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2 Chronicles 20:1-37

The Singers Went Before the Army

Lyrics · 2 Chronicles

The Singers Went Before the Army

2 Chronicles 20:1-37

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The Singers Went Before the Army

2 Chronicles 20:1-37

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About this song

This song belongs to the 2 Chronicles collection. One recording is available to play here, with the complete lyrics below.

Bible book
2 Chronicles
Collection
2 Chronicles
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[Verse 1] Moabites, Ammonites, and allied peoples come against Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat fears, sets himself to seek God, and proclaims a fast. The king stands in the new court before the assembled nation. The gift of the land to Abraham's seed is recalled. [Pre-Chorus] The line drew close, the watch was nearly done, Then courage rose before the rising sun. [Chorus] The Singers Went Before the Army, let the trumpet answer clear, Not by number, not by sword, not by fear. The faithful moved where the battle line was drawn, And the purpose of the LORD kept moving on. [Verse 2] All Judah stands with wives and children before the LORD. The Spirit comes upon Jahaziel in the congregation. He declares that the battle is not Judah's but God's. Judah need only stand and see salvation. [Bridge] Jehoshaphat calls for faith in God and his prophets. Singers praising the beauty of holiness go before the armed men. As praise begins, ambushments turn the coalition against itself. Judah sees only fallen bodies and gathers spoil for three days. [Final Chorus] The Singers Went Before the Army, let the trumpet answer clear, Not by number, not by sword, not by fear. The faithful moved where the battle line was drawn, And the purpose of the LORD would still move on. [Outro] The field grew still; the record kept the name. Courage passed onward through the fading flame.

Named in this songAbraham

About the passage

2 Chronicles 20: The army sings, and the coalition falls apart

A large coalition approaches Judah, and Jehoshaphat does not hide either the danger or his fear. He calls the nation to seek the LORD, and his public prayer ends with the plain admission, "neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee." The answer through Jahaziel is equally concrete: Judah must go out, take its position, and watch a battle it will not have to fight. Singers lead the departure, and when praise begins the enemy coalition turns on itself. Judah spends three days gathering spoil from a victory for which no Judean combat is described, then returns to the temple with music. Yet the chapter refuses a smooth heroic ending. Jehoshaphat is still unable to remove every high place, and a later commercial alliance with Ahaziah is condemned. Ships built for the partnership break before sailing. Great deliverance does not make the king incapable of another bad attachment, and one strong chapter does not erase the unresolved pattern.

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