We NEED to FIGHT our ‘COMMON ENEMY’ together!
April 25
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles Chapters 10-12
We NEED to FIGHT our ‘COMMON ENEMY’ together!
Then some of the sons of Benjamin and Judah
came to David at the stronghold. And David went out to meet them, and answered
and said to them, "If you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart will be united with you; but
if to betray me to my enemies, since there is no wrong in my hands, may the God
of our fathers look and bring judgment." Then the Spirit came upon Amasai,
chief of the captains, and he said: "We
are yours, O David; we are on your
side, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers! For your God helps you." So David
received them, and made them captains of the troop. (1 Chronicles 12:16-18)
David was at
the stronghold in the wilderness when different people joined his forces from
different parts of the Israeli country. Previously, many of the people who were
in trouble or distress had come to David to find protection (1 Sam. 22:1, 2).
But now, many men came to serve David and assist him in obtaining the throne
which was his by divine decree. When God has a favor on someone, people will
recognize that anointing and will soon join in the efforts that God had
intended for that person!
Surprisingly,
people from the ‘enemy’ ranks of Saul
belonging to the tribes of Benjamin and Judah also joined with David in his stronghold.
Because of Saul’s affiliation with the tribe of Benjamin, David required that
they especially swear to him their loyalty (12:16–18). As we can see, the
Spirit of God had indeed directed this defection of men from Benjamin, the
tribe of Saul, to David. Saul had drafted men into his army (1 Sam. 14:52)
while David attracted them because of his character and leadership. Saul seemed
to bring out the worst in people while David brought out the best through his
godly anointing!
Today the
kingdom of God needs men and women who are equipped by God (1 Chron. 12:2),
trained and swift (v. 8), strong in faith, able to prevail against overwhelming
odds and put the enemy to flight (vv. 14, 15), full of the Spirit, and
selflessly dedicated to Jesus (v. 32)—people
who have an undivided heart (v. 33). God is recruiting an army on earth
today for His kingdom, and the only
winning army is His army! God is
still seeking skilled people (v. 2), trained people (v. 8) and people not
afraid to get their feet wet (v. 15). God wants soldiers with loyal hearts (vv.
16–18), who understand the times (v. 32) and who know how to keep rank and face
the enemy together (vv. 33, 38).
We need to
fight our common enemy – Satan – together. Unity among believers pleases God (Psalm 133:1), and we are not supposed to live in isolation (John
17:11). Unity includes bearing one another’s joys and burdens (Rom. 12:9-16),
and we must seek unity in all essentials
(1 Cor. 1:10). There can be great unity even in great diversity (Eph. 4:3-13),
and the love Christ has commanded should create unity among believers (Phil.
1:3-11). Let unity be a distinctive mark
among all Christians as we face our common enemy these days! (Phil. 2:1-2)
