1 Chronicles 12

The author of Chronicles was writing for the generation that was returning to the Promised Land after the Babylonian exile. He did not always present the history in chronological order. He had a prime interest in David, in the conquest of Jerusalem, and in the courageous men that surrounded the king.

After introducing those themes in 1 Chronicles 11, he considered an earlier time in David's story when the son of Jesse was fleeing from Saul. During that period in his life all kinds of men began to gather around David. Some of them were from the tribe of Benjamin, the tribe that Saul came from. Though Saul was their kinsman, they were eager to be associated with the David.

There were many others who came from other tribes who joined the young shepherd and warrior. These men had natural gifts and abilities that they used in service of the man who would become king. But these men would only be welcome if they were willing in their hearts to serve as David's friends. If they would commit to help David he pledged that his heart would be joined to them. If they came to him in deceit then he called upon God to correct them.

The spokesman for these men pledged in the most devoted way that they all belonged to David: “We are yours.” They spoke words of peace as a blessing to David and to all who were united with him. David's army was like “an army of God.” They were all eager to see the kingdom turned over from Saul to David because the Word of the Lord indicated that this must take place.

All of these thousands of warriors gathered together with great joy to make David king. They came with their relatives from all the tribes of Israel. God gave great unity to the people as they stood together in service to the Lord's anointed.

During the four hundred years between the reign of David and the exile of Israel and Judah there was much division among the tribes of God's people. When 1 and 2 Chronicles was compiled, the Chronicler recounted David's reign as a high point in the history of Israel to inspire the returning exiles to serve together in accord with the Word of God.

This call to courageous loyalty and joy is at least as relevant to the church today as it was in the sixth century BC when the Lord brought His captive people back to Jerusalem. In the days of men such as Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Zechariah, Ezra, and Nehemiah, it was not at all clear whether the Lord would immediately raise up a son of David to rule the people. Now we know the identity of the eternal Messiah and we have much revelation that aids us in understanding His call to us to overcome evil with the power of His love. We, of all people, can sing with joy the words of ancient warriors:

“We are yours, O (Son of) David,

and with you, O (Root) of Jesse!

Peace, peace to you,

and peace to your helpers!

For your God helps you.”