I am currently reading the book of 1 Chronicles. If you have not read
the first few chapters word for word, name by name, I recommend you give
it a try. It's not as easy as you might think. Today I read chapter 12
which describes the first warriors who came to join King David when he
was banished by Saul. The names are given in addition to their skill
levels. There were archers who could use both hands skillfully. There
were men who had been trained for battle. Some are described as having
faces of lions and swift as gazelles. These were no ordinary warriors.
More names are listed and are said the least of them could take on 100 men themselves and the greatest could take on 1,000. These men crossed the Jordan to be at the side of King David when the river was overflowing its banks. They risked their own lives in order to answer the call to battle alongside David. Then, in the midst of listing all those who rushed to his aid is a verse that stopped me in my reading.
"And some from Manasseh defected to David when he was going with the Philistines to battle against Saul; but they did not help them, for the lords of the Philistines sent him away by agreement, saying, He may defect to his master Saul and endanger our heads." 1 Chronicles 12:19
Even though thousands were willing to come alongside David in battle, there were still those who were fearful and doubted his cause. They were worried David's battle would fail or he would have second thoughts on his commitment and that would come back to harm them. I have seen this happen in our own lives when we are facing a battle. It could be one of a spiritual or an emotional nature. There are those who are willing to risk being hurt themselves (ie those who crossed the Jordan at its highest time of year) but there are also those who will refuse to become involved because it could cause them to look badly in the future.
My favorite part of this chapter is that after this verse it continues telling of those who join David's side. It does not dwell on those who have refused to be there during David's time of need. It does not say David was devastated or called off what he knew God was telling him to do. How do you react when those whom you thought would be there for you disassociate themselves from you during your time of battle? Verse 22 says "At that time, men came day after day to help David until there was a great army, like an army of God."
Because of Jesus' death and resurrection we are always surrounded by an army of God. The Holy Spirit is always with us in any battle we face. Focus on those who stand with you, not those who are absorbed in their own needs. I think David's story ended pretty well without them.
More names are listed and are said the least of them could take on 100 men themselves and the greatest could take on 1,000. These men crossed the Jordan to be at the side of King David when the river was overflowing its banks. They risked their own lives in order to answer the call to battle alongside David. Then, in the midst of listing all those who rushed to his aid is a verse that stopped me in my reading.
"And some from Manasseh defected to David when he was going with the Philistines to battle against Saul; but they did not help them, for the lords of the Philistines sent him away by agreement, saying, He may defect to his master Saul and endanger our heads." 1 Chronicles 12:19
Even though thousands were willing to come alongside David in battle, there were still those who were fearful and doubted his cause. They were worried David's battle would fail or he would have second thoughts on his commitment and that would come back to harm them. I have seen this happen in our own lives when we are facing a battle. It could be one of a spiritual or an emotional nature. There are those who are willing to risk being hurt themselves (ie those who crossed the Jordan at its highest time of year) but there are also those who will refuse to become involved because it could cause them to look badly in the future.
My favorite part of this chapter is that after this verse it continues telling of those who join David's side. It does not dwell on those who have refused to be there during David's time of need. It does not say David was devastated or called off what he knew God was telling him to do. How do you react when those whom you thought would be there for you disassociate themselves from you during your time of battle? Verse 22 says "At that time, men came day after day to help David until there was a great army, like an army of God."
Because of Jesus' death and resurrection we are always surrounded by an army of God. The Holy Spirit is always with us in any battle we face. Focus on those who stand with you, not those who are absorbed in their own needs. I think David's story ended pretty well without them.
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