Bible Commentaries
1 Chronicles 12

Verse 1

CONTENTS

This Chapter, in prosecuting David's history, treats of the companies that came to join David, and the augmentation of his army.

Verses 1-15

The continued accumulation of David's forces, serves to remind us of the wonderful accession of converts to the Lord Jesus from every part. Oh! how truly lovely is it to behold souls flying to Christ, as a cloud, and as doves to their window. If David waxed stronger and stronger, surely our Almighty David's kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and that which shall endure to everlasting ages.

Verses 16-22

David seemed to have good ground for his enquiry of the Benjamites, for Saul was of that tribe. But the Lord was better to him than all his fears. Is there not a sweet spiritual lesson veiled under this address of David to the Benjamites, and the answer of Amasai? Are we come to Jesus in sincerity and truth! Can we appeal to the God of our fathers in his covenant-love, and say, His chosen is our chosen, and God the Father's Christ our Christ. Thine we are, blessed Jesus, and to thee we vow allegiance and love forever! Oh! how delightful it is to feel as Ruth felt, and to yield ourselves to the Lord, as his servants, in affection. Ruth 1:16-17 .

Verses 23-40

David's army, in the numbers, may serve to remind us of that holy army of the Lord Jesus which John saw, which over and above the hundred and forty and four thousand of the sealed of Israel, had a multitude of the Gentile church, which no man can number. Precious thought, Reader! The army of the Lord Jesus is numerous as well as glorious. God the Father hath said, that it is a light thing to give him as a restorer of the tribes of Israel, he shall be his salvation to the ends of the earth. Isaiah 49:6 . Observe one sweet Gospel-instruction more from this passage. We are told that upon the accession of David to the throne, there was joy in Israel. But what joy is that, when Jesus sets up his throne in the soul of the sinner? And what everlasting joy will that be, when the archangel's trump shall sound, and Jesus shalt come to reign among all his saints forever and forever. Hail, Almighty, Universal Lord! Thou art worthy indeed to receive all praises and honor, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, both now and forever. Amen.

Verse 40

REFLECTIONS

WHILE we behold David thus surrounded with his worthies, let our thoughts take wing and fly away to the contemplation of David's Lord, now attended with his redeemed ones around the throne which is above. Yes: thou Holy and Exalted Saviour! we may, by the eye of faith, look within the vail, and see thee encircled with all the chosen race of worthies, that have followed thee, and been of thine host, from all ages. The glorious company of the Apostles, the goodly fellowship of the prophets, the noble army of martyrs, all, all, praise thee. And worthy art thou to be praised, thou Holy One of Israel!

And think, ye redeemed ones on earth, whom the Lord! hath gathered from among men, and made kings and priests unto God and the Father, - think to what high honour ye are called, in that ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people. Oh! sound forth the high praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: who were once afar of but are now brought nigh by his blood: who were once not a people, but are now the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. If the worthies of David are thus registered in the Chronicles, think of the high honour of the worthies of Jesus, made worthy in his worthiness only, in having their names written in heaven. If David's warriors are thus spoken of with such honorable testimony in the book of God, recollect your dignity, ye soldiers in the holy army of Jesus, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say, rejoice. The Lord is at hand. Yet a little while and Jesus will appear to be glorified in his saints and to be admired in all that believe. And then the Son of God will be seen surrounded with all his throng, and not one, even the humblest and least of his redeemed, will be found wanting, Haste, my beloved, and until the day break and the shadows flee away, be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.