Context No. 2632 of 4322 · 1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 12:1-7: in context

1Now these are those who came to David to Ziklag while he was a fugitive from Saul the son of Kish. They were among the mighty men, his helpers in war. 2They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in slinging stones and in shooting arrows from the bow. They were of Saul’s relatives of the tribe of Benjamin. 3The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah; Jehu the Anathothite; 4Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty and a leader of the thirty; Jeremiah; Jahaziel; Johanan; Jozabad the Gederathite; 5Eluzai; Jerimoth; Bealiah; Shemariah; Shephatiah the Haruphite; 6Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites; 7and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

Chronicles lists the warriors who came to David at Ziklag while he was still a fugitive, hunted by King Saul. What stands out is where some of them came from: they were of Saul's own tribe, Benjamin, the king's kinsmen, skilled archers who could sling and shoot with either hand. They left the reigning king to throw in with the outlaw David, backing God's anointed while he was still on the run.

Consider the cost of that choice. These men crossed their own tribe, abandoning the king their family served, to align themselves with a fugitive who had no throne yet, only a promise and a price on his head. To the eyes of the moment, David was the losing side. But they saw where God's future actually lay and staked themselves on it, against their tribe's interest and their own safety. That is a rare kind of courage, to commit to God's anointed cause when it still looks like the losing, outlawed side, before any of it has paid off. Loyalty that waits for the winner to be obvious is cheap; theirs was not.

Am I willing to align with God's cause even when it looks like the losing side and costs me my own circle's approval, before any of it has paid off?

Sources

1 Chronicles 12:1: Now these are those who came to David to Ziklag while he was a fugitive from Saul the son of Kish. They were his helpers in war.
1 Chronicles 12:2: They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in slinging stones and in shooting arrows. They were of Saul's relatives of the tribe of Benjamin.
Hebrews 11:26: considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward.