I Chronicles 12:32 And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do
It is quite clear that there is a certain kind of brotherhood that comes from battle, from people who fight together. They learn to trust, love, and put their very life in the hands of people with whom they fight. They fight not only for their country and their homeland; they fight for each other, and they find each other to be trustworthy.
In I Chronicles 12 you find a group of men whom David found trustworthy, the mighty warriors who came to David. We know from reading earlier in the Bible that Saul largely drafted an army, but David largely drew an army. Men were drawn to him because of his character qualities, and the men themselves had noteworthy qualities that were trustworthy. You can see those qualities clearly in this passage. What were these qualities that made these warriors trustworthy to David? What qualities are trustworthy in life?
First, there is integrity. I Chronicles 12 tells us about the integrity of the men who came to David. Verse 33 says that they were “not of double heart” or two-faced. These were men with a single focus and a loyal heart. Later on, verse 38 says, “All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart.” If I don’t have a heart of integrity, if I am not honest and reliable, if there is not just one me that people can recognize but a duplicity to who I am, then I lack integrity. A person of singleness of heart and integrity is worthy of trust. These were men whom David could trust.
Second, there is ability. Usually when we think of someone being trustworthy, we think about their integrity. Can I trust them and are they honest? But sometimes it is more than that. Ability is another thing to consider. Suppose I want someone to fly me from Nashville to Phoenix. If I find someone who is of great integrity, that is fine, great. What if they have never had one flight lesson in their life? Well, then I can’t trust them in that domain. I don’t trust their ability. So, these were men who had not only integrity but also ability.
Verse 2 says these men “were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow.” They were skilled warriors, “fit for the battle” and “men of might” as verse 8 says. They could “handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains.” These men were swift, strong, and skilled warriors, and knew what they were doing. Verse 33 says that one group that went forth to the battle were “expert in war.” So, ability is a trait that ought to be cultivated. That is trustworthy.
The third trait brings them all together. Verse 32 famously says about the children of Issachar, “Men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” Let’s suppose there is a man with great skill. He can hit the bullseye with an arrow at a hundred paces, and he also has integrity. Does he have judgment and understanding? If he knows how to shoot to hit the target and has integrity, but he doesn’t know when or when not to shoot or what to shoot at, that is not trustworthy.
My grandfather used to tell my dad and brother when they were boys, “Never aim at something you wouldn’t be proud to shoot.” Judgment is important, and these men had understanding to know what they ought to do. They had understanding of the times. How we need people today who understand the times, where and when they are living and what God’s Word says to them right now. They understood the times to know what they should do. So, they needed understanding and knowledge, and time is the context. It is not just having knowledge of the truth, but a context for that knowledge in our day. Then, ought shows it is a matter of wisdom, knowing what to do with the understanding we have.
What about you today? Do you have people like this in your life? And more importantly, are you this kind of person in the lives of others? What kind of qualities are trustworthy? Integrity, ability, and judgment are all important. May God help us to be people who are trustworthy in our world today.