“All these men of war…came…with a loyal heart, to make David king” (1 Chron 12:38).
We are introduced first to David the warrior when he’s fighting alone in Elah’s Vale. Only God was his companion in arms. In fact, after the Lord had delivered him from all his enemies, he would write, “He teaches my hands to make war…You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great” (Ps 18:34-35). Now in this chapter, we see the rising tide of David’s army (1 Chron 12:1-40). After listing his mighty men in the previous chapter, we see that these are “the men who came to David at Ziklag while he was still a fugitive from Saul” (see vv 1-7). Interestingly—and convincingly regarding David’s claim—the ones highlighted were not only armed and ambidextrous, but “they were of Benjamin, Saul’s brethren” (v 2). Then “some Gadites joined David at the stronghold” (Heb, Masada), who are described as “mighty men of valor, men trained for battle, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as gazelles” (see vv 8-15). Soon the ranks swelled with more from Benjamin, Judah, and Manasseh (vv 16-22), in addition to all who joined him at Hebron from all twelve tribes plus Levi (vv 23-40), “until it was a great army, like the army of God” (v 22). Now imagine with me the City of the Great King a thousand years later. The city where God placed His name has nailed His chosen King to a cross, and placed that name in accusation over His head. Heaven, earth, and hell all move against Him. But the Solitary Warrior wins the field! And then His little band of 11 became 500, plus 3,000, and then 5,000 more. Soon millions declare to Him, “We are Yours” (v 18), and He leads us on to glorious victory (2 Cor 2:14).