“All
these, being men of war who could draw up in battle formation, came to Hebron
with a perfect heart to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest also
of Israel were of one mind to make David king.” (v.38)
Chapter
12 gives us a list of all the men of war who came to David from all over Israel
to pledge themselves to him in defense of his kingdom. The numbers of men and
divisions equipped for war the Bible likens to, “the army of God” (v.22). These
were men of valor (v.30), stouthearted men who could keep ranks
(v.33), armed for battle with every
kind of weapon of war (v.37), and were
of one mind (v.38).
Oh that
every man of God would learn to keep rank, shoulder
to shoulder, in step with our brethren and with an undivided heart. That the church would center around
the Son of David, Jesus Christ, and not fracture over infighting, pride or individual
differences.
The Truth
“Therefore,
my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the
work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1
Corinthians 15:58)
