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PRAISING GOD IN THE MIDST OF PAIN TONY LLOYD LEWIS 2 Chronicles 20:18-21 This morning I want to preach on the matter, PRAISING GOD IN THE MIDST OF PAIN. The setting of our text is in the ancient kingdom of Judah. The people of Jehovah are facing the armies of three nations coming against. Recognizing that they have no might against such great company, they turn to God in prayer. The Lord Hosts responds to their pleas through his profit. He assure them that they have no need to fight in this battle. He assure them that He will protect and provide for them. With that in mind, they have only one thing left to do and that is praise the Lord. And so I want to invite you to walk with me back through the corridors of time and examine the praise and worship of these peculiar people, the chosen one of God. By now, the mood of the king has been altered substantially from the time when he first received the news of the three enemy nations. His fears have been allayed. The trepidation that once gripped his very soul has been replaced by a profound sense of godly confidence and an indescribable feeling of relief. What, then, is the next item on his agenda? The answer is quite simple: praise and worship. Once we have sincerely committed a situation to our heavenly Father and He has given us His answer, the only thing left for us to do is praise and worship. These actions are the spiritual (not natural) outgrowth of having placed our trust and confidence in God and His plans and purposes for our lives. Worship necessitates being in a particular place not physically but spiritually. One can be present during the praise and worship service of the most exciting church in the nation and yet fail to praise and worship God. That person is physically present, and praise and worship is going on all around him or her, but he or she is unable to participate because he or she is spiritually in a different place-one where he or she has not determined to seek the Lord. Where are you spiritually? Where are you when it comes to fellowship with your heavenly Father? In the book of Genesis, the book of beginnings, Adam and Eve "heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day" (3:8, ). "Where art thou?" He asked (v. 9, )-i.e. "Adam, in what place are you spiritually?" If we are in the same place Jehoshaphat was as he set himself to seek the Lord, praise and worship will abound. In fact, worship will abound even though manners, mores, and methods differ from culture to culture (and sometimes within a particular culture). Methodology (though important) should never overshadow principle. Whether one worships with holy hands lifted toward heaven, prostrate with eyes closed, or with silent (or not-so-silent) tears of joy, the fundamental, underlying principle of worship is that it belongs to God and only to God. Not even angels are allowed to receive worship. Once again, Jehoshaphat exhibits his wisdom and godliness. Not only did he lead Judah in prayer at the onset of this crisis, he also leads them in praise now that Jehovah has given His answer. According to the record, Jehoshaphat "bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshiping the Lord" (v. 18, ). Here we see one element of worship that seems to permeate all of Scripture, including both Old and New Testaments: bowing, i.e. the act of giving deference and obeisance to our Father in heaven. In this way, we can show submission to our supreme and sovereign God. WORSHIP IS COMMANDED Following that horrific incident at Shechem, where Dinah the daughter of Jacob was violated by a Hivite prince (Gen 33:19; 34) and Jacob sons killed all the men of that city: The patriarch became fearful . . . He lamented unto his sons that they have caused him grief and trouble. The neighboring tribes will band together, attack and destroy us. He was sorely afraid. God responded with a command �"...Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother." Genesis 35:1. We are then to conclude that not only is worship commanded by God but worship is also a remedy for fear WORSHIP IS ALSO CORPORATE While we can worship and praise God in the private chambers of our own praying ground, it is not to be done at the expense of corporate worship. An appreciation for nature, the celestial and the terrestrial does not constitute worship. In fact, if not placed in its perspective it can border on the idolatrous. The writer to the letter to the Hebrews put it this way. