Bitter vs Better Men - 1 Chronicles 10-14

 1 Chronicles 12:1-2 (ESV)

The Mighty Men Join David

Now these are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul the son of Kish. And they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. They were bowmen and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right or the left hand; they were Benjaminites, Saul's kinsmen.

Everyone needs mighty men to join them!  This passage is about the list of men who came to fight with David and for David when he became king over Israel. Saul is now dead.   So, too, his son Jonathan, whom David loved.  Upon their deaths, the nation came to David to ask him to be there king.  The admitted that, even when Saul was alive, it was David who brought them leadership.    In chapters 11 and 12 we have a considerable list of those renowned warriors who came to his side.  The remarkable aspect of this passage can only be understood fully when we consider how David started out.   When he first had to run from Saul he had people come to his side as well.  But, back then they were described as the following:

1 Samuel 22:1-2 (ESV)

David at the Cave of Adullam

David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

When David had to run to a cave to escape Saul’s anger, note the type of characters who joined him: Distressed debtors, who were bitter of soul!    Later, as above, they are described as: Mighty men of war!    This is what happens as you walk with God.  David had no idea what was about to happen to him.  He could have rejected the bitter men but than he would never have discovered the better men.   God did a great work in these man’s souls, bodies and minds.   They are now ready to help David lead a nation.   In the beginning they were only read to hide with him in a cave.   Everyone needs people like this in their lives.   We need mighty people to come to our aide.  This is how God works.  God gives them skills and talents and strength and courage.  We only have to receive the gift of their help.  It is David’s humility that allowed these men to become mighty.