Valley of Blessing

I first met my daughter standing by a stop sign on Hardin Road in a misting rain. Although we’d never met, I put my arm around her and asked if she was alright. I knew a little about her from my son. I’d heard them talking on the phone. He met her at work and though they hadn’t yet been on a date, they talked for hours. When I asked him to tell me about her, he stood silently, deep in thought, unsure of exactly what to say. Who does she look like? Who does she remind you of? His sister, he said. She’s a lot like Caroline.

Jacob and Valentina’s first date would probably have ruined any chance of a second for most people. Caught in a sudden downpour, his truck hydroplaned, colliding with an oncoming truck with enough force to total both vehicles, sending one into the guardrail and his spinning uncontrollably. Neither flipped but theirs teetered frighteningly backward over an embankment, requiring them both to climb upward through the passenger door to escape.

By the time we reached them, the tow truck was loading his vehicle from the homebound lane. Much of the evidence of the accident was removed. We delivered her safely home, she changed her clothes and came to pick him up in her car to continue their date. My husband and I spent the rest of the evening praying for their safe return and thanking God for delivering them. I routinely pass Hardin Road en route to my daughter’s house. Not a time goes by that I fail to remember that night with thanksgiving, the night I met my daughter.

The psalmist wrote that the Lord’s comfort is found even in the valley of the shadow of death. (Psalm 23:4) I will not be afraid, he continued. Fear and dread followed me down that road toward the unknown that night, but I should have remembered the closing lines of the Shepherd psalm, for God’s goodness and mercy were in my wake.

Israel’s kings were largely a sordid lot, but every few generations, one came along who feared God and recognized His Lordship. King Jehoshaphat of Judah was a good king. He did what was right in the Lord’s sight. (II Chronicles 20:32) He encouraged the people to return to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. (II Chronicles 19:4) When he received word that an enemy army was marching against him, he turned to God for help. He did not seek help from neighboring kings and their armies as some of Israel’s other kings had done. He did not let his fear drive his choices. He remembered the One who put him on the throne of Israel, the source of Israel’s strength, almighty God. In doing so, he led a nation toward obedience to God.

“Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance.

He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the Lord’s help.

Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the Lord.

He prayed, “O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven.

You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth.

You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you!

O our God, won’t you stop them?

We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us.

We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”

After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor.

This is what they sang:

“Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!”

At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.

So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see.

Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.

King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder.

They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing, and other valuables—more than they could carry.

There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all!

On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing, which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the Lord there.

It is still called the Valley of Blessing today.

When all the surrounding kingdoms heard that the Lord himself had fought against the enemies of Israel, the fear of God came over them.

So Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.”

2 Chronicles 20:3-6, 12, 21-22, 24-26, 29-30 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/2ch.20.3-30.NLT

Once the king mustered his troops, I love how he publicly acknowledged that the battle is the Lord’s, like his ancestor David in his battle against Goliath and the Philistines. (I Samuel 17:47) His elite fighting force was stationed behind singers who were praising the Lord for His Holy Splendor. At the very moment they began singing, “Give thanks to the Lord; His faithful love endures forever!” the Lord caused the enemy armies to start fighting among themselves. By the time Israel arrived at the battlefield, the enemy lay dead. Not a single soldier had escaped and it took Israel’s army three days to collect all the plunder.

I am so convicted by this story and I learn something new each time the Lord brings me back to it. When Jacob was just a preschooler, the church we attended cancelled all children’s activities for the summer. Jehoshaphat became my battle cry as I gathered several moms on the newly constructed church playground. “We don’t know what to do, Lord,” I prayed, “but our eyes are on You.” We met every Wednesday and Sunday night with our families all summer long. Each family took a turn providing pizzas and teaching a Bible story. God brought kids from the neighborhood on foot who had never attended church before. What a difference it makes when we determine to acknowledge God as our refuge and strength, our ever present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

No matter what your unknowns, God sees, He knows, and He is always working everything together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose for them. (Romans 8:28) Never stop praying. (I Thessalonians 5:17) Warm up your singing voice and start praising the Lord today. Give no opportunity to the devil. (Ephesians 4:27 ESV) And when the the blessings and the peace that surpasses your ability to understand comes, don’t forget to thank Him! (Philippians 4:7)

““Be still, and know that I am God!

I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude”

Psalms 46:10-11 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.46.10-11.NLT