Undivided Loyalty – Without a Double Heart

Before he became king of Israel, God made sure David had plenty of friends. It was no small thing, this taking of a kingdom. So He sent David no small cadre of fighting men.

Saul was not making any brownie points; the icing on the chocolate chunk was his death by his own sword in I Chronicles, chapter 10. But while Saul was still a living threat to David, the warriors from every tribe began to arrive in Ziklag, his desert stronghold, to turn the kingdom over to David as the Lord had said. (I Chron. 12:23)

I Chronicles 12 records for us the amazing qualities of these warriors. Listen to some of the descriptions:

• They were “among the mighty ones” (remember hearing about David’s thirty mighty men?)
• Some were right and left-handed, equally skilled with bows, arrows, and stones (like David himself with his sling)
• “Valiant warriors”
• Some with faces “like the face of a lion” and “as a gazelle on the heights for swiftness”
• Still others of whom “the least was equal to a hundred and the greatest as a thousand”
• And these same ones above were the ones who crossed the Jordan in high flood stage, through raging water, and emerged to put to flight all those of the valleys, to the east and to the west.

There was one verse, however, whose description captured this Wellspring’s attention:

Of Zebulun, going forth to the army, that could set the battle in array with all kinds of weapons of war, fifty thousand; and keeping rank without a double heart. I Chronicles 12:33

The Amplified version says they were “experienced troops” and “men not of double purpose but stable and trustworthy.” That certainly describes the type of warrior friends I would like gathered around me when facing the enemy in order to take over the kingdom and see the captives set free!

I believe there is a time in each believer’s life when loyalty to Christ and His Kingdom is put to the test. Before that critical point occurs, though, there are a hundred thousand small choices to daily be made. Those seemingly small choices, though often given little regard, bend our loyalty toward or away from the ability to keep rank without a double heart and to remain stable and trustworthy – when the time comes.

As a dear friend re-stated in an email I received earlier today…”Faith rose up in David as he recalled previous victories made possible by God’s power. His past victories were private victories. The greatest test of integrity is to be obedient to God when He is the only witness.”

No doubt the 50,000 men of Zebulun had each practiced single-hearted loyalty and purpose in numerous and diverse instances before the day they rallied together to come to David’s aid. I think they recognized the critical moment when it came because they had applied their hearts over and over to staying singly focused in the first place. They knew David was to be king. It was just a matter of time.

Instead of running out assorted bunny trails to their dead ends, they charted one course and stayed true to it. It was the king’s course, and each decision and every choice was made with that course in mind.

Do you, do I possess the single heart of Zebulun?

Sometimes Plan A needs a Plan B backup, but if that becomes a way of life – a handy back-pocket ‘out’ – then you may need glasses, for it leads to double vision of the heart.

We, too, have a King’s course charted out for us. When no one else is looking on, will we remain true and loyal to it, knowing that one day the critical moment will come?

Taking possession of the Kingdom of God is no small thing.

…the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize–a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion]. Matthew 11:12 (AMP)

When the critical moment arrives, take a look around. Who surrounds you? Mighty ones, valiant warriors, and those who have crossed flood waters to rout out the enemy? Or joggers running by asking which way the bunny went?

Please examine your heart. This is one time “doubles” is not the winning hand.

There’s a Kingdom to take for the King!

Gracefully Free