Follow King Jesus with Joy

Good morning, good morning. Welcome to Coffee and Devotions. This morning we are going to be at 1 Chronicles chapter 12.

We're going to finish off the chapter together. Let's have some coffee, we'll pray, and we'll get into God's Word.

Let's pray. Father, we thank you so much for this day. We thank you for your Word.

We pray that as we read your Word this morning that you would please help us, Lord, instruct us and teach us.

You are an amazing God. You've given us your Word. It's in a language we can understand.

So, Father, please help us to know what it says and know what it could mean for our lives.

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

All right, here we go. 1 Chronicles chapter 12, continuing on with the life of David.

What's going to happen? He's been anointed king by the elders, but will anybody show up to actually support him?

Now, these were the numbers of the divisions that were equipped for war.

And it came to David at Hebron to turn over the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord.

Of the sons of Judah, bearing shields and spear, 6,800 armed for war.

Of the sons of Simeon, mighty men of valor, fit for war, 7,100.

Of the sons of Levi, 4,600.

Jehoiada, and the leader of the Aaronites, and with him, 3,700.

Zadok, a young man, a valiant warrior, and from his father's house, 22 captains.

Of the sons of Benjamin, relatives of Saul, 3,000 until the greatest part of them had remained loyal to the house of Saul.

Of the sons of Ephraim, 20,800.

Mighty men of valor, famous men throughout their father's house.

Of the half-tribe of Manasseh, 18,000, who were designated by name to come and make David king.

Of the sons of Issachar, who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.

Their chiefs were 200, and all their brethren were at their command.

Of Zebulun, there were 50,000, who went out to battle, expert in war, with all weapons of war, stout-hearted men, who could keep ranks.

Of Naphtali, 1,000 captains, and with them, 37,000, with shield and spear.

Of the Danites, who could keep battle formation, 28,600.

Of Asher, those who could go out to war, able to keep battle formation, 40,000.

Of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, from the other side of the Jordan,

120,000 armed men for battle, with every kind of weapon of war.

All these men of war, who could keep ranks, came to Hebron with a loyal heart, to make David king over all Israel.

And all the rest of Israel were of one mind, to make David king.

And they were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their brethren had prepared for them.

Moreover, those who were near to them, from as far away as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali,

were bringing food on donkeys and camels, on mules and oxen, provisions of flour and cakes of figs and cakes of raisins,

wine and oil and oxen and sheep abundantly.

For there was joy in Israel.

Well, we need to ask ourselves our three questions.

A, what is this about?

B, what's the best verse to summarize?

And C, what are we called to do in response to these words?

So, A, what is this about?

David has been anointed king.

He's got all these mighty men.

But they were a whole bunch of rebels coming to him out in the desert.

But could he assemble an actual army?

You know, it was before said that it was like an army of God.

All these generals who were coming to him, defecting even from King Saul.

But now it's, now that he's actually been anointed king, will the confederacy, will all the tribes actually centralize together and bring their troops?

And it happens.

It happens, right?

Judah, Simeon, Levi.

And from Levi, you have two different parts, right?

You have the larger family of Levi, but then you even have the Aronites and Zadok with 22 captains.

Then you have Benjamin, Ephraim, half-tribe Manasseh, Issachar, Zebulun, Nestle, way up north.

Dan, also way up north.

Asher, and then even the Transjordan guys, Reuben, Gad, and the other half Manasseh, right?

They all gather around.

We have hundreds and hundreds of thousands of soldiers, mighty men of valor, able to have sword and spear, are able to make battle formations.

And they all come to support David.

And as they're coming, they're bringing donkeys full of food.

They're bringing all sorts of provisions with them.

There's a giant feast because Israel has joy because they have a united king.

So, what is this about?

This is really the celebration and the proof of David actually becoming king.

So, what's the best verse to summarize?

This one in my Bible, I have verse 38 underlined.

All these men of war who could keep ranks came to Hebron with a loyal heart to make David king over all Israel.

And all the rest of Israel were of one mind to make David king.

You know, I might also underline just the very bottom of verse 40.

For there was great joy in Israel, right?

I think that's what this is about, right?

This is the best verse is they're all coming together to make David king.

This is the proof in the pudding, right?

That he's not just the king in name, but now he's got an army who will fight and follow him.

So, what are we called to do in response to this?

Well, I think there's this beautiful thing that there's a king.

God has anointed him.

They know they should follow him.

But David's going to have a son, and his name is going to be Jesus.

And he's the king of kings and the lord of lords.

He is our prince of peace.

He is the commander of the lord's armies.

He is the lord of righteousness himself.

And so, we follow him.

And when we follow Christ, we have great joy.

We get to rejoice in him and serve him with all of our talents and all of our might.

Because he has called us.

He has called you.

If you believe in Christ, if you are one of his children, you are also numbered amongst his ranks.

So, we can have great joy knowing that we can trust him and follow him.

Let's pray.

Father, we thank you so much for the joy that you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ.

And we pray that we would follow after him willingly and joyfully.

For you are a great father who has given us a great king.

And we willingly serve and follow you.

In Jesus' name, amen.

May the lord bless you as you follow King Jesus.

I'll see you next time.

Bye.