In the times of King Saul, Israel was not fully united, and most were loyal mainly to their own tribe. You would expect that David’s supporters, while he was a fugitive, would be largely from his own tribe of Judah. But surprisingly, many people from other tribes joined David’s band. There were Benjamites from Saul’s own tribe (2-7, 16-18), warriors from the tribe of Gad (8-15), and some from the tribe of Manasseh (19-21).

Each group had its own unique characteristics that could be used by God: The Gadites were both fearless and swift (8), the Benjamites had left-handed warriors who were skilled at shooting (2), and the Manassites were successful in protecting David against raiders (21). This is a foreshadowing of the kingdom of Jesus, which brings in people for God from every tribe and nation and makes them one body. We should broaden our vision to see how God wants to use a great diversity of people for his kingdom.
Application: Father, thank you that your church includes people of every language, tribe, and nation. Help us all work together for your kingdom and reveal your glory.
One Word: God’s people from all tribes