04.06.2026
…..”Until it was a great army, like the army of God.”
2026- Year of gathering the spoil
2 Chro 20:25
1 Chronicles 12:22 “For at that time they came to David day by day to help him, until it was a great army, like the army of God.”
1. What’s happening in 1 Chronicles 12?
David is still on the run from King Saul (1 Sam 22-31.)
He’s not king over all Israel yet.
He’s in Ziklag 1 Chr 12:1, a Philistine town, hiding out.
1 Chronicles 12 lists all the mighty men who defected from Saul and joined David before he became king.
Warriors from Benjamin 1 Chr 12:1-7 joined David’s Army.
Gad 1 Chr 12:8-15,
Judah 1 Chr 12:16-18, joined David’s Army.
Manasseh 1 Chr 12:19-22, and all Israel 1 Chr 12:23-40.
Verse 22 is the summary statement for the men of Manasseh who joined him.
“For at that time they came to David day by day to help him”
At that time — While Saul was still alive and David was an outlaw. Joining David was dangerous 1 Sam 22:2.
Saul killed priests for helping David 1 Sam 22:18-19.
Day by day — Not one big enlistment. This was steady, daily growth. Little by little, people chose David over Saul.
This is happening in AOJ at present.
Day by day miracles and expansion of the Kingdom happening!
Day by day Institutional Churches are approaching AOJ!
Coimbatore IPA Church- promised to hand over 20 believers- to be trained up by AOJ- starts on 14th June
Uttrakhand Massorie Churches Pr. Chuba & Team making arrangements for BFF and inviting AOJ to conduct it from June 7-14, 2026
Liberty Church SP Koil, TN conducted COJ training for their youth girls- wants to arrange it again for 100 girls from nearby Churches
Ranipet Aypedu, & Veeranathur 2 Churches were converted into 6 Troop Churches by Pr. Meganathan– (3 each) mighty miracles!
FRP 2 requested in IC Churches where FRP 1 was conducted & FRP 1 requested in pending in Trumpet warning Churches
Zech 4:10 “Do not despise small beginnings
“To help him” — Hebrew la‘zor = to aid, support, surround.
They didn’t come for what David could give.
They came to give to him
1 Chr 12:18 “we are yours, O David”.
God builds slowly but surely.
Isa 60:22 “A little one shall become a thousand.”
Loyalty grew one person at a time.
“Until it was a great army”
Great army — Hebrew machaneh gadol = vast camp, host. David started with 400 distressed, indebted men
1 Sam 22:2.
1 Chr 12:23-37 lists 336,000+ total who later came to Hebron.
Until — There was momentum. God was adding to David daily.
Acts 2:47 says the same about the early church: “the Lord added to the church daily.
God multiplies faithfulness. Matt 25:21 “You were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.
“like the army of God”
Army of God — Hebrew machaneh Elohim. Same phrase used for angels Gen 32:2 when Jacob saw “God’s camp” at Mahanaim.
Why “like the army of God”? Size — Overwhelming, countless
2 Kings 6:17 Elisha saw “the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire.”
Unity — 1 Chr 12:38 “all these men of war… came to Hebron with a loyal heart.” No division Ps 133:1.
Purpose — They gathered to make David king 1 Chr 12:38 “to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD.” God’s army does God’s will Ps 103:20-21.
Power — 1 Chr 12:8 describes Gadites with “faces like the faces of lions.” 1 Chr 12:14 “one of the least was over a hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.”
Supernatural enablement 2 Sam 23:8-39.
When God builds something, it starts to look like Him.
Eph 6:10 “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”
David’s ragtag band became “the army of God” because God was with him
1 Sam 18:14.3.
Why this verse matters — 3 insights
| Truth | 1 Chr 12:22 | For us |
| 1. God sends help in the wilderness season | Men came “day by day” while David was still running | Ps 34:10 “Those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.” God sustains you before the promise Deut 8:2-42. |
| 2. Loyalty to God’s anointed matters | They left Saul to help David “according to the word of the LORD” | 1 Chr 12:231 Sam 15:22 “To obey is better than sacrifice.” Align with what God is doing, not what looks powerful 1 Chr 12:183. |
| 3. God’s work grows into God’s likeness | From fugitive band → “army of God | ”Phil 1:6 “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it.” What God starts, He finishes Eph 2:10 |
4. The bigger picture
David is a type of Christ — Rejected king gathering loyal followers before His throne is revealed.
Luke 19:14 “We will not have this man to reign over us.”
Yet people still come “day by day” Matt 11:28.
Church is God’s army now — 2 Tim 2:3-4 “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
We enlist “day by day” Luke 9:23.
Heaven’s army is still growing — Rev 7:9
“a great multitude which no one could number.” Starts small, ends “like the army of God.” Matt 13:31-32 mustard seed → tree.
1 Chronicles 12:22 shows God’s faithfulness in the waiting.
David had a promise 1 Sam 16:13 but no throne yet.
Still, “day by day” God sent help until his army looked like heaven’s.
Dear soldier, If you feel like you’re in a Ziklag season — promise given but not fulfilled — this verse says: Keep going. Help is coming daily.
God is building something “like the army of God” out of your obedience.
Gal 6:9 “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
Sr. Angelica