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

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 4, 2016): 1 Chronicles 12

Umberto II was deposed as King of Italy on June 12, 1946, and the monarchy of Italy officially came to an end. After the deposition, the former king went into exile for the remainder of his life (Umberto II died on March 18, 1983.) Officially his reign lasted only 34 days. By all reports, Umberto II was a good king, but the damage to the monarchy was already too extensive by the time he took the throne. His father, Victor Emmanuel III was seen as being complicit with, either by his actions or inactions, the fascist dictatorship under Benito Mussolini. Most likely, the king simply did what was expedient. In an attempt to repair the public image of the monarchy, Vincent abdicated the throne in favor of his son, Umberto. The plan might have worked if only Victor had done it earlier. But he left the move too late, and his son reigned over the kingdom only long enough to give it a burial.

Life possesses its own ebbs and flows. Success is often wrapped up in our ability to understand those changes. The stock market doesn’t always go up, sometimes it goes down. Political reigns end, as others begin. Maybe the strangest cry of a monarchy occurs at the death of the monarch – “The king is dead. Long live the king!” Change happens – and ends usually only indicate a new beginning.

The men of Issachar were men who understood the times. There have been many theories about what these words mean. Some have indicated that the men of Issachar were talented at astronomy. For some, it was an indication that the educated of Issachar had joined with the less educated from the other tribes in following David. But the reality is probably more political in nature. The men of Issachar probably understood, better than most, the ebbs and flows in political leadership. They had supported King Saul when that was the appropriate thing to do. But they understood that when the time was appropriate to change their allegiance to David, they had no problem in following the new regime. And in this, it was not only the times that they understood – it was also the moves of God.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 13