Passage to Ponder: 1 Chronicles 12
“From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.” -1 Chronicles 12:32 (NLT)
I have heard so many say something along the lines of, “I’ve never been through any thing like this before.” Unless you are old enough to remember the 1918-1919 Spanish flu pandemic, that sentiment is correct. I’ve been a pastor for 35 years now and last Sunday was the first time I stood in an empty sanctuary preaching to a computer screen during regular worship times. I pray that this doesn’t become something I get used to doing! Such strange times for our world. We need some “men (and women) of Issachar” today! Who?
At the risk of sounding self-serving, I ask that as you pray for our national, state, and local leaders, remember to pray for your pastor, too! He needs it more now than ever before!
In 1 Chronicles 12 the people of Israel find themselves facing a difficulty no one had ever experienced. King Saul is the king of Israel. However, because of his disobedience God has chosen a new king to rule the people, King David. David refuses to lift his hand against Saul and David is allowing God to take care of the problem. Saul doesn’t see it that way. Saul puts David’s picture on Crime Stoppers and wants to kill the threat to his throne. The people of Israel are caught in the middle of this real life and death drama. They were being forced to choose sides. That is what is happening in 1 Chronicles 12. We get a list of some of the people who made the right choice and took David’s side.
The list we are given includes 200 men of Issachar…“men [who] understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.” These were men who were very wise and gave great advice to King David. Our nation needs people like that right now. Our churches need people like that, too! The modern church in America has never traveled down this road. How do we stay connected? How do we continue to worship and make disciples? How do we receive offerings to meet the physical needs of the present? How do we minister to those who need help?
Your church is just like all the others right now. Pastors and lay leaders are flying the plane with one hand on the yoke and the other hand holding the book “Learning to Fly for Dummies”! And, all these pastors and church leaders are desperately hoping their churches survive the landing! They know that some churches aren’t going to walk away from the crash. Many churches have no financial reserve and are going to close their doors in the next few months unless the Lord removes this disease.
Pray for these leaders to have a wisdom that can only come from the Lord--that they would understand the “signs of the times” and know “the best course” for their churches to take. Your pastor and church leaders have never led a congregation through a pandemic before. Every pastor will make mistakes during this time. So, they not only need your prayers, they also need your grace, support, and encouragement. Pray that your pastor will listen to God’s Spirit, God’s Word, and wise counsel!
Love,
Pastor Larry
Pastor Larry
(This is from a series of devotionals written during our time of restricted meetings and activities due to
the coronavirus.)
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