1 Chronicles 12:32  “from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command;”

—

Some of us are old enough to remember television shows filmed in black and white. This was not a stylistic choice. There was no such thing as color television shows in those days. One of the best of those old shows was Dragnet. If you have ever seen the meme, “Just the Facts, Ma’am” ([https://bit.ly/3OO0zuo]), you know now where it came from. 

It is a long way from Just the Facts, which Joe Friday never actually said, to MSNBC and NewsMax, the New York Times and USAToday. Today, opinion journalism overshadows factual reporting. We hear less and less of what happens and more and more of what talking heads and keyboard pundits think things mean. 

In a long list of leaders declaring loyalty to the newly-crowned King David, there is one group who understood the times and knew what to do. They did not have a leader or two who knew what to do, they had 200 chiefs and all of their relatives who knew what to do. 

Understanding is not the same thing as knowledge. “Knowledge refers to information or awareness gained through experience or education. On the other hand, understanding refers to knowing or realizing the intended meaning or cause of something. This can also be defined as interpretation or view of a particular thing.” ([https://bit.ly/3vz3PCu])

President Woodrow Wilson once said, “I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow.” This is wisdom. Do your own best research. Learn from those who have been there and done that. Seek out those with values aligned with God’s revelation and instruction. 

The men of Issachar appear to have been those who used all the brains they had and all they could borrow. They were leaders characterized by knowledge and wisdom. Who are the Issachars you know today? Where can you find reliable instruction and trustworthy wisdom?

We live in times demanding more Issacharian cohorts and less social media sagacity. 

What would be different if you were like the leaders of Issachar? What if you truly understood not only what is happening now, but what we should do about it? What if you understood the times so well you could confidently declare how we should respond to those now drowning as well us going upriver to stop people from falling in the river?

Perilous times require leaders of wisdom and insight who know what to do now and what to do next. Let us move beyond easy answers and strong opinions to fact, truth, and decisive action aligned with our loving Father’s heart and compassionate hand.

—

I will seek understanding on the other side of knowledge.

—

Our Father, please help us understand this moment in history. Show us what we should do. Make us the leaders our generation requires. Make us peacemakers. Amen.