“WHO GAVE HIM STRONG SUPPORT IN HIS KINGDOM”
The
history period covered in the two books of Chronicles is parallel with
that in 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings. We can compare this with the way
the 4 gospels are parallel accounts of the life of Jesus. There are
theories that Chronicles was written to fill out the records in Samuel
and Kings and this is partly true. Among the Jews there is a tradition
that the Chronicles were written by Ezra and it is a fact that the Book
of Ezra which comes at the end of Chronicles begins as though it is a
continuation of Chronicles.
What we particularly noticed in today’s chapter (11) is that most of it
is about the mighty men that served David; it lists those “who gave him strong support in his kingdom”
[v.10]. It details some of the valiant acts that they did. They were
valuable and faithful friends to David in his great reign as King for 40
years. Many of these men are not recorded elsewhere and it is a
testing task to read these chapters with many unpronounceable words!
As
we read them the thought struck us that “great David’s greater son” as
many have sung of Christ; will surely require an untold number of
“mighty ones” to go “into battle” for him in the age to come. The
weapons of their warfare in that time will be spiritual, like the Holy
Spirit was used in the First Century and which are described as “the
powers of the age to come”.[Heb. 6 v.5]. We can, in a sense, apply the
words we read earlier this month in 2 Cor. 10 v.4; Paul said, “the
weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to
destroy strongholds.”
The
work of those serving Christ, as King of the world, will be to
administer the Law that will go forth into all nations from Jerusalem as
revealed to Isaiah 2 v.2-4. We note that it says “He shall judge
between nations and shall decide disputes …” The work Christ will
perform is further described in Isaiah 11 v,2-5,9. If we genuinely
become part of Christ now, how awesome our tasks may well be at that
time!
Thinking
again of David; we have no clear idea of how these mighty men came to
know about David, but it seems clear he was able to inspire others and
he began to do this from when he killed Goliath. So worthy men responded
to his leadership and became an essential part of the strength of his
kingship. In the same way the Lord Jesus should inspire us. Those who
are inspired and faithful, he will support and will make them to “reign
with him for a thousand years.” [Rev 20 v.6]
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