A Daily Devotional by Kenton Cheek
30 April 2024
Reading From II Samuel 5:1-10, I Chronicles 11-12
“All these were fighting men who volunteered to serve in the ranks. They came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of the Israelites were also of one mind to make David king. The men spent three days there with David, eating and drinking, for their families had supplied provisions for them. Also, their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen. There were plentiful supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, olive oil, cattle and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.”
–I Chronicles 12:38-40
In today’s divisive social and political climate, it is refreshing to read about people who were “of one mind.” This kind of unity seems rare. It reminds me of the early church at the beginning of Acts. “When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”[1] In Chronicles, the singular focus of the Israelites was to make David king over all the nation. In Acts, what brought the people of God together in unity was prayer.
The second aspect of this passage that stood out to me was the food (no surprise there)! So much celebration in eating and drinking that the party carried on for three days. A deeper point here is that “there were plentiful supplies…for there was joy in Israel.” When God’s people come together in unity to serve Him, He provides mightily for His family and there is an abundance of joy.
“Lord, I pray that You will bring unity among Your people around common purpose by Your Spirit. Each of us as born again believers are connected to You and each other through the sealing power of the Holy Spirit. I pray that we would set aside our petty differences on this Earth and focus on You and Your wonderful work of love. Amen.”
You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
–Psalm 16:11
[1] Acts 2:1
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