I'll meet you in Ziklag

While studying recently for a talk I was giving to a group of young people, I was struck by the importance of the geography and the chronology in I Chronicles 11 & 12 – the two familiar chapters about David’s mighty men and those that joined forces with them to make David king over all of Israel.

While these two chapters have inspired me for years, I was particularly struck this time by the timing of events, as the two chapters jump around and are not written chronologically. I was inspired by what happened when David was in Ziklag, hiding from King Saul.

David is here a type of Christ, Saul a type of the kingdom of this world. God’s people were beginning to realize that, even though Saul was still king, he was no longer God’s choice. So, those with the spiritual discernment and fortitude picked up their bags and threw in their lot with David, God’s anointed. Even though he was hiding in the wilderness of Ziklag – no royal courts, no royal food, no important cabinet positions to be filled – he became a magnet for those who wanted to be on God’s side. Just God’s man, awaiting God’s time, being joined by God’s faithful.

We read in Revelation 11:15 that “the kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.” But when we read that this “has become,” we read this as a future event. We live in a day when “Saul” is still on the throne, ruling over the kingdom of this world. But David’s Son is in Ziklag, patiently waiting the day of His Father’s choice.

And now, in 2006, Jesus is gathering the faithful of God to Himself - those who have rejected the kingdom of this world, and have thrown in their lot with God’s Chosen One. Jesus may still be in Ziklag, but the momentum is building. His day is fast approaching. The kingdom of this world will soon become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will indeed reign forever and ever.

As for me and my house, we’ve packed up our bags and moved to Ziklag. We’ve come with one heart to make Christ King over all the earth. We have no stakes in the kingdom of this world. Its foundations are crumbling, but our foundation is secure. Its day is past, Christ's is just around the bend. If you’re looking for me, I’ll be waiting in Ziklag.