When David was fleeing from King Saul, long before he was crowned king himself, he ended up in a cave in the wilderness called Abdullam, which means “fortress” or “refuge.” While there, as improbable as it seemed, he gathered to himself a group of 400 men ready to follow him. Their “qualifications” weren’t exactly what you’d expect for a powerful fledgling crew that would later be called David’s “mighty men of valor.”  Those who attached themselves to him at this stage are described in this way: “Those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him” (1 Samuel 22:2).

We can’t miss the connection of this event with the later appearing of Jesus. Long before Jesus was revealed as King by conquering sin and death, He seemed an unlikely candidate to gather followers to Him. Born in obscurity and viewed with skepticism because of the troubling implications of His out of wedlock conception, Jesus was raised in an insignificant village where He trained as a carpenter growing up, not a future spiritual leader. He didn’t attend the approved rabbinical schools of the day so was rejected by the religious leaders as a poor candidate for Israel’s Messiah. He was often referred to as one who hailed from Nazareth, something that seemed to doom him to be considered a failure. As Nathanael, a potential disciple, once said incredulously, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” (John 1:46). The only positive recognition concerning His calling came from His heavenly Father, and these events (at His baptism and on the Mount of Transfiguration) were witnessed or understood by only a few.  

In so many ways, the “army” of Jesus followers was just like the men who gathered around King David. They were in debt—either to sin or to Rome, distressed by their life circumstances, or discontented with the spiritual climate around them. Those with enough power and wealth to be content, and anyone who didn’t feel the need to be forgiven of their spiritual failures didn’t even consider Jesus’ claim to be “the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus only attracted those who had no hope apart from Him.

Those of us who have recognized His Lordship and have attached ourselves to Him should rejoice that our life circumstances and deficiencies that drove us to Him worked for our good and His glory. We might have felt throughout our lives that we were misfits and didn’t measure up to the standards of this world. Growing up we might have felt overlooked, underrated, and misunderstood. But all those things make us good candidates for the Good News of the gospel. Jesus came for people just like us—people who needed His strength and help. People who were open to a different kind of King, one who would “not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out” (Isaiah 42:2-3). His people would not be strong in themselves. Rather, in their weakness, He would show himself strong.

The apostle Paul reminded the believers in Corinth, “Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong … so that no one may boast before him” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). They were a mixed and motley crew of misfits who, in their weakness, were unable to effect any change in their culture or put any pressure on the forces that ran the Roman Empire. They had no political clout, no persuasive voice that could be raised against the injustice of their times. All they had was the power of the Holy Spirit and God’s call to them to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, even to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

This ragtag army of believers sent out by Jesus became world-changers. But like the One they followed, they did it through unconventional and unorthodox ways. They simply obeyed the Spirit’s leading and trusted God with what happened. They were never “popular” or sought out. They bore the disgrace and suffering of their King as they went forth. Are we willing to do the same in our day to see the world changed by Jesus? Or will we shrink back from being seen as unimportant, weak, and defenseless?

When I was a young Christian, I was willing to be and do whatever Jesus asked of me. But I thought that surely this condition of being weak and dependent upon Him was a temporary necessity, not a lasting identification. I harbored the hope that I would one day be a mature Chrisian admired by other people, accepted as a legitimate and valued member of my society. These many years later, I realize that the people of God will always be seen as a “speckled bird of prey that other birds of prey surround and attack” (Jeremiah 12:9). Even when we “go around doing good” (like Jesus) in every way we can, we will still be viewed with suspicion and hostility by many because we follow a King they do not esteem. But this is not something to lament about! It ensures that all glory will go to Jesus, not ourselves. We’ll never outgrow our dependence upon Him and that keeps us where we are most secure and satisfied. We are not of the world and never will be. So let’s “Set [our] minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:2-4) What a glorious promise to keep us going!

Thank you, Lord, for opening my spiritual eyes and calling me into your ragtag army that’s dependent upon your wisdom and strength. Help me to embrace my identity without embarrassment, to rejoice in what YOU are doing through your people around the world. In our weakness we acknowledge … To you belongs all the glory! We love you, Lord. Amen.