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25) When Moses arrived in Egypt with his message of liberation for the Israelites, his first official meeting was with the elders of Goshen, who were skeptical and hesitant about change. Even though the changes that Moses proposed would mean freedom and liberty, they were not easily persuaded. However, after Moses performed the miracle of the leprous hand and the staff that became a serpent and then a staff again, the elders believed "that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped" (Exod. 4:31, ). In 2 Chronicles 7, after King Solomon offered a dedicatory prayer for the newly-constructed Temple, holy fire and the Lord's glory filled the place. Then "all the children of Israel?bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshiped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever" (v. 3, ). And finally, in his letter to the church in Philippi, the Apostle Paul declared, "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth" (Phil. 2:10, ). Bowing is a paramount and integral part of the worship experience. However, as we are about to discover, it is not the only component of the worship experience. There are indeed diverse expressions of worship to our worthy God. WORSHIP IS DIVERSE The manners and modes of worship are multifaceted. We must be mindful of the fact that God is the object of our worship, not our particular styles of expression. There are those who do not worship God; instead, they worship their own method of worship. Their processes and their traditions are dearer to them than the Savior. In Numbers 11, the story is told of Eldad and Medad, two of the 70 elders Moses had chosen to help him attend to the demands of the people. They worshiped in the camp instead of at the Tabernacle, the appointed place of worship. Someone brought the news to Moses that worship was occurring someplace other than the Tabernacle. Joshua, the personal assistant of Moses, became indignant and requested that Moses halt this activity-that he would restrain them from this manner and mode of worship that was different from the way it was normally done. Moses replied, "Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!" (v. 29, ). To further illustrate the multifaceted manner of worship lets look at an incident in the New Testament. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who Jesus nicked named the sons of thunder which is interpreted Boanerges. With a cursory superficial glance, one would think that it was laudatory label, but quite the contrary. When we do an etymological word study of the term Boanerges (bo-an-erg-es') we discover that it actually means sons of commotion. This was the epithet of these two brothers / apostles. Their actions as outlined in (Luke 9:49-50) "And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us." These apostles failed to realize worshiping the Lord was not limited to their particular group dynamics. He is not some esoteric parochial deity that can only be worshiped and known by a few. Isaiah the prophet of hope put it this way, "22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." (Isaiah 45:22) Furthermore, these sons of commotion (Boanerges) (Luke 9:51-56) according to the record sought permission from the Master to command fire to come down from heaven and destroy a Samaritan village. Their reason was because the people there did not welcome them to stay over in their city on their way to Jerusalem. However, the Lord responded to their foolish and somewhat extreme request with a stern rebuke. Worship of our Father in heaven is not limited to any one manner or milieu. It is not bound by color, culture, or class. The record states that "Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord" (2 Chron. 20:18, ); still others "stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high" (v. 19, ). These "others" were Levites, who were descendants of Levi, the third son of Jacob and Leah. They held a unique position among the Twelve Tribes of Israel. For example, when the land of Canaan was portioned out by Joshua, Eleazar the priest, and the tribal leaders (see Josh. 14:1), the Levites were not given an inheritance. Instead, they were responsible for ministering to the spiritual needs of the other tribes, e.g. overseeing the burnt offerings and sacrifices, leading the people in worship, and caring for the altar (see Num. 3). In turn, the people of Judah tended to the Levites' temporal needs. At the commandment of the Lord, they gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance. The ancient Chronicler names, in particular, a group of Levites, the Korhites, a branch of the Kohathite group. They were a prominent and significant family in Judah, descendants of Kohath, a son of Levi and grandson of Jacob. During the wilderness experience of Israel, as they journeyed from Egypt to Canaan, the Promised Land, "they were responsible for the care of the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the articles of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain, and everything related to their use" (Num. 3:31, NIV). In conclusion, concerning this matter of praise, we see that the potentate, i.e. the king, "bowed his head with his face to the ground" (2 Chron. 