1 Chronicles 12
Among those who were gathered to David at Ziklag were characters full of deep instruction for present times. The center of that despised company, and the light and beauty of that exiled spot, the rejected man of that day, beautiful in appearance yet contemned, was a type of that blessed living One on high, who is the rejected Man of this day of boasted resources and might, the motto of which is, “I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” The first thought therefore that presents itself, as we meditate over this scripture, is concerning a truth now well-nigh practically obsolete, namely, a rejected Lord! Alas, how little thought of, even! And as to the few who once owned it, or it may be now doctrinally own it, what are they corporately and individually, with some bright exceptions, but a testimony to how little it formed them?
Now with regard to these Gadites, and men of Issachar, it is interesting and blessed to see that the combination of their characteristics supplies us with an example of that state of soul in the saints now, which alone can act suitably to our Lord Jesus Christ in the day of His rejection.
The first notable feature in the sons of Gad is that they were a separated company, they had gone out, not come in; how important to see that this is the very responsibility of the saint to-day, in order to his being a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master’s use. (Cp.1 Chron. 12:88And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains; (1 Chronicles 12:8) with 2 Tim. 2:2121If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2:21).) May the Lord give us understanding to see that communion is a greater thing in His eyes than usefulness, and that communion is the alone divine spring of all usefulness and service suitable to God. How blessed, how pleasing to Him to find a separated company like the sons of Gad, or a sanctified vessel, whose purest joy and deepest delight is suitability to His Person, to Himself. Then further, it is said of these separated sons of Gad, that they were men of might, men of war; they could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains. How blessed to see that in their separation was found strength, courage, skill, boldness, alacrity; these are the qualities of a separated heart to Christ, and His Person is worthy of them all.
But further, how solemn to observe that ere any of these qualities are found in exercise, Jordan must be crossed, and that when it had overflown all its banks (v. 15); so that these sons of Gad, separated unto David, filled with strength, courage, skill, boldness, and alacrity, must pass, as it were, through death, ere they could serve. And beloved reader, is it not so to-day? “If any man serve me, let him follow me.” In very truth, herein is that which gives scope for all true devotedness to the Lord, death must be known practically as passed and carried by us (see 2 Cor. 4:1010Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. (2 Corinthians 4:10)). And so it has ever been, whether in type in other days, or in the power of the Holy Ghost in life and reality today—death in the power of life is the secret of all true following of Christ, as well as the secret of all true acting for Christ. Elisha’s newly acquired mantle of power, received from the One to whom he separated himself (see 2 Kings 2:2-142And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el. 3And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. 4And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. 5And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. 6And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on. 7And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan. 8And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. 9And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 10And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. 11And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. 13He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; 14And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. (2 Kings 2:2‑14)), leads him, ere he uses it, to the same spot as these lion-faced sons of Gad. Oh how deeply solemn and yet how true! May the saints be more really impressed with the reality of it! Jordan alone could open the door for me to reach my Lord in His separated sphere in heaven; Jordan alone can open the door for me to follow Him in suitability to His rejection on earth; and Jordan alone can give to those qualities before spoken of, that subduedness and mellowness so in keeping with the vessels of the Christ, devoted to Him in every turn of the heart, but efficient for Him as death in the power of life is working in them.
Lastly, it will be found that what characterized the men of Issachar, marks the saint of to-day, according to whether he is a son of Gad or not; that is to say, if you are not a son of Gad, you cannot be a man of Issachar; if you are not separated to David, with the qualities of such, but accepting Jordan, when its banks were overflown, too, as the only path wherein to follow David, you cannot have “understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do.” And so it is true now, that no one can know the Lord’s mind as to the saints, who is not suitable to the true David. What can be more excellent, first Christ, then His own, and the only way to know the mind of our Lord about His interests on earth is to be truly devoted to Himself, in communion with Him, and walking in His path, as we follow on through the desert of this world.
Thus it is evident that nothing can please the Lord in this the day of His rejection and shame among men, but a remnant wholly separated to Himself; and because so, empowered, in communion with Him by the Holy Ghost—their alone strength, courage, skill, boldness, and alacrity—to walk His path down here, accepting death, His death, as the only door out of all visible things, to Himself, whether for rest and enjoyment with Him on high, or for true-hearted following below. May the Lord, in rich grace, find and call out such a company in these days.