Gathering simply around the Lord is still the prime basis of unity among the people of God.
The first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles contain the genealogies leading from Adam through Shem to Abram, and Abram’s line through Isaac and Israel to Judah. Chapter 10 recounts the ill-fated end of the rejected Saul and the fair beginnings of the selected David. Two main themes then develop: the establishment of God’s king, with that line leading to Messiah; and the work done by David in preparing for the temple, the worship center of the world. In spite of limitations, David is a prototype of a coming King-Priest who would rule and serve. Not only so, He would also be the only needful Sacrifice (Heb 9:26), the ultimate Temple (Rev 21:22), and the Chief Singer, too (Zeph 3:17)! In this chapter (1 Chron 11:1- 47), we have the man, David (vv 1-3), the mission to take Jerusalem (vv 4-9), and the mighty men who gathered around him (vv 10-47), discussed in detail when studying 2 Samuel 23. Notice the repeated refrain. “Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron, saying, ‘Indeed we are your bone and your flesh’” (v 1; see Eph 5:30!). “And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem” (v 4). “These were the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord” (v 10). David knew the secret of unity as stated in the prophecy, “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be” (Gen 49:10, KJV). Not the city, but the God whose name was placed there, would be the gathering center. As the psalmist would later say, “Gather My saints together to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice” (Ps 50:5).