Day 4 Sun May 17th
Prayer
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Let us bow down in humility at the power and grandeur of the Holy Spirit. Let us worship the Holy Trinity and give glory today to the Paraclete, our Advocate. O Holy Spirit, by Your power, Christ was raised from the dead to save us all. By Your grace, miracles are performed in Jesus’ name. By Your love, we are protected from evil. And so, we ask with humility and a beggar’s heart for Your gift of Patience within us. O Holy Spirit, you give lavishly to those who ask. Please give us the patience of the Saints who are now with you in heaven. Help us to endure everything with an eternal patience that is only possible with your help.
Reflect on these words
King Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah for 25 years from 870 - 849 B.C. In 2 Chron 20 we are told that the king received news that his kingdom was about to be attacked by formidable armies. From a military point of view the position looked hopeless. Not surprisingly the king was filled with fear and anxiety. But instead of wrestling with the problem, he nestled by faith in the Lord by means of prayer and fasting. Having poured out his heart to the Lord, Jehosophat waited for a divine response. It came through one of his priests who spoke a word of prophecy. “Your majesty,” he said, “and all you people of Judah and Jerusalem, the Lord says you must not be discouraged or afraid to face this large army. The battle depends on God and not on you.” (2 Chron 20:15).
We are told that: “early in the morning .... As the army set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and the people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." 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." In other words, the priests and musicians led the soldiers in shouting the teruah Yahweh as they marched into battle. The scriptures tell us what happened next, “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 Chron 20:20-22).
