For the King and the Kingdom!

One Mind

(1 Chronicles 12, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, November 19, 2017)

[1] Now these are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul the son of Kish. And they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. [2] They were bowmen and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right or the left hand; they were Benjaminites, Saul's kinsmen. [3] The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, both sons of Shemaah of Gibeah; also Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah, Jehu of Anathoth, [4] Ishmaiah of Gibeon, a mighty man among the thirty and a leader over the thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad of Gederah, [5] Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite; [6] Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites; [7] And Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

[8] From the Gadites there went over to David at the stronghold in the wilderness mighty and experienced warriors, expert with shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were swift as gazelles upon the mountains: [9] Ezer the chief, Obadiah second, Eliab third, [10] Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth, [11] Attai sixth, Eliel seventh, [12] Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth, [13] Jeremiah tenth, Machbannai eleventh. [14] These Gadites were officers of the army; the least was a match for a hundred men and the greatest for a thousand. [15] These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it was overflowing all its banks, and put to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west.

[16] And some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. [17] David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in friendship to help me, my heart will be joined to you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, although there is no wrong in my hands, then may the God of our fathers see and rebuke you.” [18] Then the Spirit clothed Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said,“We are yours, O David, and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers! For your God helps you.” Then David received them and made them officers of his troops.

[19] Some of the men of Manasseh deserted to David when he came with the Philistines for the battle against Saul. (Yet he did not help them, for the rulers of the Philistines took counsel and sent him away, saying, “At peril to our heads he will desert to his master Saul.”) [20] As he went to Ziklag, these men of Manasseh deserted to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in Manasseh. [21] They helped David against the band of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor and were commanders in the army. [22] For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God.

[23] These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops who came to David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of the LORD. [24] The men of Judah bearing shield and spear were 6,800 armed troops. [25] Of the Simeonites, mighty men of valor for war, 7,100. [26] Of the Levites 4,600. [27] The prince Jehoiada, of the house of Aaron, and with him 3,700. [28] Zadok, a young man mighty in valor, and twenty-two commanders from his own fathers' house. [29] Of the Benjaminites, the kinsmen of Saul, 3,000, of whom the majority had to that point kept their allegiance to the house of Saul. [30] Of the Ephraimites 20,800, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers' houses. [31] Of the half-tribe of Manasseh 18,000, who were expressly named to come and make David king. [32] Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command. [33] Of Zebulun 50,000 seasoned troops, equipped for battle with all the weapons of war, to help David with singleness of purpose. [34] Of Naphtali 1,000 commanders with whom were 37,000 men armed with shield and spear. [35] Of the Danites 28,600 men equipped for battle. [36] Of Asher 40,000 seasoned troops ready for battle. [37] Of the Reubenites and Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh from beyond the Jordan, 120,000 men armed with all the weapons of war.

[38] All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king. [39] And they were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their brothers had made preparation for them. [40] And also their relatives, from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, came bringing food on donkeys and on camels and on mules and on oxen, abundant provisions of flour, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, and wine and oil, oxen and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.

From day to day men came to David to help him.

During the last several weeks we have been looking at the military side of David's story. Two weeks ago we met “the three,” then “the thirty,” and finally today the larger contingent of all those who were mighty men under David's command. Many things were left out when the Chronicler told this important story. What was included? Names, connections, tribes, places, descriptions of strength and character, and an assessment of loyalty toward David.

Where did all these thousands of men come from ? They did not arrive all at once. Verse 22 informs us that “from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God.” David had been on the run from Saul, and had even been forced to feign madness in order to stay alive when he ended up in front of the “king” of Gath, one of the cities of the Philistines. During those days he ended up living in wilderness caves. 1 Samuel 22:1-2 gives us more details: “… his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.” So that was the beginning, but not the end. More men were added in Ziklag and Hebron as it became clear David should be king. (See 1 Chronicles 11:1-3.)

They were mighty men of valor...

Despite their various backgrounds, these men were “mighty men of valor.” Those words can be used to describe both enemies or friends. They can also be a great encouragement of what one could be. When God first called Gideon a “mighty man of valor” Gideon was still very afraid of Israel's enemies. He was no David then, but the Lord changed him with His Word. He was given the gifts of faith and strength, and He became more than He had been. Same for David's men.

With singleness of purpose...

The central declaration of 1 Chronicles 12 came by the Spirit of God in response to David's test. He was not intending to massacre them if they were against him, but to leave them in the hands of the Almighty. Yet they were loyal to David. They in turn looked for peace for David, for David's God, for the army, for the kingdom—a wholeness that might required their lives in battle in order for it to be achieved. This was God's gift to them by the Spirit and also their confession.

Men who understood the times and who knew what Israel ought to do,

As the passage moves toward the anointing of David by all Israel, the numbers coming over to David's side grew dramatically. There are many inspiring notes in these verses, but look especially at the men of Issachar in verse 32, They were “men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” What was Israel supposed to do? Unite around David the king, just as the church should unite around the resurrected son of God, Jesus.

And there was joy in Israel—The amazing story of the I-AM—The church and everyone else

Indecisive and corrupt leadership is discouraging and debilitating to warriors and to the whole nation. The right leader fills his people with loyalty and dedication to a higher purpose. Such a man draws people to himself and beyond himself, making them better because of their association with him. We have the best of all captains in the I-AM Jesus. We belong to Him. As God is our help, we seek shalom for the one Triune God and for the entirety of His dedicated church. We need our leaders to be men of faith and strength, mighty men of valor who will remain true to the King even in the midst of disappointment and persecution. How can we help? Faith is a gift of God from beginning to end, but it is a grace which can be pursued by seeing Jesus in the Word. Pray and bring support to your warriors. Rejoice with the King!

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 35 – Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of his servants!

Gospel Reading—Matthew 10:16-25

[16] “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. [17] Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, [18] and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. [19] When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. [20] For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. [21] Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, [22] and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. [23] When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. [24] A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. [25] It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.”