When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. Psalm 118:5-6a NIV
We all go through times when when the pressure is mounting and we feel the weight of our circumstances. Such was the case when the psalmist penned these words. So what did he do? He cried out to the Lord for help! God heard his cry, stayed close by his side and took away his fear!
In 2 Chronicles 20 we read about a time in Jehoshaphat’s life when he too was under a great deal of pressure. A vast army was ready to attack, in fact it already had a foothold in his land. So what did he do?
Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. 2 Chronicles 20:3-4 NIV
When the pressure is on, there’s only one wise thing to do, seek help from the Lord! Pray and fast!
For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12b NIV
After taking everything into consideration, the psalmist came to this conclusion:
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. Psalm 119:8-9 NIV
No one is in a better position to help you than the Lord! As we read further into Psalm 118, we get an idea of just how much pressure the writer was under.
“They surrounded me on every side”…… “They swarmed around me like bees”…… “I was pushed back and about to fall”
Can you relate to this kind of pressure? Have you ever been hard pressed on every side, feeling like everything was about to fall apart? If so let this psalm encourage you!
I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things! The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!” I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done. Psalm 118:13-17 NIV
When Jehoshaphat prayed and fasted, God listened! This was the message He sent to Jehoshaphat:
‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s…You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you. 2 Chronicles 15:b, 17a NIV
If you read the rest of story, you’ll see that while Jehoshaphat and the people worshiped and sang praises to the Lord, God defeated their enemy. They fought the battle on their knees and never needed to pick up a spear!
After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 2 Chronicles 20:21-22 NIV
Both the psalmist and Jehoshaphat came to the same conclusion:
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 118:29 NIV
Click here to read both Psalm 118 and 2 Chronicles 20.