20:18, ), the plebeians, i.e. the ordinary citizens, "fell before the Lord" (ibid.), and the prominent, i.e. the Kohathites, "stood up to praise the Lord?with a loud voice" (v. 19, ). The psalmist sums up the issue this way: "Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord" (Ps. 150:6, ). THE NEXT MORNING With the dawning of each new day, we are presented with a fresh opportunity to offer praise and thanksgiving to God simply for being who He is and for all His blessings and benefits toward us. The Roman writer, orator, and statesman Cicero, who lived in the first century b.c., wrote that "a thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues." The psalmist, overwhelmed by a heart and attitude of thanksgiving, put it this way: "What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?" (Ps. 116:12, ). And, with a thankful heart, the people of Judah "rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa" (2 Chron. 20:20, ). Note that there is no attention given to the weapons of the armies of Judah. Nothing is said about swords and shields nor bows and arrows. If the words of the prophet were true (i.e. that there would be no need to fight this battle), then why carry unnecessary weight? Many people today are burdened with weights and loads of care in a senseless attempt to fight in battles that do not belong to them but to God. I am aware of the "bring-along-an-extra-pair-of-this-or-that-just-in-case" mentality. In fact, I am in danger of subscribing to this mentality because I was once caught unprepared. Years ago, during my first year as a pastor (1982), I was invited to speak during a revival service in Seattle, Washington, and I broke the "bring-along-an-extra-pair" rule. The long and short of it is that I ran out of clothing. Thanks to my gracious host, who took me shopping, I was able to purchase an extra pair of gray double-knit slacks. Nevertheless, we must not attempt to be overly "practical" in matters of faith. Often, we are to be armed with nothing but our faith in God. Notice that the destination of the armies of Judah was the wilderness of Tekoa. Tekoa was a small town located south of Bethlehem and north of Hebron, within the wilderness of Judah. It was 2,790 feet above sea level. What is the spiritual significance behind these facts? Firstly, much of Tekoa was wilderness, and it is often during the wilderness experiences of our lives that we learn how to depend on our heavenly Father for protection and provision-especially when great companies over which we have no might come against us to do battle. From then on, the Lord's provision and protection during our times of barrenness and wilderness will ring within our souls with a depth of insight into His goodness in a way that few other experiences can give us. I believe that this sort of profound praise and thanksgiving was in the heart of the psalmist as he led the people in worship by declaring, "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul" (Ps. 124:2-4, ). More than two decades ago, I attended an annual ministers' institute held on the campus of Bishop College, my alma mater, in Dallas, Texas. The keynote speaker was the late Dr. Dearing E. King, the then-pastor emeritus of the Monumental Church of Chicago, Illinois. Dr. King shared the story of his humble beginnings and how God provided for him to matriculate at LeMoyne-Owen College in Tennessee despite lack of funds. He lived with just his mother, who worked as a maid. Somehow, the two of them managed to save up enough to get him into school, but eventually the money ran out and he returned home. His mother came home from a hard day's work of cleaning and found him there. He told her he had been forced to leave school because of lack of funds. This was unacceptable to her, and she immediately sent him back to school. The young Dr. King protested, but his objections fell on deaf ears. His mother gave him a few dollars-not nearly enough to pay for tuition. Yet the school accepted whatever he could pay. Dr. King told us, "When I told Mama what had happened, she began to praise and shout, 'Nobody but You, Jesus! Nobody but You, Jesus! Nobody but You!'" The fact that our heavenly Father provides for us during our seasons of barrenness and times of wilderness will elicit praise and thanksgiving from us. Some of us may bow our heads, our faces to the ground; others may fall before the Lord; still others may stand up to praise the Lord with a loud voice. No matter the mode, the method, or the manner, every grateful child of God will render due praise to Him. The next detail concerning Tekoa that we will examine is the fact that it was 2,790 feet above sea level-that is, more than half a mile. From an elevated position, we get a bird's-eye view of life. Remember that the prophet had promised the people that they would see the salvation of the Lord. Perched atop the mountains of the Tekoa wilderness, they set themselves firmly to look into the valley and see the salvation of the Lord. There are some things one cannot see unless he or she is in an elevated position. During the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, He visited the city of Jericho. On one occasion, a man named Zacchaeus, a tax collector by trade, desired to see Jesus. Zacchaeus' initial attempt failed because the crowd was massive and he was small. However, he refused to allow the large crowd and his diminutive