1 Chronicles 10-12: Calling Confirmed Through Community

We trace Saul’s fall, David’s anointing at Hebron, and the capture of Zion, then linger on the mighty men whose courage and loyalty made David’s reign possible. We end with a feast as Israel unites, drawing out a core theme: calling is confirmed and sustained in community.

• homecoming as the season theme and lens
• why Chronicles reframes failure into hope
• Saul’s unfaithfulness and David’s rise
• capturing Zion and building the city
• exploits of the three and Benaiah’s courage
• names as legacy and purpose, not filler
• tribes rallying to Hebron with diverse strengths
• Issachar understanding the times and next steps
• community affirmation of calling and mission
• gratitude for supporters and a personal reflection

Thank you for recognizing God’s call in this ministry and for coming around and supporting it

Chapters

• 0:00 Season Theme: Homecoming
• 1:15 Why Chronicles Reframes Israel’s Past
• 2:34 Saul’s Fall And David’s Anointing
• 3:41 Capturing Zion And Growing Strength
• 5:26 The Three And Their Daring Feats
• 8:41 Lists With Purpose: Legacy And Names
• 10:52 Warriors Rally To David At Ziklag
• 13:21 Gadites’ Valor And Issachar’s Insight
• 16:16 All Israel Unites And Feasts
• 17:31 Takeaways: Calling Confirmed In Community

