Warriors Join David

1 Chron. 12:1-22                                                                                                                      

“Day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God.” (22)

Today’s passage is about the warriors who joined David at Ziklag. Ziklag was David’s hideout during the time that he was banished from the presence of Saul. This was a difficult time, a kind of spiritual desert for David. But even during this time, God was working to establish David as king. God was forming in him a sense of kingship as he learned to depend on God dealing with all kinds of people and hardships. Moreover, during this time the nucleus of David’s kingdom was formed. Warriors came to him to join him and help him in battle. The first group mentioned here were some relatives of Saul. It was dangerous for them to come to David. It meant that they were defecting to David and renouncing their allegiance to their king and their tribe. But they were following the Lord’s leading. They knew and believed God was with David. These men were very skillful warriors who could handle all kinds of weapons. They were ambidextrous and could sling stones right-handed or left-handed. They were among those who helped David in battle.

Next, there were some Gadites who defected to David at his stronghold in the wilderness. They were brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear. Their faces were the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles in the mountains. They were army commanders; the least of them was a match for a hundred and the greatest for a thousand. They crossed the Jordan when it was overflowing its banks like Marines who go first and put to flight everyone in their path. They were trailblazers.

Clearly, God was with David and forming his kingdom through these great warriors. Today, God is calling men and women as warriors of faith. He is extending his kingdom through those who preach the gospel at home and abroad. Our missionaries are especially great heroes of faith who have left homes and country to live humble lives of faith and mission. Actually, all Christians are warriors. We are told to put on the full armor of God in Ehp. 6:10-18. We must put on the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, and have feet fitted with readiness for the gospel. We take up the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. We must pray on all occasions. Every member of the Body of Christ is a spiritual warrior. I believe that the least of us is a match for a hundred and the greatest for a thousand. We are the Lord’s army; Jesus as our Commanding Officer and the Head of the church.

When the author talks about how the Benjamites were good with sword, spear, and sling, I realized that I must grow in correctly handling the word of God. Paul admonished Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God, as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” As we meditate on the word of God and learn how to correctly handle the word, we are training ourselves for spiritual battle. 

May God raise up many spiritual warriors for the gospel in our time who can pray, evangelize the lost and correctly handle the word of truth.