stature to hinder him from seeing the Master. The Bible records that he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree because he knew that Jesus would be passing that way. Zacchaeus elevated himself in order to see the salvation of the Lord. When Jesus reached the spot where Zacchaeus was, "he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house" (Luke 19:5, ). Now the moral of the lesson is that if you have not experienced any deliverance lately or if you have not seen the salvation of the Lord since first coming to know Him as Savior, then elevate yourself. Go up a little bit higher. Perch yourself in the mountainous region of the Tekoan wilderness of your life, set yourself firmly, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord! A LEADER ADDRESSES HIS PEOPLE The next item on the king's agenda was to address the people of Judah as they went forth toward the wilderness of Tekoa (see v. 20). The king was present not merely to encourage the people but also to exhort them as they embarked upon the journey to Tekoa. The act of exhortation, though encouraging, also prods, prompts, and pricks one to respond to God in obedience. Exhortation (Grk. parakle sis) is a gift of the Spirit (see 1 Cor. 14:3) and also refers to the very work of the Spirit as He comes alongside us to encourage and admonish us. The act of exhortation was recognized by the early Church as a vital function (see Rom. 12:8). In the Old Testament, the prophets were charged with the responsibility of exhortation, i.e. calling their listeners to the highest performance of their duties (see Isa. 58:1; Jer. 4:14). The attitude of exhortation is present in the words of Jehoshaphat. The directive "hear" (Heb. shama�) means "to call to attention"-not merely for the sake of making an announcement but with the intent of having the listener conform to and comply with the message. The implication is that the hearer will give heed to the herald's message and respond in obedience. Because he was aware that some who went forth might fall from the ranks of the righteous because of fear and discouragement, the king exhorted them to believe in the Lord. Every leader feels a measure of concern that some within the congregation may well lose focus. This is why those who are charged with leadership responsibilities should, at regular intervals, stand before the people, encouraging them and exhorting them to do their very best and climb to their highest for the sake of the Kingdom. Thus, as the people made their way out of the gates and headed toward the wilderness of Tekoa, King Jehoshaphat gave them this final admonition: "Have a firm faith in Jehovah, believe the words of His prophets, and you will not only be protected but also successful. You will see the salvation of the Lord." A RADICAL AND RECKLESS FAITH Every now and then you will hear someone complain that "religion and going to church are boring." Some have even remarked that Christianity is for people who can't make it in life and need a crutch. The next time you come across those who make such remarks, direct them to this passage of Scripture for it reveals that these "religious" folks, i.e. the people of Judah, were not full of cowardice but courage. And their experience was definitely not boring; it was a reckless, adventurous, radical act of faith. After a consultation with the people, the king did something both radical and reckless: he appointed praise singers and sent them out before the army of Judah. To send out an army in spite of the fact that it is outnumbered and outgunned against multiple militias is, in itself, an act of bravery. When a person enlists in the military, he or she is aware that he or she might be confronted with life-threatening situations. When nothing stands as a shield between the enemy and those whom a soldier has sworn to protect, he or she is expected to stand in the gap and fight the enemy. Conversely, those who join the choir know they are signing up to sing, but they don't expect to find the words "Be ready to march in front of the army as they go into battle"-even in the very fine print. If this were included in a chorister's responsibilities, choir stands in more than a few churches would be empty all across the land. It seems there was an understanding between the choirs and the armies of Israel. They indeed had a relationship. The singers and musicians often went before the armies; however, this usually occurred as they were marching home in victory. When God gave them victory over their enemies, the troops marched back home with the choir in the lead. But this time the choir was in front of the troops as they marched toward their enemies. Boring? I think not! Is Christianity for those who can't make it elsewhere in life and need a crutch? Certainly not! As the singers took their positions before the army of Judah, they lifted up their voices and proclaimed, "Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever" (v. 21, After God gives you the assurance in your heart of the answer to your prayer, what should you do? ?