First Chronicles 12:28

This chapter was continuing to list the men who joined themselves to David and to David’s army. The Bible says in First Chronicles 12:28-40, “And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father's house twenty and two captains.[29] And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul.[30] And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers.[31] And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king.[32] And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.[33] Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.[34] And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand.[35] And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.[36] And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, forty thousand.[37] And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty thousand.[38] All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.[39] And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.[40] Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel.” Notice the statement in verses thirty-three about these warriors who went to be with David: “such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.” When Jesus returns, there will come a day when men shall learn war no more. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He can give you peace in your heart if you repent of your sins and find forgiveness. Jesus will also bring peace on earth, but not until the Second Coming. Right now there is war on earth, and so every nation needs men who are “expert in war,” which means they are well-trained, who “keep rank,” which means they are disciplined and know how to follow orders, and who are “not of double heart,” which means they are dedicated to what they are doing to serve and to defend our country. That is why we honor them. Their lives are on the line to protect the rest of us. Jesus said about the age in which we live in Matthew 24:6, “And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” In other words, we still need soldiers and sailors and airmen. That is a practical reality of life.

The Bible says in First Chronicles 13:1-5, “And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.[2] And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us:[3] And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul.[4] And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.[5] So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjath-jearim.” David had an idea to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem. He was king. He could do it if he wanted to. But David was humble and evidently wise. He wanted to have the support of the people for what he did. That was a wise leader. Notice that verse four says, “the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.”

The Bible says in First Chronicles 13:6-14, “And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjath-jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it.[7] And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart.[8] And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.[9] And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.[10] And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.[11] And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perez-uzza to this day.[12] And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?[13] So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.[14] And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that he had.” Verse nine tells us that “Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.” Why was this such a terrible thing? Why was the anger of the Lord kindled? Why did Uzza die? The reason was because of what was in the ark. The Ten Commandments were in the ark, and the Ten Commandments were the commandments from God and they represented the law. No one can come close to the law, and that means that no one can come close to obeying the law. The law is not just a good idea: the law is an absolute requirement for those who are under the law. That is because God is holy and He demands perfection. The law cannot save. Unless we keep it perfectly, the law can only condemn. The law brings death. That is why Uzza died. It says in Romans 6:33, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” It says in Galatians 3:11-13, “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.[12] And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.[13] Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” Thank the Lord that Jesus took the curse of the law upon Himself when He died upon the cross, or else we would be like Uzza spiritually speaking. Without Christ we would suffer spiritual death forever.

The Bible says in First Chronicles 14:1-7, “Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him an house.[2] And David perceived that the LORD had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel.[3] And David took more wives at Jerusalem: and David begat more sons and daughters.[4] Now these are the names of his children which he had in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon,[5] And Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpalet,[6] And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,[7] And Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphalet.” In verse two David gave credit to the Lord for the good things that had happened to him. It says, “And David perceived that the LORD had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel.” Notice the last phrase of that verse also: “because of his people Israel.” God wanted to bless the people and not just David. God raised up David for the people’s sake. Would to God that He would do that for our nation. If we do not have a leader like David, it is because God chose to not give us one. Is God punishing our nation through the leaders that He gave us? Repent.

The Bible says in First Chronicles 14:8-17, “And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard of it, and went out against them.[9] And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.[10] And David inquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand.[11] So they came up to Baal-perazim; and David smote them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters: therefore they called the name of that place Baal-perazim.[12] And when they had left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.[13] And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley.[14] Therefore David inquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.[15] And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.[16] David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer.[17] And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.” The great spiritual lesson of these verses is the fact that David sought the leading of the Lord, and when he found the leading of the Lord, David did what the Lord wanted. Many do not seek the Lord’s will, and many do not obey it even when it is revealed to them. It is interesting that in verse fifteen when God said, “when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle.” The wind in the tops of the trees was symbolic of the moving of the Spirit. Do not go until the Spirit moves you. You are supposed to be following the Lord, after all. Jesus compared the Spirit to the wind and Jesus said in John 3:8, “The wind bloweth where it wants, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” It says in Romans 8:14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” The point is this: make sure you follow the Spirit. Be careful. Sometimes He speaks in a still, small voice. He will lead you to Christ, and He will lead you to every path He wants you to take if you listen to the Spirit and if you can surrender to Him.

The Bible says in First Chronicles 15:1-13, “And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent.[2] Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.[3] And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD unto his place, which he had prepared for it.[4] And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites:[5] Of the sons of Kohath; Uriel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twenty:[6] Of the sons of Merari; Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty:[7] Of the sons of Gershom; Joel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and thirty:[8] Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred:[9] Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore:[10] Of the sons of Uzziel; Amminadab the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twelve.[11] And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab,[12] And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it.[13] For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.” David was king, but he wanted to do things God’s way. He knew from the Word of God what the will of the Lord was, and so David wanted to obey the Word. David said in verse two, “None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God.” Also, David was sensitive to spiritual things. He said in verse thirteen, “the LORD our God made a breach upon us.” If you know you are doing something that is out of sync with God’s will, then make some changes. Get things right. David also said at the end of verse three, “we sought him not after the due order.” Seek God and seek the Lord Jesus Christ.

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