DAVID AND HIS MIGHTY MEN. 1st Chronicles 11 Consistent with unifying a comparatively small group of people from divergent places who, for most of their lives, were only allowed to do what they were told, is the recounting of the life and work of their most illustrious leader in their history as a nation. There would be no reason to go back over the leader's failures or even all the bad things that happened to the country. This account was to assist those who had returned from exile in establishing a new national identity as a united people.
A few incidents of failure would help them avoid repeating the same problem, but relating the sordid details of their ancient leaders' failures would serve no positive purpose pertaining to the nation’s future. They would give warnings to each citizen as to what to expect if they forgot the Lord. Even reminding the exiles who had returned of the nation's reluctance to acknowledge the divine appointment of David as the king of all Israel would not have been a positive motivating message.
When God's people have undergone discipline for sin or failure, there is no benefit from bringing the cause of discipline up again after it has been dealt with. There will always be a reason, we think, for being critical of others. Sometimes, we will feel quite godly if we are criticized and corrected, we take it with downcast eyes and a sanctimonious, humble demeanor, and maybe even arrange to shed a few tears. The point of any correction and discipline is to change one's behavior and attitude so that they will not repeat the offense or do anything we know is not consistent with fellowship with God's plans.
There are no details here of David's early life, his victory over Goliath, the animosity of Saul, the cave of Adullam, or even the seven years he was king over Judah, reigning from Hebron. At the same time, the rest of Israel chose to follow Saul's family, which is not mentioned here. Recounting those events would have had no unifying purpose. The urgency of the Chronicles was to lay the foundation, a groundwork, for a new identity and a new day in which they would be established and motivated by divine design. It was important for the sake of the latest generation to know it was "The Lord your God" who told David he would shepherd the sheep and be their ruler.
Shepherds need to know the territory in which they live to ensure their charges will avoid the dangers in that area. Also, they will see where the "green pastures" are so that the people can receive the most significant benefits for their maintenance and growth. Shepherds know potential enemies as well as obvious enemies. The poison of "tansy-ragwort" with its attractive yellow flowers is as dangerous as a prowling wolf. There are weeds the shepherd has to pull out that no one will ever know about except God and you, but you spared the sheep of God's pasture from death, which is what counts. There will be open battles against false teachers so the sheep will not fall prey to their lies and deception.
To "rule well" doesn't require a baseball bat to instill fear in people lest they do something out of the way. A shepherd has enough experience in life that he knows how to be fair and kind at the same time he is firm and plain speaking with authority, Balance and firmness; justice and compassion; a correcting hand and an even hand at the same time all have to be found in one who rules God's people. A "novice" has not yet had the experience to do this. The standard of righteousness and truth are balanced by morality, integrity, spirituality, and grace when one is called to "feed the flock of God" and oversee the affairs of an assembly of God's people.
To help the "returnees" from Babylon who came to the ruins of Jerusalem, it was well that they learned how Jerusalem became important in the first place. The battles and victories recounted in the books of Samuel and Kings may have been known, but the city of David, the temple, and the walls that had to be rebuilt needed to be emphasized. This work was the immediate responsibility of the exiles, and they needed to know why. The Jebusites who inhabited the city first thought they were safe from attack. Joab took the lead, and how he conquered Jerusalem was unimportant to the narrative. Ezra wanted the new generation of Jewish inhabitants to know the real reason behind the city's importance. That was because "The Lord of Hosts," "The Lord Almighty," was with David, and it would be where His presence was known to the people.
“All Israel” in verse one doesn’t refer to the time when only a small number considered David king when Saul died. The reign of Ishbosheth isn’t mentioned because this chronicle is an overview rather than a chronological account of events. Even the beginning of David’s reign is omitted because the subject of the Chronicles is to make the present generation aware of their redemption and to promote unity among all the tribes of Israel.
The only hope of spiritual victory, or compelling testimony and happy assembly life, is when the "Lord Almighty" is with us. This account is not a review of political or social history, but a reminder that spiritual people need God to go before us in any enterprise we are involved in. God has His timetable; the waiting times are as important as the active times. David had to wait seven years for kingship over all Israel after he had been made king over Judah. Other things needed to be done before he took Jerusalem. God has a plan. He is in control. His sovereign will gives direction to events to produce what He knows is best. "Our times are in Thy hands."
Saul lost his credibility when he wanted for himself what belonged to God. David gained credibility through his trust in God during waiting and active struggles. In his victories, he gave God credit for doing what was out of the ordinary to produce the fulfillment of His plans. God's presence and power made David an effective leader who became more powerful because he was conscious of his weakness and committed to walking in conscious fellowship with the Lord Almighty.
We have the ability to live righteously, honestly, with integrity and dignity. When we are committed to excellence in fulfilling our responsibility, we are wise to leave the results to our Lord and give God all the glory. Leadership has its burdens, but when we "cast our burdens upon the Lord," and do what we believe is the will of God, we can rest in faith. There are the Lord's people we represent. He has given us the great privilege of leading them. He will sustain and guide us.
