Excellence & Benjamite Archers

Synopsis     1Chron 11:42-12:15     12/24/2019 

King Saul was jealous of David. And so, the king persecuted him. As a result, David attracted many valiant men to his cause. Now David was from the tribe of Judah. And he was born in Bethlehem. So, having family members from his hometown join him was somewhat understandable.  

But, the attraction to support David was wider than that. Remarkably, men from other Israelite tribes joined him. In fact, some of those who supported David were Benjamites, who came from the same tribe as Saul.  

Excellence and Benjamite Archers 

The Benjamites who left the army of Israel and joined with David in the wilderness were able to shoot arrows with either hand.  

Occasionally, a man might come along that has a natural ability to use either hand in doing tasks. But most people are not. Most people have a strong hand and a weaker hand.  

But ambidexterity amongst a group of men is learned. These Benjamites were trained warriors who had developed the capacity to shoot with either hand. It was a mark of their excellence as warriors. And it only came with years of diligent practice.  

Excellence and Discipleship 

The apostle St. Paul perceived our walk with Jesus in a similar way. There was the natural, relational aspect of knowing God in Jesus Christ. But there was also the aspect whereby it was up to him to commit to excellence.  

It’s good to feel both aspects. Jesus is my friend. But my commitment to excellence – to doing everything I do as well as I can – is a mark of my commitment to serve the God of All Creation.  

“Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing. No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.” 1Cor 9:25-27