David was running from King Saul, and “mighty men, helpers in the war” came to him (1 Chronicles 12:1) “according to the word of the Lord” (v. 23, emphasis added). It was time for David to be king, time for the promise from God that he was king of Israel to become reality, and God sent mighty warriors to help him.

Some of the mighty men who were sent were armed with bows, and they could shoot and throw stones both left- and right-handed (v. 2).

Others came who were “mighty men of valor, men trained for battle, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as gazelles on the mountains” (v. 8), and they had experience: “These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks; and they put to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west” (v. 15).

The Bible says in verse 23 they “were equipped for war” and “came to David at Hebron to turn over the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord.”

These men were already prepared and did not hesitate.

There are so many details given about this army, but I want to focus on keeping ranks. The Word says it four times in two different ways, saying they “could keep ranks” (vv. 33, 38) and “keep battle formation” (vv. 35, 36). This is very important. They could:

• Stay in their place and do their own job.
• Keep up and not lag behind.
• Keep rank while simply marching.
• Keep rank in battle, standing their ground even in hard times.
• Could be counted on to hold their ground and stand for those around them.

They could count on each other, support each other, knowing that no matter what happened, they would never be alone. No matter what was going on around them, they kept rank, fighting when necessary and simply moving forward otherwise. They did the right thing, and they kept fighting and moving.

We have been placed in rank by the Lord in this fight for the salvation of the souls of our prodigals. We are protected by truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, and salvation (Ephesians 6:14-17). We are armed with the Word of God and prayer (vv. 17-18). We are prepared.

Some days it is simply a moving forward, and other days it is hand-to-hand combat with Satan and his demons, the enemies of the souls of our prodigals as well as ourselves, but we still keep ranks and keep battle formation. We pray for each other and for each other’s prodigals in faith believing, knowing what the Word of God says about their salvation and standing on those promises.

It isn’t time to give up! We don’t stop or lag behind. The victory is just ahead. Keeping rank is important for victory, and it is the most important victory. Others are fighting with us, also keeping rank. We keep fighting with the help of almighty, all-sufficient, all-powerful, all-wise God, who can never fail!