Have you ever considered the fact that your praise to God is a weapon against Satan? It most certainly is! Our genuine praises to God with an upright heart can defeat the enemy in our lives and in others’ lives. Take note of an account from 2 Chronicles,

"And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten." [2 Ch 20:20-22]

Jehoshaphat, in faith toward God, stations people to praise The LORD in front of the whole army! In response to this praise, The LORD defeats the enemy before Israel’s army.

This same concept is found in Psalms,

"Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou founded praise because of thine enemies, that thou mightest restrain the one being an enemy and the one desirous of vengeance." [Psa 8:2]

The Septuagint (LXX) may make things clearer,

"Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou perfected praise, because of thine enemies; that thou mightest put down the enemy and avenger." [Psa 8:2 LXX]

The LORD has established praise as a weapon! One reason The LORD establishes/founds praise is to restrain the enemy and the avenger – the ones acting as enemies toward us and as avengers. Our praise can truly stop the enemy!

Next time you are in a spiritual battle or suffering due to enemy attack, follow Jehoshaphat’s example and praise God before you do anything else. Forget about man-made strategy and books and philosophies and tactics; forget about all that junk and praise God. Regardless of emotion, praise The LORD for He is worthy and He will deliver you. David says,

"I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies." [Psa 18:3]

Not only does praise deliver us from spiritual attack, but it can also deliver us from bondage. Paul and Silas were thrown into prison for Jesus’ sake. In the dark and dirty prison the began to praise God. Luke records,

"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed." [Acts 16:25-26]

Praise defeats the enemy. Our praise restrains the enemy. And our praise shakes the foundations of prisons! Have you ever considered praising God for deliverance from a certain sin or temptation? I think praise can offer a lot more to us than we think. And emotion has nothing to do with it. When we are being attacked or tempted, we are generally not in the best mood. But God still expects us to praise Him.

CONCLUSION

Our praise of The LORD is a weapon, and results in spiritual progress and joy. Look at the end of the account from Chronicles:

"They were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much" [2 Ch 20:25]

And,

"Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for The LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies." [2 Ch 20:27]