We left David in 1 Chronicles 11 having been crowned king and capturing Jerusalem. The rest of chapter 11 and all of chapter 12 talk about his mighty men, including our friend Benaniah who “killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day.”

1 Chronicles doesn’t describe the blow-by-blow of David’s becoming king of all of Israel. It describes the kind of men who made it happen. For example:

There were some Gadites there who had defected to David at his wilderness fortress; they were seasoned and eager fighters who knew how to handle shield and spear. They were wild in appearance, like lions, but as agile as gazelles racing across the hills. Ezer was the first, then Obadiah, Eliab, Mishmannah, Jeremiah, Attai, Eliel, Johanan, Elzabad, Jeremiah, and Macbannai—eleven of them. These Gadites were the cream of the crop—any one of them was worth a hundred lesser men, and the best of them were worth a thousand. They were the ones who crossed the Jordan when it was at flood stage in the first month, and put everyone in the lowlands to flight, both east and west. (1 Chronicles 12.8 – 15, MSG)

“Seasoned and eager fighters who knew how to handle shield and spear. They were wild in appearance, like lions, but as agile as gazelles…”

Wild men. Compare the description of John the Baptist:

When John’s disciples left to report, Jesus started talking to the crowd about John. “What did you expect when you went out to see him in the wild? A weekend camper? Hardly. What then? A sheik in silk pajamas? Not in the wilderness, not by a long shot. What then? A prophet? That’s right, a prophet! (Matthew 11.7 – 9, MSG)

Some guys are prophets – wild – others are better pastors. Different kinds of guys. Note that Ephesians 4.11 lists different kinds of gifted leaders:

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers. (Ephesians 4.11, NIV)

Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Some refer to this as the APEPT model. The implication of Ephesians 4.11 is that we need them all. It takes an apostle, for example, to start a church, especially in a hostile environment. But the guy with apostolic gifts (a “church-planter”) is unlikely to be the guy who can pastor the people over time.

Same in the military. Some guys are great wartime leaders but terrible peacetime leaders.

I’m thankful for David’s “wild men.” I’m also thankful none of them became king! There were also the men of Issachar, “men who understood both the times and Israel’s duties.” Armed, trained “fierce fighters…united and determined to make David king over all Israel.”

It takes a team!

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (Romans 12.6 – 8, NIV)