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:12

Hey, welcome back to the Out Loud Bible Project Podcast. This is Mike. Last episode, we started a new season of the podcast, which is here on the podcast, like a new theme, a new topic, and the books that kind of support that topic. And this season we're looking at the topic of homecoming, specifically taking a look at the books of the Old Testament that highlight Israel's process of coming back home after the exile. They were exiled in Assyria and Babylon because it was punishment for their idolatry. And God told them that it was going to happen. He sent prophets to tell them. We read about that, and it was plenty of pre-warning, but they didn't listen. They ended up in exile. And we're reading First Chronicles. We just started last episode with this book that's similar to First Kings. There are even some overlaps. However, the difference is in the timing that it was written and the purpose that it was written. The timing was during the return home and starting to live back at home with the purpose of helping the people have hope for the future. This is not a condemning book of look what you did and look at all the ways you went wrong. That was more like First Kings. But First Chronicles is looking at, hey, there is hope. God has been here the whole time. And no, I know we've not been doing everything right. We have messed up royally, but there is hope because God is our history. We are his story. And when you're in God's story, there is always hope. Because he's still writing it, and the best is still ahead. Man, if you're not encouraged by that, I don't know what to say. So we're gonna keep reading in the book of 1 Chronicles here. Last time we covered nine chapters by way of summary of a lot of numbers and a lot of lists. That is not the case today. We'll read it straight as it is. Some good stories. Yes, a couple lists, but we're gonna stick through it because I think there is a really good point to make here at the end of this reading today. So let's get into it with 1 Chronicles 10 through 12 in the New English Translation. Now the Philistines fought against Israel. The Israelites fled before the Philistines, and many of them died on Mount Gilboah. The Philistines stayed right on the heels of Saul and his sons. They struck down Saul's sons, Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malcheshua. The battle was thick around Saul, and Archer spotted him and wounded him. Saul told his armor bearer, draw your sword and stab me with it. Otherwise these uncircumcised people will come and torture me. But his armor bearer refused to do it because he was very afraid, so Saul took the sword and fell on it. When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died. So Saul and his three sons died, his whole household died together. When all the Israelites who were in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. The Philistines came and occupied them. The next day when the Philistines came to strip loot from the corpses, they discovered Saul and his sons lying dead on Mount Gilboah. They stripped his corpse, then carried off his head and his armor. They sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, proclaiming the news to their idols and their people. They placed his armor in the temple of the gods and hung his head in the temple of Dagon. When all the residents of Jabesh Gilead heard about everything that Philistines had done to Saul, all the warriors went and recovered the bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. They buried their remains under the oak tree in Jabesh, and fasted for seven days. So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord, and did not obey the Lord's instructions. He even tried to conjure up underworld spirits. He didn't seek the Lord's guidance. So the Lord killed him, and transferred the kingdom to David, son of Jesse. All Israel joined David at Hebron and said, Look, where are your flesh and blood? In the past, even when Saul was king, you were Israel's commanding general. The Lord your God said to you, You will shepherd my people Israel, you will rule over my people Israel. When all the leaders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord. They anointed David king over Israel, in keeping with the Lord's message that came through Samuel. David and his whole Israelite army advanced to Jerusalem, that is Jabus. The Jebusites, the land's original inhabitants, lived there. The residents of Jebus said to David, You can't invade this place. But David captured the fortress of Zion, that is the city of David. David said, Whoever attacks the Jebusites first will become commanding general. So Joab, son of Zareh, attacked first and became commander. David lived in the fortress, and for this reason it's called the city of David. He built up the city around it, from the terrace to the surrounding walls. Joab restored the rest of the city. David's power steadily grew, for the Lord of heaven's armies was with him. These were the leaders of David's warriors, who, together with all Israel, stood courageously with him in his kingdom by installing him as king, in keeping with the Lord's message concerning Israel. This is the list of David's warriors. Jashobim, a Hakemanite, was head of the officers. He killed three hundred men with his spear in a single battle. Next in command was Eliezar, son of Dodo, the Ahohite. He was one of the three elite warriors. He was with David and Pastamim when the Philistines assembled there for battle. In an area of the field that was full of barley, the army retreated before the Philistines, but then they made a stand in the middle of that area. They defended it and defeated the Philistines. The Lord gave them a great victory. Three of the thirty leaders went down to David at the rocky cliff at the cave of Adullam, while a Philistine force was camped in the valley of Rephaim. David was in the stronghold at the time while a Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem. David was thirsty and said, Ugh, I wish someone would give me some water to drink from the cistern in Bethlehem near the city gate. So the three elite warriors broke through the Philistine forces and drew some water from the cistern in Bethlehem near the city gate, and they carried it back to David, but David refused to drink it. He poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord and said, Oh, God forbid that I should do this. Should I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives? Because they risked their lives to bring it to him, he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors. Abishai, the brother of Joab, was the head of the three elite warriors. He killed three hundred men with his spear and gained fame along with the three elite warriors. From the three he was given double honor, and he became their officer, even though he was not one of them. Baniah, son of Jehoiada, was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion inside a cistern on a snowy day. He even killed an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand as big as the crossbeam of a weaver's loom. Beniah attacked him with a club. He grabbed a spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. Such were the exploits of Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, who gained fame along with the three elite warriors. He received honor from the thirty warriors, although he was not one of the three elite warriors. David put him in charge of his bodyguard. The mighty warriors were Asahel, the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo from Bethlehem, Shamath the Harorite, Helez the Pelanite, Ira son of Ichesh the Tekawite, Abiazar the Anathothite, Sibekai the Hushethite, Eli the Ahohite, Mahari the Netophythite, Heled son of Bana the Netaphithite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjaminite territory, Beniah the Pirithonite, Hurai from the valleys of Gash, Abiel the Arbathite, Asmaveth the Baharumite, Eliabah the Shalbonite, the sons of Hashem the Gizanite, Jonathan the son of Shaga the Hararite, Ahim son of Sakar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur, Hefer the Mecarathite, Ahijah the Pelanite, Hezro the Carmelite, Nari son of Esbi, and uh Joel, the brother of Nathan. Thank you, Joel and Nathan's parents, that was much easier to read. Mibhar, son of Hagri, Zelech the Ammonite, Nahari the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab the Zeroite, Ira the Ithrite, Garib the Ithrite, Uriah the Hittite, we know him from David's story, and he was Bathsheba's husband, Zabad son of Akli, Adina, son of Shizah the Rubinite, leader of the Rubenites, and the thirty warriors with him, Joshaphat the Mythnite, Uziah the Ashtarathite, getting any ideas for good baby names yet? Shama and Jael the sons of Hotham the Arthite, Jedel, son of Shimri, and Joah his brother the Tizite, Eliel the Mahavite, and Jerobi and Joshiah the sons of Elnam, and Ithma the Moabite, Eliel and Obed and Jasiel the Mazobaite.

unknown: 10:26

Huh.

