivers you. Our true joy is not in the victory, but in our God, Who is worthy of all our praise all the time, and Who gives us the victory in Jesus Christ, as we continue to bless Him. Hallelujah!