Understanding the Times

             In I Chronicles, we watch as the nation of Israel comes together to proclaim David as King, just as God had previously ordained him.  In Chapter 12, there is a long list of thousands of warriors who saw the handwriting on the wall (figuratively) and decided to throw their allegiance to him, rather than to Saul.  Verse 32 tells us why.

            The men of Issachar were men “…who understood the times and knew what Israel should do…” (NIV84).

            These men, like the others, were not stupid.  They knew that God had chosen David and that in God’s timing, he would be King.  They wanted to be on the right side of history when that time came.

            In Matthew 24, in response to a question from His disciples, Jesus gives us a list of the “birth pains” of the end of the age.  Things like wars and natural disasters will become commonplace.  Every day, we seem to see and hear the results of those “birth pains.”

            Now, I don’t pretend to be an expert on “end times,” but I think the wisdom of the men of Issachar might still be applicable today.  Jesus makes it clear that no one except the Father knows when Jesus will return (Matthew 24: 36), but He does give us some clues.  One is the listing of “birth pains,” but the second is found in verse 14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (NIV84). We have no control over the birth pains, but we have the capability and opportunity to reach the whole world for Christ within our lifetime. 

            Like the men of Issachar, we should know what to do based on the times in which we live.  Jesus gave us a Great Commission (Matthew 28: 18 – 20), and it’s time that we make fulfilling that command our priority.  If all Christians come together with time, resources, and effort, we can reach every “unreached” people group with the Gospel. 

            Jesus goes on to tell us in Matthew 24 that we are to “keep watch” (Verse 42).  We don’t know when He is going to return, but we should be able to see the handwriting on the wall and know that His return gets nearer every day.  We need to complete the mission that He gave us, and then, “…be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matthew 24: 44 NIV84). 

I Chronicles 12

Matthew 24

Acts 1: 7

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