The Offer of the Upright, Etc
W. Clarkson 1 Chronicles 12:16-18 And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold to David.… These verses suggest - I. THE OFFER OF THE UPRIGHT. (Ver. 17.) David made this offer to the men of Benjamin and Judah in good faith. He did not mean one thing in the moment of danger, and another in the hour of security. He fully intended the thing he said; he was prepared, in the event of this band of men coming over to his side, to regard them with perfect favour and to give them a good place in his ranks. The maintenance of all our social activities depends on trustworthiness between man and man; therefore on honesty of thought arid integrity of word and deed in ordinary as well as extraordinary occasions. When uprightness is gone and confidence undermined, all security has vanished and everything is in confusion. The engagements of daily life, of trade and commerce, of all human industry, rest on morality and ultimately on religion. II. THE RESOURCE OF THE DEVOUT. (Ver. 17.) When David "went out to meet" those men, he placed himself (as I read the story) in their power. He made them an offer which they might accept or not. Accepting it, they would reinforce his army and strengthen his position; refusing it, they might avail themselves of his venture and get him into their power. This latter alternative he vigorously deprecates; but if they should abuse his confidence he has one resource - the appeal to God. "If ye be come to betray me to mine enemies... the God of our fathers... rebuke it." In the last extremity the devout man can fall back on Divine interposition: "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us... and he will deliver us" (Daniel 3:17). Things can never be so bad with the servants of righteousness but they have one valuable resource - the appeal to God, his rebuke of the guilty, his succour of the upright. But it is only those who can say, "Seeing there is no wrong in mine hands," who have a consciousness of rectitude and reconciliation, that have this refuge in the hour of need. III. THE DECISION, INVOCATION, AND ACQUISITION OF THE WISE. (Ver. 18.) 1. The decision of the wise. Those who know what it is best to do will join themselves, not to the cause of the man who has forsaken God and whom he has forsaken - the party of Saul, but to the side of him who serves God and whom he helps - the party of David. He whom "his God helpeth" is the champion to whom we should attach ourselves and our interests. 2. The invocation of the wise. "Peace, peace be unto thee and... unto thine helpers." The thoughtless and "shallow-hearted' may wish for their friends the cup of pleasure, or a sceptre of power, or a wreath of glory; the wiser heart desires peace. There is no blessing so true, profound, abiding, as peace of mind, rest of heart, stillness of soul in God. 3 And this is the acquisition of the wise. "Peace be unto thee,... for thy God helpeth thee." If God be the Helper of our soul, as he is ready to be, as he will be to those who earnestly and perseveringly seek his aid; if he grant the helpful influence of his illumining, renewing, sanctifying, comforting Spirit, there will be peace, "great peace " - the "peace which passeth understanding," the peace of Christ himself (John 14:27). - C. Parallel Verses KJV: And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David. WEB: There came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the stronghold to David.