David’s Mighty Men (6)—Courageous and Qualified - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2026

Some Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for battle, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions.
1 Chronicles 12:8

David's Mighty Men (6)—Courageous and Qualified
It took great courage to identify with someone who was hotly 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 were drawn to him, the king after God's own heart, as God moved their hearts. King Saul, on the other hand, was a strong leader, but people were afraid of him and followed because of fear. However, the warriors who came to David had overcome all kinds of barriers as they identified with him because of love. These men sacrificed family ties as well as the advantage of belonging to the same tribe as King Saul.

Others not only left their own tribe, in this case Gad, but also went on a long journey to join David. They overcame tremendous hindrances as they crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it overflowed all its banks (12:15). It was worth the effort, for they became "captains of the army; the least was over a hundred, and the greatest was over a thousand" (v. 14). They put to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west, took on the opponents and scattered them (v. 15). David trained these men who became strong as lions and swift as gazelles on the mountains (v. 8).

Later on, others came from Benjamin and Judah to David, who asked them whether they came peaceably to help him (vv. 16-17). "Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the captains, and he said: ‘We are yours, O David; we are on your side, O son of Jesse!'" (v. 18). What an encouragement for us who follow David's Son, the true King, and sacrifice all for Him!

Alfred E. Bouter