MOI Teen Discipleship Program 6th -12th Grade

The Men of Issachar: Who were they?

The kingdom of Saul was dead. There on Mount Gilboa, with his sons slain and the Philistines closing in, the demented king took his own life by falling on his sword when his armor bearer refused the command to strike. The Philistines gloated in their triumph, but it was not their victory to celebrate. Saul’s death was the consequence of his pride and unfaithfulness.

Saul and his sons were dead, and the people of Israel were without a king. The darkness of uncertainty and fear must have consumed the hearts of the people as they considered their future. Who would lead and deliver them from the might of the Philistines? God knew. It would be the shepherd boy God had instructed Samuel to anoint with oil so many years ago. The man who was pursued by Saul with a murderous vengeance. The man who refused to dishonor God by taking the fate of Saul into his own hands. A man after God’s own heart. David.

The transfer of power was not an easy one. Seven years passed. The kingdom was divided. People died. But David’s time eventually came at Hebron. There the people of Israel came together to make David king as hundreds of thousands of armed warriors stepped forward to pledge their allegiance to their new ruler. Among them was the small band of the men of Issachar. Not the largest or mightiest group, but they arrived with an understanding that set them apart:

“The men of Issachar…understood the times and knew what Israel should do.”

1 Chronicles 12:32

These men came not with spear and shield, but with a far greater weapon: an understanding of their times and willingness to ACT. The men of Issachar knew what Israel needed to do and took action on that awareness.

Knowing the right thing to do is good, but having the courage to do what is right is where many fall short. In the words of General Norman Schwarzkopf: “The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it.”The men of Issachar knew the right thing to do and then responded by stepping forward and giving their all to the army of God. As a result, the reunited nation entered a time of unity, peace and worship that was unequaled in any other chapter of their history. The culture changed because God’s people were willing to follow God’s plan.

Today, our culture stands in a similar place. Few of us would deny that we also live in extreme times. Times of fear. Times of uncertainty. As we have just been reminded, such times are not new or unique. But they do call for action.

To make a difference in the world around us we must understand the times and choose to live with extreme faith. We must be willing to live with purpose by stepping forward as God’s people with a willingness to follow God’s plan. That example was set for us by the Men of Issachar who “understood the times and knew what Israel should do…”