1 Chronicles 12:22,32: “For at that time they came to David day by day to help him, until it was a great army, like the army of God . . . of the children of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred and all their brethren were at their command;”

August 31st, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

These men of Issachar were wise because they had an “understanding of the times;” they understood the importance of the days they were living in. And based on that understanding, they joined David rather than remain with King Saul. These wise people accepted the headship of God’s appointed king. Two hundred is a small number of men who are knowledgeable politically, nationally, and spiritually. Thousands came forward from every tribe except Issachar, because Issachar understood the spiritual forces at work behind the scenes.

This is a lesson for those of us living in the 21st century. We should also be a people of God who understand the times. We live in a world that is caught up in confusion. Many do not know what is coming, or what to do when it does come. It has been said that 85% of the people in the world don’t understand where their nation or their world is going. Perhaps 10% know and understand but are sitting on the sidelines, doing nothing to influence or help others prepare for what is coming. That leaves only 5% who understand and are actively involved in making a difference in other people’s lives. We in the body of Christ need to be like the men of Issachar, being both influential and useful because we have taken time to understand and know what ought to be done. In a world that is confused, fearful, frustrated, and blind, our God wants us to be useful in leading others to His throne of grace.

“LORD, give us understanding of these last days and use us to lead others to You.”

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1 Chronicles 12 KJV

¹ Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war.  ²They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul’s brethren of Benjamin. ³ The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; and Berachah, and Jehu the Antothite, ⁴ And Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite, ⁵ Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite, ⁶ Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites, ⁷ And Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor. ⁸ And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, andmen of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains; ⁹ Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third, ¹⁰ Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, ¹¹ Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, ¹² Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, ¹³ Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh. ¹⁴ These wereof the sons of Gad, captains of the host: one of the least wasover an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.  ¹⁵These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown all his banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.  ¹⁶ And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David. ¹⁷ And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon , and rebuke it. ¹⁸ Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said , Thine are we , David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.  ¹⁹ And there fell some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.  ²⁰ As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh. ²¹ And they helped David against the band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host.  ²² For at thattime day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God. ²³ And these are the numbers of the bands that wereready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD.  ²⁴ The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war.  ²⁵ Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred. ²⁶ Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred. ²⁷ And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him werethree thousand and seven hundred; ²⁸ And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father’s house twenty and two captains. ²⁹ And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul. ³⁰And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers.  ³¹ And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king. ³² And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment. ³³ Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart. ³⁴ And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand. ³⁵ And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred. ³⁶ And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, forty thousand.  ³⁷ And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty thousand. ³⁸ All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king. ³⁹ And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them. ⁴⁰ Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel.