1st Chronicles 11 GOD HAS A PLAN Consistent with the objective of unifying a comparatively small group of people from divergent places who for the most part 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 failures of the leader nor even all of the bad things that happened to the nation. This account was to assist them in the starting of a new national identity as a united people. There are a few incidents of failure that would help them to avoid repeating the same problem, but to relate the sordid details of the failure of their ancient leaders would serve no positive purpose. Even to remind the exiles who had returned of the reluctance of the nation as a whole 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 derived from bringing the cause of discipline up again after it has been dealt with. There will always be found a reason, we think, for being critical of others. Sometimes we will feel ourselves quite godly if when we are criticized and corrected, we take it with downcast eyes, and a sanctimonious humble demeanor - and maybe even are able to arrange ourselves to shed a few tears. The actual point of any correction and discipline is to change one's behavior and attitude so they will not repeat the offense or do anything we know is not consistent with fellowship with God's plans.
Details 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 while the rest of Israel chose to follow Saul's family, are 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 new 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 so they can make sure their charges will avoid the dangers in that area. Also, they will know where the "green pastures" are so the people can receive the greatest benefits for their maintenance and growth. Shepherds know potential enemies as well as obvious enemies. The poison of "tansy-ragwort" with its attractive yellows flowers is as great a danger 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 and that is what counts. There will be open battles against false teachers so that the sheep will not fall prey to their lies and deception.
To "rule well" doesn't require a baseball bat to instill fear 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.
In order 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 that were 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 the exiles had and they needed to know why. The Jebusites who inhabited the city first, thought they were safe from any attack. Joab took the lead, and just how he conquered the city was not important to the narrative. Ezra wanted the new generation of Jewish inhabitants to know the real reason behind the importance of the city. That reason was because "The Lord of Hosts," "The Lord Almighty" was with David.
The only hope of spiritual victory, or effective 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 in which we are involved. God has His own timetable, and in it 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 king over Judah. Other things needed to be done before he took Jerusalem. God has a plan. He is in control. His sovereign will, directs events to produce what He knows is best. "Our times are in Thy hands."
Saul lost his credibility when he wanted for himself that which belonged to God. David gained his credibility by his trust in God through waiting times as well as the active struggles. In his victories he gave God the credit for doing that which is out of the ordinary to produce the fulfillment of His plans. 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 it burdens, but when we "cast our burdens upon the Lord," and do what 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 presence and power of God made David an effective leader who became more powerful because he was conscious of his own weakness and was committed to walk in conscious fellowship with the Lord Almighty.
The Jews who returned from Babylon at that time we reminded by the chronicler of those who followed David with bravery and loyalty. They were committed to David their leader, not to enhancing their own reputations. One exception was Joab who was a skilled brave leader but was not counted among the "mighty men" because of his narcissism and self-centered ambition. It takes courage to step out ahead of others and lead them through difficult time. One has to be loyal to his Lord in order to stand for what is right, even when he 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.
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 one can maintain an effective ministry and still be happy in his 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.
Our 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 of earth where their service is unknown and there is great loneliness every day and wondering if anybody even cares about what we are doing or where we are. Opposition is directed against the mighty men and women of God 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 daily consistent lives in their calling but are never recognized, and are overlooked and considered of little worth. These are mighty people in the mighty army of the Almighty God.
Valiant, honorable people are recognized by God and 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 own 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 that this is the will of God for me. Some names of God's mighty men in my life were in our assembly, in books about them I have read, men and women with whom I have served. They would not have considered themselves might and would not care if their labors for the Lord were never heralded among the people. They just 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 for God that which had been broken down, 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.