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Have an Understanding of the Times and Know What To Do

Good morning Heavenly Father. Thank you for providing us with food. Not just my family, but our whole neighborhood. Not just our neighborhood, but all the neighborhoods in our city. And not just in our city but in our whole state. And not just in our state but food for our entire country. And not just our country but food for every country. You are an awesome God that can provide enough food for every country in the world today … and every day! Thank you! And thank you for the interesting scriptures to use for today’s prayer for your daughter Lindsey:

Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel. (1 Chronicles 11:3)

Then in the next chapter of 1 Chronicles we are told who came to David after he was crowned king! Here is how scriptures refers to each tribe (summary of 1 Chronicles 12:22-40):

  • Judah: men bearing shield and spear, ready and armed for war
  • Simeon: mighty men of valour for war
  • Levi: a young man mighty of valour and twenty two captains
  • Benjamin: formerly of the house of Saul
  • Ephraim: mighty men of valour, famous in their land
  • Half Tribe of Manasseh: men expressed by name to come to make David king
  • Issachar: men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do and 200 leaders with all their brethren
  • Zebulun: those come from battle, expert in war, with all weapons of war, they were not of double heart, not divided in their loyalty to David
  • Naphtali: 1,000 captains and men with shield and spear
  • Dan: expert in war
  • Asher: those come from battle, expert in war
  • Reuben, Gad and Half Tribe of Manasseh: all manner of weapons of war for battle

Lord, I’m here again as usual to begin another days prayer for Lindsey, your daughter who loves you. Lindsey, today we see something interesting in how scriptures refer to all the tribes of Israel gathering together to transfer the kingdom of Saul over to David right after he was annointed king of Israel. Review the list of tribes in the summary just above (or the full text below) and you will see virtually all the tribes are referred to as sending men of valour, men bearing shields and spears, captains and leaders with all kinds of weapons, experts in war and ready for battle. They all came to turn over Saul’s kingdom to David. After this list of tribes, scriptures tell us they were all of one heart to make David king! But one thing seems to stand out as each of the tribes are listed. Look at Issachar! Yes, they had 200 leaders and all their people under their command similar to all the other tribes. However, this is the only tribe that scripture mentions one additional qualification, one extra quality. With Issachar came men that understood the times and knew what Israel out to do. And that is a quality that I pray over you today Lindsey. I pray that you can be ready for the battles that you will undoubtedly face, just like everyone should be alert, trained and ready. However, I pray that God would grant you the ability to understand the times. I pray that God would help you to see what is going on in your city, your state, your country. I pray also that God would also fill you with the knowledge of what people should do. Not just what YOU should do, but what the people in your country should do. And now an even bigger prayer. I pray that God would place you in a position where you can speak out what you see and what ought to be done. And I pray that God would protect you as you step out on the path he sets before you, for he will not send you and leave you alone. We know he will be with you every step of the way. Lord, I ask that you would often give Lindsey tangible things to remind her that you are there with her. And we will give the glory to you. The glory is all yours. Glory! I pray this in the name and authority of Christ Jesus, King of kings. Amen

Full Text of Scripture:

For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.
And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord.

The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war.
Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred.
Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred. And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred; And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father’s house twenty and two captains.
And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul.
And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers.
And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king.
And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.
Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.
And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand.
And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.
And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, forty thousand.
And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty thousand.

All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king. And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them. Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel. (1 Chronicles 12:22-40)

ESV:
So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel,according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.

and from the next chapter:

For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God. These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops who came to David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of the Lord.
The men of Judah bearing shield and spear were 6,800 armed troops.
Of the Simeonites, mighty men of valor for war, 7,100.
Of the Levites 4,600. The prince Jehoiada, of the house of Aaron, and with him 3,700.  Zadok, a young man mighty in valor, and twenty-two commanders from his own fathers’ house.
Of the Benjaminites, the kinsmen of Saul, 3,000, of whom the majority had to that point kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.
Of the Ephraimites 20,800, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers’ houses.
Of the half-tribe of Manasseh 18,000, who were expressly named to come and make David king.
Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command.
Of Zebulun 50,000 seasoned troops, equipped for battle with all the weapons of war, to help David with singleness of purpose.
Of Naphtali 1,000 commanders with whom were 37,000 men armed with shield and spear.
Of the Danites 28,600 men equipped for battle.
Of Asher 40,000 seasoned troops ready for battle.
Of the Reubenites and Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh from beyond the Jordan, 120,000 men armed with all the weapons of war.

All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king. And they were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their brothers had made preparation for them.  And also their relatives, from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, came bringing food on donkeys and on camels and on mules and on oxen, abundant provisions of flour,cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, and wine and oil, oxen and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.

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KJV translation note

The King James Version is a beautiful translation of the original Hebrew and Greek, however I sometimes find Old English hard to understand fully. 1 or 2 other translations can help clarify what it is saying so I can understand it. More Info CLICK: References