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From Ziz to Berucah

2 Chronicles 20:25-26

Then Jehoshaphat and his people went to gather the plunder. They found them an abundance of goods on the bodies and valuable items. So they stripped them until nobody could carry any more. They were gathering the plunder for three days because there was so much. They assembled in the Valley of Berucah on the fourth day, for there they praised the LORD. Therefore, that place is still called the Valley of Berucah today.

God told Jehoshaphat he would see the enemy armies coming up the slopes of Ziz. He was to meet them as they reached the Wilderness of Jeruel. Jehoshaphat never had to fight. He appointed a choir to praise and give thanks to the LORD. When he did, it sent the enemy armies into confusion, and they turned on each other. Jehoshaphat and his army simply gathered the plunder – and what a tremendous plunder they found! They spent three days taking all the valuables the enemy had acquired.

To fully understand the victory which took place, we must consider the meaning of the names given to the places where this battle occurred. Ziz means, “oppression.” The enemy armies came from a place of oppression to threaten Judah, which means, “praise.” This oppression also carries the intent to defraud, violate, and deceive. Without doubt, our enemy tries to steal from us by feeding us lies intended to defraud, violate, and deceive what we know to be true about God. If he can convince us and steal our praise, we will be defeated and a slave to his power.

The battle of oppression, however, is God’s battle to fight. Only He can turn back the enemies that seek to destroy the work He is doing in us. We need only to believe His Word, regardless of what our feelings and circumstances may indicate. When we boldly declare His Word with praise and thanksgiving, He sends the enemy into confusion because we aren’t acting according to our emotions but according to the truth of God’s Word.

When Jehoshaphat and his army gathered the plunder from the Valley of Ziz (oppression), they renamed the place, “Valley of Berucah.” How fitting a name because Berucah means, “blessing.” The place of oppression became the very place of incredibly huge blessing when God fought for Judah!

If you are facing oppression today, begin to thank God and praise His name. Boldly declare promises from His Word over your situation, and watch Him set an ambush for your enemy. The very place which causes you pain from oppression holds extreme blessing if you will simply believe in His everlasting love for you and thank Him for it. Your Ziz can become Berucah when you trust Him to fight for you.

Have a blessed day!

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