1 Chronicles 12:1-7: a reflection

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.

Among the records of David's supporters is a note about when certain warriors joined him: These are those who came to David to Ziklag while he was a fugitive from Saul. They came to David not when he was safely on the throne, honored and secure, but while he was still a fugitive, hunted by Saul, his cause uncertain, his future far from assured. They cast their lot with God's anointed in his time of rejection, standing with him before his exaltation, when there was risk and no guarantee of reward. They came to him in his rejection, not waiting for his triumph.

Notice when these men came to David: while he was a fugitive, in his rejection. They did not wait until David was king, secure and able to reward them; they came while he was hunted, his cause uncertain, when standing with him meant risk and offered no guarantee. They cast their lot with the anointed one in his time of rejection, before his exaltation. Their loyalty was not to a proven winner, but to the one they believed God had chosen, even while he was rejected and hunted. They stood with him in his low estate, not only in his eventual glory; their allegiance was given before there was anything to gain by it.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are called to stand with the Lord's anointed in his rejection, not only his triumph. It is one thing to follow Christ where following is safe and rewarded; it is another to stand with him when it means rejection, risk, sharing in his low estate, as these men stood with David the fugitive. Yet Christ, too, was rejected before he was exalted, and we are called to stand with him even where it costs us, not only where it rewards us. Do not stand with Christ only where it is safe and rewarded; be willing to cast your lot with him in his rejection, as these men came to David while he was a hunted fugitive. Stand with the Lord's anointed in his rejection and low estate, not only in his triumph, casting your lot with him even where it costs you, as these warriors came to David while he was a fugitive from Saul; for Christ was rejected before he was exalted, and true loyalty stands with him in his rejection, not only when there is something to gain.

Lord, among the records of David's supporters is a note about when certain warriors joined him: these are those who came to David to Ziklag while he was a fugitive from Saul. They came to David not when he was safely on the throne, honored and secure, but while he was still a fugitive, hunted by Saul, his cause uncertain, his future far from assured. They cast their lot with your anointed in his time of rejection, standing with him before his exaltation, when there was risk and no guarantee of reward. Show me when these men came to David: while he was a fugitive, in his rejection. They did not wait until David was king, secure and able to reward them; they came while he was hunted, when standing with him meant risk and offered no guarantee. They cast their lot with the anointed one in his time of rejection. Their loyalty was not to a proven winner, but to the one they believed you had chosen, even while he was rejected and hunted. They stood with him in his low estate, not only in his eventual glory. Take that to my heart, for I am called to stand with your anointed in his rejection, not only his triumph. It is one thing to follow Christ where following is safe and rewarded; it is another to stand with him when it means rejection, risk, sharing in his low estate, as these men stood with David the fugitive. Yet Christ, too, was rejected before he was exalted. Keep me from standing with Christ only where it is safe and rewarded; help me be willing to cast my lot with him in his rejection, Lord, as these men came to David while he was a hunted fugitive.