The sons of Tola were mighty men of valor in their generations; their number in the days of David was 22,600 (1 Chronicles 7:2; cf. 7:5,7,9,11,40; 8:40).

In just these two chapters there are no less than seven occasions, where the Chronicler identifies the men of Israel as "mighty men of valor". There seems to be no discrimination between the men. In other words, they were all "mighty men of valor."

Now the NIV simply designates these men as "fighting men" (i.e. soldiers), but this may be to miss the emphasis in the Hebrew, which literally reads "mighty of valor" (Young's Literal Translation). Yet, the NIV inconsistently translates these very same words as "mighty warriors" in 2 Samuel 23:8, which describes David's select group of highly accomplished soldiers. Clearly the translators of the NIV have chosen to be more intepretative of these words than virtually all of the other modern versions. 

Clearly every Israelite man had to be a soldier in these early years of kingdom building. Thus, it is not wrong to see these designations as referring to soldiers. Perhaps in the same way we consider all of the men, who fight in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, as simply soldiers as well. They are U.S. military. 

Yet, when they die, we don't see them simply as men who fought or as soldiers. No, we honor them even above other men, recognizing that they fought and died to uphold our democratic ideals. We see them in a sense as "mighty men of valor," for it takes both might and valor to do what they did. 

Could this also be what is going on in these texts? Certainly there is a reference to these men being soldiers, but inherent in their soldiering is an acknowledgement of might and valor. The very role that these men play, their willingness to put their lives on the line for the nation of Israel, to fight for the realization of God's covenant promises, give them a measure of nobility. 

We rightly give this measure of nobility to the American soldier. We honor them by thanking them when we see them, saluting their efforts on our behalf. Airlines give them priority access and some even first-class seating. We give them special recognition in our churches and in our assemblies. We acknowledge the might and valor required for their chosen profession. 

I see the Bible giving us a kind of precedent and model for this. 

I hate war and even the idea of warfare, but I acknowledge its necessity and that a "just war" is even ordained by God, for God used such warfare to accomplish His purposes for His people. Therefore, I honor soldiers, who are so engaged to fight in such a just war. I admire the high ideals that move them to put their lives in harm's way. They are rightly seen as "mighty men of valor."

I consider our American soldiers in large part "mighty men of valor." Let us give them due recognition for their noble calling. Let us pray for their wellbeing and that when they fight, they are not fighting the battles of tyrants but rather the Lord's battles. 

These chapters continue the genealogical record of Israel, which was a critical part of God's covenant with Israel. The continuing history of Israel even through national upheavals, apostasy, destruction, exile and extended captivity, demonstrates God's faithfulness in spite of dire circumstances. As we proceed once more through the history of Israel from David to the exile of Judah in the Chronicles, this perspective of God's undeterred faithfulness to carry out His covenant promises will become more and more evident. 

Friends, God is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Some of you may be aware that there are some upheavals happening within our martial arts organization. But I hope that you are not deterred from faithfully following the Lord in His calling upon your life. God is faithful even when people fail. We ought to be reminded by these present events that we do not put our hope in any man or men but in God, who has called us to trust and obey Him alone.

This is my my heart for our Martial Arts organization since I returned to it some eight years ago. While I can appreciate excellence in Martial Arts, deep friendships in the same, and the honor of following idealized leaders, these are not what I see this organization being about, neither now nor going forward. It is about honoring God and fulfilling the work of Christ, helping everyone we can to know Christ and to live out the full potential of their calling and gifting in Christ. 

This organization will not be about power plays between division leaders. Success must not be measured by the number of schools staying or leaving the organization but simply by our faithfulness to do what God has given us charge to do with the platform and opportunities He has given to us. The Youn Wha Ryu Organization is God's organization, and though it is filled with imperfect people at various points in their journey of faith, our mission will be to glorify God with this platform of Martial Arts. We will do this just as long as He will give us the privilege to do it. 

My heart is sad because a number of people and leaders have chosen not to continue on this journey of faith with us. But I am undeterred with respect to our mission. Why? Because it is God's mission, and He, who knows the end from the beginning, has already revealed that as long as we are doing His work, we will prevail in due course. God will make it so. The Scriptures encourage us with these words:

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers (Galatians 6:9-10).

As this Scripture applies to the mission for every believer, I take this as our organizational mission as well. Let us not become weary in what we do in this Martial Arts Organization, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up!

 Our God is faithful and his mercies endures forever. 

I was dragging through the reading today when I thought to ask, 'if there had ever been an 'aha!' moment when someone read the names.  So I hit the commentary button, and read. The commentator had noticed that there was no account of Zebulun and Dan.  They assumed it was because of the idolatry they committed (judges 18). A disgrace for 'men who became abominable by forsaking the worship of the true God for creature object.'

Yujin responds... There is mention of Zebulun in the genealogies of the Levites (cf. 1 Chron 6:63, 77) and has reference in both 1 & 2 Chronicles (cf. 1 Chr 12:33, 40; 27:19; 2 Chr 30:10, 11, 18). Naphtali only got a single verse (1 Chron 7:13). However, the case of Dan is unique because the tribe is never mentioned in these genealogies and has scant reference elsewhere and never mentioned in the NT. It is even excluded from the 12 tribes of Israel that constitute the 144,000 in Revelation 7. The argument that Dan may have apostasized from Israel based on the account in Judges 17-18, which indicates an enduring idolatry, is cogent. This may very well explain the reason for their exlcusion in Chronicles and perhaps replacement by Manasseh, one of the sons of Joseph, in Revelation 7:6.

Now, an additional possibility is that certain genealogical records, of those pertaining to Zebulun, may have not been assiduously kept. For example we read of another group, those connected to Simeon, who did keep good records:

 These were their settlements. And they kept a genealogical record. (1 Chronicles 4:33 NIV)

As there were some that kept good records, others may not have kept them. Keeping good records is also tied to a tribe's faithfulness to the covenant because this relates directly to God's promise of an enduring land inheritance for the twelve tribes of Israel. Not keeping good records meant that in part the tribes were not being obedient to the covenant pertaining to the land. Also, when records are absent, we see the Chronicler finding ways to fill up the delinquencies so that the promised allotment remains twelve. By this the Chronicler may be demonstrating God's faithfulness in spite of the unfiathfulness of certain tribes. As Paul reflects:

What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God's faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:"So that you may be proved right when you speakand prevail when you judge." (Romans 3:3, 4 NIV)

The same is the case with the defection of Judas Iscariot from the twelve. The apostles find another to replace him so that the total number remains twelve (Acts 1:12-26), in keeping with the prophecies and promises connected to the twelve apostles. 

The fundamental point is that God remains faithful to His covenant promises even when His people are unfaithful. "Let God be true, and every human being a liar." Therefore, let us trust in the Lord, even when everyone else may counsel differently.