"You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you."
2 Chronicles 20:17
Every soldier knows the power of position in warfare. Throughout military history, battles have been won or lost based on where troops were stationed and how they held their ground. The high ground offers tactical advantage, the narrow pass becomes a defensive stronghold, and the right position can multiply the effectiveness of a smaller force. When God spoke to Jehoshaphat through the prophet Jahaziel, He gave a battle command that seemed to defy military logic: "Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD."
The Hebrew word for "position" used here is yatsab, and it's electrifying. It means to station oneself, to take a stand, to present oneself before someone of authority. This wasn't a casual suggestion to find a comfortable spot to watch. It was a military command to take up a specific battle position with purpose and authority. God wasn't telling His people to cower in fear but to position themselves with confident expectation.
In June 1815, the Battle of Waterloo turned on a matter of position. The Duke of Wellington had spent days studying the terrain before choosing Mont-Saint-Jean as his defensive position. Despite being outnumbered, his careful positioning allowed his smaller force to withstand repeated French attacks. Wellington later remarked, "All the business of war, and indeed all the business of life, is to endeavour to find out what you don't know by what you do." Similarly, Jehoshaphat's army needed to trust God's positioning, even when they didn't understand the strategy.
God's battle position often looks different from human military strategy. In Jehoshaphat's case, the position included singers at the front of the army. From a tactical standpoint, this seemed absurd. Yet this divine positioning wasn't about military advantage but spiritual alignment. When we take up our position according to God's word rather than human wisdom, we place ourselves in the flow of His power.
The command to "stand still" reveals another vital aspect of divine positioning. This wasn't passive waiting but active trust. The Hebrew word implies a firm, resolute stance—like a soldier standing at attention, fully alert and ready. Standing still in this context meant maintaining their position of faith regardless of what they saw or heard. It required more courage than charging into battle.
The positioning God requires often feels counterintuitive. When the enemy is advancing, our instinct is to retreat. When threats loom, we want to take action. When problems multiply, we feel compelled to solve them immediately. Yet sometimes, the most powerful position is one of deliberate stillness, facing our challenges with faith rather than frantic activity.
Consider what happens when we truly understand our position in Christ. We are seated with Him in heavenly places, children of the Most High God, yet we often position ourselves as spiritual orphans begging for crumbs. What would change if we really believed in our assigned position? When we grasp that we're not fighting for victory but from victory, everything shifts. Our position in Christ isn't something we achieve through effort—it's something we receive and maintain through faith. If we truly understood our position, perhaps we would stop exhausting ourselves trying to win battles that Christ has already won.
Your position in God matters more than your opposition from the enemy. When Jehoshaphat's army took their assigned positions, they weren't just standing on physical ground—they were occupying spiritual territory. Their position of praise and worship, while seemingly vulnerable from a military standpoint, actually placed them in the strongest possible defensive position: under God's direct protection.
"Faith's position is always at attention," writes Charles Spurgeon. "True faith stands ready to move at the divine command, or ready to wait the divine will." This powerful insight reminds us that our position of faith isn't static—it's a dynamic readiness to either move or wait at God's direction. Like a soldier at attention, we remain alert and ready while maintaining perfect stillness.
The rewards of maintaining proper position are beyond calculation. Jehoshaphat's army witnessed their enemies destroy themselves without lifting a sword. They spent three days gathering spoils instead of binding wounds. Their position of faith and worship led to victory without casualties—a military miracle by any standard. When we maintain our God-given position, we often find Him fighting battles we never even knew we faced.
Godseekers, your position today determines your victory tomorrow. Whether you face advancing armies of problems, encircling forces of doubt, or attacking legions of fear, your assignment remains the same: position yourself according to God's Word, stand firm in faith, and watch Him fight your battles. The ground of trust, the stance of worship, and the position of praise are your strongest tactical advantages.
Prayer
Lord God, teach us the power of proper positioning. Like Jehoshaphat, we choose to station ourselves in faith and worship, even when circumstances suggest retreat. Help us maintain our position of trust when everything within us wants to fight in our own strength. Thank You for fighting our battles as we stand firm in faith. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Personal Reflection
- In what areas of your life do you need to stop fighting and start standing firm in faith?
- How might your current challenges look different if you viewed them from a position of praise rather than panic?
Step of Faith
Today, I will identify my biggest battle and deliberately take up my position of faith by spending time in worship and thanksgiving instead of worry and strategy.
