1 Chronicles 12:16-22 (NRSV)
The spirit of God on Amasai
Some Benjaminites and Judahites came to the stronghold to David. David went out to meet them and said to them, "If you have come to me in friendship, to help me, then my heart will be knit to you; but if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, though my hands have done no wrong, then may the God of our ancestors see and give judgment." Then the spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said,
"We are yours, O David;
and with you, O son of Jesse!
Peace, peace to you,
and peace to the one who helps you!
For your God is the one who helps you."
Then David received them, and made them officers of his troops.
Some of the Manassites deserted to David when he came with the Philistines for the battle against Saul. (Yet he did not help them, for the rulers of the Philistines took counsel and sent him away, saying, "He will desert to his master Saul at the cost of our heads.") As he went to Ziklag these Manassites deserted to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of the thousands in Manasseh. They helped David against the band of raiders, for they were all warriors and commanders in the army. Indeed from day to day people kept coming to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God.
The spirit of God on Amasai
Some Benjaminites and Judahites came to the stronghold to David. David went out to meet them and said to them, "If you have come to me in friendship, to help me, then my heart will be knit to you; but if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, though my hands have done no wrong, then may the God of our ancestors see and give judgment." Then the spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said,
"We are yours, O David;
and with you, O son of Jesse!
Peace, peace to you,
and peace to the one who helps you!
For your God is the one who helps you."
Then David received them, and made them officers of his troops.
Some of the Manassites deserted to David when he came with the Philistines for the battle against Saul. (Yet he did not help them, for the rulers of the Philistines took counsel and sent him away, saying, "He will desert to his master Saul at the cost of our heads.") As he went to Ziklag these Manassites deserted to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of the thousands in Manasseh. They helped David against the band of raiders, for they were all warriors and commanders in the army. Indeed from day to day people kept coming to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God.
Reflection
Christians, brothers, sisters in Christ, will band together. We must band together. It's all part of God's great gathering movement. God has been gathering people together for centuries. God started with a couple of people and then created a nation of Chosen ones. From that nation, God has continued to gather people together and even opened it to all Gentiles as well. God gathers people together.
And the people gather together not only in the love of God but to demonstrate and live the love that Jesus has shown us. We live that love, gathered together, with and for one another. We gather together in congregations of congregations that move and combine the Spirit into the Church of God. A people gathered together as the one holy catholic church. A gathering of those living and dead that have come together through the power of the Holy Spirit to worship God. Gathered together in the love and compassion of Christ.
"Indeed from day to day people kept coming to David...Bill...Joyce...Ron...John...Dave......to help, until there was a great army, like and army of God." --- Thanks be to God for those who gather together in love!
Prayer
You provide for me when those I need gather in my need and when I gather for those in need. Gather us together Lord, through the power of your awesome Holy Spirit. Gather us together...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen
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