SPEAKER_00: 10:27

Okay, I won't say that I will not do first Chronicles for an outloud Bible experience at your church. I'm just saying I need a little bit of time to practice, okay? That's all I'm saying. Here's chapter twelve. These were the men who joined David in Ziglag when he was banished from the presence of Saul, son of Kish. They were among the warriors who assisted him in battle. They were armed with bows and could shoot arrows or sling stones right or left handed. They were fellow tribesmen of Saul from Benjamin. These were Ahiezer the leader, and Joash the son of Shema the Gibeothite, Jezel and Pelet, the sons of Asmavath, Barekah, Jehu the Anathothite, Ishmael the Gibeonite, one of the thirty warriors and their leader, Jeremiah, Jehaziel, Jehonan, Josebad the Gederathite, Eluzai, Jeremoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Hierophite, Alkanah, Ishiah, Azarel, Joazer, and Joshobim, who were Korahites, and Joelah and Jebediah the sons of Jehoram from Gador. Some of the Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the wilderness. They were warriors who were trained for battle. They carried shields and spears. They were as fierce as lions, and could run as quickly as gazelles across the hills. Remember, this is for the benefit of the descendants of these people. This is supposed to inspire some hope and give you a sense of connection to your ancestors and your past. Man, good job, Gadites. Do you feel empowered? Ezre was their leader, Obadiah II in command, Eliab III, Mishmannah IV, Jeremiah V, Ati, Eliel, Johannin, Elzebad, Jeremiah, Mac Benai, these Gadites were military leaders. The least led a hundred men, the greatest a thousand. They crossed the Jordan River in the first month when it was overflowing its banks, and routed those living in all the valleys to the east and west. Some from Benjamin and Judah also came to David's stronghold. David went out to meet them and said, If you come to me in peace and want to help me, then I'll make an alliance with you, but if you come to betray me to my enemies when I've not harmed you, may the God of our ancestors take notice and judge. But a spirit empowered Amasai, the leader of the group of warriors, known as the thirty, and he said, We are yours, O David. We support you, O son of Jesse. May you greatly prosper. May those who help you prosper. Indeed your God helps you. So David accepted them and made them leaders of raiding bands. Some men from Manasseh joined David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul, but in the end they didn't help the Philistines because after taking counsel, the Philistine lords sent David away, saying only it would be disastrous for us if he deserts to his master Saul. When David went to Ziglag, the men of Manasseh who joined him were Adnak, Josebed, Jedel, Michael, Josebed, Elihu, Zilithai, leaders of one thousand soldiers each in the tribe of Manasseh. They helped David fight against the raiding bands, for all of them were warriors and leaders in the army. Each day men came to help David until his army became very large. The following is a record of the armed warriors who came with their leaders and joined David and Hebron in order to make David king in Saul's place, in accordance with the Lord's decree. From Judah came sixty-eight hundred trained warriors carrying shields and spears. From Simeon there were seven thousand one hundred warriors. From Levi there were forty-six hundred. Jehoida, the leader of Aaron's descendants, brought thirty-seven hundred men with him, along with Zadok, a young warrior, and twenty-two leaders from his family. From Benjamin, Saul's tribe, there were three thousand, most of whom, up to that time had been loyal to Saul. From Ephraim there were twenty thousand eight hundred warriors who had brought fame to their families. From the half tribe of Manasseh there were eighteen thousand who had been designated by name to come and make David king. From Issachar, there were two hundred leaders and all their relatives at their command. They understood the times and knew what Israel should do. It's a very brief little summary of the tribe of Issachar, but what a great summary statement. They understood the times and knew what Israel should do. Do you understand the times and do you know what God's people should do?

unknown: 14:57

Hmm.

SPEAKER_00: 14:58

Interesting. From Zebulun, there were 50,000 warriors who were prepared for battle, equipped with all kinds of weapons and ready to give their undivided loyalty. From Naphtali, there were a thousand officers, along with thirty-seven thousand men carrying shields and spears. From Dan there were twenty-eight thousand six hundred men prepared for battle. From Asher, there were forty thousand warriors prepared for battle. From the other side of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, there were one hundred twenty thousand men armed with all kinds of weapons. All these men were warriors who were ready to march. They came to Hebron to make David king all over Israel by acclamation. All the rest of the Israelites also were in agreement that David should become king. They spent three days feasting there with David, for their relatives had given them provisions. Also their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali were bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. There were large supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine, olive oil, beef, and lamb, for Israel was celebrating. Here we're reminded that David's kingship wasn't just a solo act. It wasn't just him and God. His reign began with God's calling, yes, but it was sustained by the commitment of others, mighty men who risked their lives, and tribes who rallied to his cause. What we can learn from that today is that communities flourish when individuals bring their unique strengths. David's men were diverse, some skilled in battle, others in strategies, others in leadership, but everyone contributed to the mission. We learn that God's calling is confirmed in community. David's anointing was recognized and reinforced by the people's support, reminding us that our callings are often affirmed by those around us. So ask yourself who are my mighty men or women, the people I'm investing in, and those who strengthen me. And on the other hand, whose mission am I loyally supporting so that together we can advance God's purposes? This compels me to pause and thank those who have supported Out Loud Bible up to this point, whether you've been supporting through this podcast or have gone to our website to send monthly or one-time support. Thank you for recognizing God's call in this ministry and for coming around and supporting it. That is life giving, and I'm so thankful for that. Who has God put around you to confirm your calling? And whose calling are you supporting in your work and your efforts? That's the Thinking Out Loud thought for the day. We'll see you next time.