The Issachar Factor
August 4, 2019
In an obscure passage listing the people who helped King David unify the nation of Israel, the writer of Chronicles mentions the men of Issachar as those who understood their times and knew what to do. As culture is constantly shifting and changing, the people of God have continued to need people like the men of Issachar. People who can understand the times and know what to do. Join us for a special 80th anniversary message in which we will explore what is going on around us and how God is calling us to response.
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.
1 Chronicles 12:23-38
The Issachar Factor:
- Understand the times
- Do the next right thing
Daily Readings:
Sunday: Acts 1-2
Monday: Acts 3-4
Tuesday: Acts 5-6
Wednesday: Acts 8-9
Thursday: Acts 10-11
Friday: Acts 12-13
Saturday: Acts 14-15
Suggested Resources:
Books:
Breakout Churches, by Thom Rainer
Center Church, by Tim Keller
Sermon series on sermon.aspirejax.org:
Built to Last (2015)
U R the Church (2014)