Guitar Hero

As we worship God, we can become more attuned to His power and His presence.  We can even see His power released in a new and fresh way.  And, we can find that we are triumphant in the challenges we encounter as we enter into worship.  This principle is found in 2nd Chronicles 20, as
King Jehoshophat had led the army of Judah into battle:
20 So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper."
21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever."
22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.

Is that an antiquated Bible story or an example to us about the power of praise?  I believe the latter - there is something that happens in the spirit realm as we begin to offer the sacrifice of praise to God. A translation of Psalm 22 says that God inhabits the praises of His people.  When we are weak, we can come before God in worship and we can gain a fresh touch of His strength.  Our worship can be a powerful resources in challenging times.

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The Bible portrays for us a life of spiritual sensitivity, including the practice of worship, underscored in this passage from Ephesians 5:
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord...

Yishai Montgomery is a 26-year-old amateur guitarist who lives in Israel.  Recently he had just sat down to play his guitar near the ocean when he heard screams.  A Palestinian assailant on a stabbing spree was in the process of claiming a victim.  According to the story on The Blaze website, Montgomery told Israel’s Channel 2, “I heard screams and then I saw the terrorist, I slammed my guitar on his head." He added, "He was stunned and didn’t know what to do with himself."

The story continues: "He started to run down the street. I left everything behind and shouted ‘terrorist,’ and started to run after him with a group of six to seven people."  The Blaze reports that Montgomery told Israel Hayom, "If I didn’t have my guitar in my hand he would have succeeded in stabbing me."

An Israeli police spokesman tweeted that the assailant was shot and killed at the scene.

During the stabbing spree, an American from Lubbock, TX lost his life - a U.S. Army veteran and graduate student at Vanderbilt University, Taylor Force.  And, The Blaze story referred to a report on The Post, which noted that’s also the hometown of the guitarist’s father and grandparents.  A dozen others were wounded in the stabbing spree.

After learning he had wrecked his guitar in a most unusual way, Israelis chipped in to buy Montgomery a new instrument. But a local music store beat them to it and gave Montgomery a new guitar in honor of his actions.

The story points out that Israel has faced a wave of nearly daily Palestinian attacks since September. It's a sobering reminder of the need to follow the Scriptures and to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. There was a comment to the article to that effect.  

This young man stood in the face of evil and realized that he had a tool that could be used to thwart its advance, so used his guitar, which I would imagine it was something very precious to him.  You certainly can laud Yishai's courage and his presence of mind to take a bold step and use the resource he had at hand.   I think of the words of God to Moses after he had called him to be his representative before Pharoah - "what is that in your hand?"  What do each of us have in order to carry out the work of God?

Finally, something that struck me from this story is that a man used a musical instrument to turn back an enemy.  Now, think with me about how the use of music in worship can be a powerful force against our spiritual enemy.  I believe there is a relationship between worship and spiritual warfare. Our praise can activate the power of God in the circumstances we face.  Before going into battle, King Jehoshophat called for a worship service, a time of singing praises to God.  Saul commissioned David to play the harp to turn back an evil spirit which vexed him.  When we are oppressed by the enemy, we can sing or speak words of praise to God so that His presence is released in our lives.