Stand Still and Go Down

To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you. And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord. (2 Chronicles 20:16-18)

Nothing about your problem surprises God. We see this in verse 16, above, where God informed Judah of the enemy's location and where they would appear. God knew the problem and already had the answer. The enemy’s movements were not hidden from Heaven. If you feel like you’ve been ambushed by the enemy, know that God already has your victory mapped out. God instructed His people to “go down” against the enemy. Wait, were they supposed to stand still or move against them? It might seem like God gave conflicting commands until you understand how faith works. Faith always requires participation after hearing, believing, and receiving God's Word. You don’t fight for victory, but you show up to witness it.

Obedience is the invitation; God’s power brings the result. In verse 17, God told His people: “You shall not need to fight… set yourselves… stand still… see the salvation of the Lord.” To set yourself means to take a firm stance. It means deciding in advance not to panic, retreat, or be moved by what comes against you. Standing still doesn’t mean doing nothing. It means refusing to react out of fear. Then comes the promise: “See the salvation of the Lord with you.” Notice that God said His salvation is with you. He is with you in the midst of trouble. That’s why God directly addressed fear: “Fear not, nor be dismayed for the Lord will be with you.” If God is with you, the outcome is already decided, even if nothing has changed yet. In response to this revelation, Jehoshaphat bowed his head until his face touched the ground. It’s a posture of surrender. Then the people followed. When leaders worship first, cultures shift.

Practical Application

Obedience positions you for victory, even when the task seems small; know that you are preparing for victory in battles you didn’t see coming. Obey God quickly and thoroughly, and witness the Lord’s victory.

Psalm 95:6; Exodus 4:31