1 Chronicles 12
The following men joined David at Ziklag while he was hiding from Saul son of Kish. They were among the warriors who fought beside David in battle. – 1 Chronicles 12:1 NLT
The chronicler is still building a case for the validity of the reign of David. He is convincing the people returning from exile that David's reign as king, even though long ended, was the work of God. And God's promise of a future king to sit on the throne of David was going to happen. To satisfy the people of David's legitimacy and unite them as one people, the chronicler recounts the story of David's flight to the land of the Philistines to escape the wrath of Saul. This story is told in 1 Samuel 27. Things had gotten so bad for David that he decides the only thing for him to do is to hide among the enemy, so that Saul will think he has defected. Not exactly a great plan. It would cause David all kinds of problems in the long run, and there is no indication that it was a plan given to him by God. Yet, in the midst of one of David's greatest moments of despondency and desperation, God shows up. This time He shows up in the form of the "mighty men of valor."
In this chapter we are given a detailed accounting of the tens of thousands of Israelite warriors from every tribe who defected to David's side even while he was living with the enemy. This says much about their respect for David and indicates that God was a part of this plan. Here was David, living in enemy territory, as far from the throne of Israel as he could possibly get, and yet God is building his army for him. And not just any army. He is surrounding David with the best and the brightest, the strongest and the bravest. Every day a new batch of battle-hardened soldiers showed up on David's doorstep. Don't you think the first group were a shock to David? As a matter of fact, when they showed up, David thought they had come to capture him. He senses betrayal, and for good reason. It had happened before. But these men pledge their allegiance to David and indicate that they knew that God was with David and not Saul. With each passing day, David's army grew. "Hardly a day went by without men showing up to help--it wasn't long before his band seemed as large as God's own army!" (1 Chronicles 12:22 MSG).
Even in the midst of the Philistine camp, God was confirming David's future and preparing him for his eventual ascension to the throne. God was working in ways that David never would have dreamed. His desperate attempt to hide among the Philistines could not hide him from the will of God. God was going to finish what He had begun, and in a spectacular fashion. With this many men defecting to David, it is no wonder that Saul was so easily defeated in battle against the Philistines and took his own life. God had removed the greatest warriors from Saul and given them to David. God's hand was on David. He was God's hand-picked successor to Saul and nothing was going to prevent His will from being done.
In your worst moments do you tend to see the hand of God or do you simply see darkness and despair? God is there working. He is bringing into your life "mighty men of valor." It could be in the form of an encouraging word from a friend. It could be a surprising answer to prayer. It could be a passage that you have read a thousand time that suddenly speaks to you in a fresh and exciting way. It could be by giving you an insight into an area of your life that He wants to work on. God is always at work in the lives of those He has chosen and loves. Even in our darkest days.
Father, thank You for this encouraging word. I want to look for you in each and every circumstance, because I know You are there. You are working behind the scenes in ways that are unexpected and sometimes unseen. But You are there. Let me see You today. Amen