The Jews who returned from Babylon at that time were reminded by the chronicler of those who followed David with bravery and loyalty. They were committed to David, their leader, not to enhancing their reputations. One exception was Joab, a skilled, brave leader who was not counted among the "mighty men" because of his narcissism and self-centered ambition. It takes courage to step ahead of others and lead them through a difficult time. One has to be loyal to one's Lord to stand up for what is right, even when one has to stand alone. For one to expect people to do difficult tasks, he has to be willing to go ahead and do similar tasks himself and do it with clarity and excellence.
For four hundred years after Joshua led the people into the promised land, Jerusalem remained in the hands of the Jebusites. It was a wedge separating the northern and southern tribes of Israel. David knew the strategic location of Jerusalem and defeated the Jebusites who lived there so that it would be the political capital of Israel under his reign. The kind of government he led was like a constitutional monarchy that was divinely appointed, with God as the Supreme Leader and David as the king doing God’s will.
When one is called to serve God in a foreign country, there will be latent resentment by the locals that "one from far away is telling us what to do." The only way to maintain an effective ministry and still be happy in spirit and kind to the people is to know we serve the Lord first and foremost. Then we serve the Lord's people without an exalted opinion of ourselves, our education, or our understanding. No matter who or where we serve, God's people are to be served "without respect of persons." The "mighty men" of today are not only found where I am.
At the beginning of this account of David’s reign, the list of mighty warriors emphasizes Israel's support for David as their king. This review of “The Three” and then “The Thirty” gives a historical dimension to David’s reign by showing the heart of those who knew who God was, who David was, and where they stood in the plans and purposes of God. The incident of David “longing” for a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, three men breaking through enemies to get water and bring it to David, and David offering it as a drink (blood) offering to God, shows the importance of devotion to God and those who serve Him.
Brothers and sisters in Christ today are found in great cities where they live under the constant pressure of temptation. Others are found in obscure places where their service is unknown, and there is great daily loneliness, wondering if anybody even cares about what they are doing or where they are. Opposition is directed against God's mighty men and women today to the extent that some are mocked where they work or go to school. They are abused by those of their own families and/or by the government. Some are physically beaten, imprisoned for meeting publicly, and/or reading the Bible. Some have been beheaded because they would not deny their Lord. Some live consistently in their calling daily but are never recognized, overlooked, or considered of little worth. These are mighty people in the mighty army of the Almighty God.
God recognizes valiant, honorable people who may only be known as a name in a list of names in some address book, but our Lord knows each one and will recompense their faithfulness in His way and time. To be unknown except as a statistic bothers some who want the applause of the people. Those who are conscious of their call by God and who serve Him faithfully with love in their hearts for Him can rest contentedly in the knowledge that this is the will of God for them.
Some names of God's mighty men in my life were in our assembly, in books about them I have read, and in the men and women with whom I have served. They would not have considered themselves mighty and would not care if their labors for the Lord were never heralded among the people. They did what they could to the best of their ability and left the results to God.
In the same way, the returned exiles needed to be reminded of God's plans being carried out in their past; we, too, need to remember those who served God in our recent past. In the same way, they were being challenged to rebuild what had been broken down for God, so we should apply ourselves vigorously to the work we have been given. God carries out many of His plans today through the willing hands and hearts of His people.
What is the elusive key to success? Is there something I can do so that the Lord can bless my efforts to bring about a victory? Is God looking for a special act of faith in those who follow Him? What is He expecting to find in us who love and serve Him? It appears to me that something at the beginning of one’s Christian life leads to winning divine favor. Perhaps it is an attitude one has towards God that leads one to surrender one's will and give the first place in life to the Lord.
One might not be aware of the doctrine of Lordship at first. It is simply that when the light shines upon a person’s redeemed soul, it bursts into a flame of devotion. It becomes a personal burning light of truth and dedication that brightens the soul. That results in a willingness in that person to give God complete control of their life.
There are small things accomplished that we see at first that may not be significant to others, but are important to a grateful person. A prayer of faith answered, a need remarkably supplied, and a joy in the soul that opposition or the world can’t hide. There may be a song, a special hymn, and a prayer that gives confidence to one that the Lord is always there. When the time comes to go further and take a step higher, the things of God appeal to the soul, and the temptations of life are not so attractive.
God’s grace becomes more real the more one experiences it. Faith increases, and we learn what life is all about. God is very real to us as we live and work day to day in the calling He has given us and practice the presence of the Lord, walking with Him in His way. Life becomes a progression, not just a kind of stalemate. We no longer sit around and wait when called to labor for the Master. Instead of waiting for more favorable circumstances, we rise up and attend to our calling so that we and others may know greater blessings.