It took great courage to identify with someone who was fiercely pursued by King Saul. David had retreated to a stronghold in the wilderness, not a pleasant or attractive place. However, the men who joined David there were drawn to him because of love, as God moved their hearts. King Saul, on the other hand, was a strong leader whom people followed because of fear. The warriors who joined David overcame many obstacles to identify with God’s chosen one (Ps. 89:19–20). Because they loved him and their country, they sacrificed family ties and the advantages of belonging to Saul’s tribe.

Several from the tribe of Gad went on a long journey and faced tremendous hindrances, crossing the Jordan while it overflowed its banks. Putting to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west, they took on their opponents and scattered them (1 Chr. 12:15). David trained these men to become strong as lions and swift as gazelles on the mountains (v. 8).

Later, other men from Benjamin and Judah came to David. He asked them whether they came peaceably to help him (vv. 16–17). “Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the captains … ‘We are yours, O David; we are on your side, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers! For your God helps you’” (v. 18). Love, commitment, and devotion caused these men to come to David, day by day, until it was a great camp (v. 22).

May we commit to the Lord Jesus and His interests, as they did to David!