June 5, 2023
Topic: Understanding the Times
Text: 1 Chronicles 12:32
Memory Verse: I Chro. 12:32 – “from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command”.
God is a God of times and seasons, and He desires every of His children to function according to their appointed times and seasons. In our text today, we see the chronicles of men (Warriors) in their thousands who came from different tribes of Israel when David was made king. These men, were men armed for battle and were skillful in using shields, spears and other weapons of war. What a mighty army they were. (1 Chr. 12:23-37)
However, as we survey these valiant men of war, we see a particular tribe in vs. 32 with a different identity. This tribe seems to be the smallest of all the tribes who came to do battle. They were just 200 chiefs including their relatives. They were known as the men of Issachar. It is very shocking to discover what was said about them. They seem to lack understanding of how to make use of shields, spears and other weaponry. Yet, there was something else they understood. The Bible says these two hundred chiefs ‘understood the times and they know what Israel ought to do’. This is very interesting and exciting. They were not to carry weapons. The only assignment they had was to always possess the understanding of each time and season Israel was in. What a huge task this was. It means the men of Issachar were held responsible for every move of the Israelites. These men must have been spiritually sensitive to perform this huge responsibility.
This is how the Lord expects His bonafide children to live. God wants us, as believers, to possess an accurate understanding of times and seasons; thereby always being on the same page with Him. Yet, this cannot happen except we develop a personal, intimate and a progressive relationship with God through the Holy Spirit.