If the group of guys I had been watching nearby had tried to see who could come up with the most extravagant understatement, my money would have been on the bearded guy in the baseball cap. You could tell he was having a serious moment because he had a look on his face like his favorite bar had just been sold to a chain of health food stores. “Well… ,” he said in an unhurried Tennessee drawl, “Things shore ain’t like they used to be.”
I suspect the most distracted among us came to that same conclusion a long time ago. Every time we think it can’t get any worse, we discover that “Pandora” has boxes she hasn’t even
opened yet. It seems clearer every day that every principle God ever ordained is under attack and we’re approaching a spiritual, moral, and ideological intersection. What our country is facing is a simple, but profoundly significant ‘Y’ in the road. We can’t make a U-turn, and we can’t just stop and remain here. It is time to make some personal choices with national implications and we need to call in all our resources.
Time for a Recruiting Call ~
Maybe this would be a good time to issue a recruiting call for more people like the “Sons of Issachar.” They were a group of men who came on the scene in the midst of a contentious time in Israel’s history. God had declared that King Saul’s rebellious behavior would cost him the kingdom (I Samuel 13:7-14), and David had already been anointed as his replacement. Though David was the identified successor, the transition was not immediate. For some time after the prophetic announcement, Saul continued to wear the crown and saw killing David as the only way to hold onto it. David kept on the move and hid in remote and secluded places as Saul hunted him with obsessive persistence and murderous intent.
As word spread that David was God’s choice to lead Israel, courageous and gifted men began to gather around him. Among them were 200 leaders from the tribe of Issachar. The brief Biblical record identifies their tribal association and position as leaders, but goes on to add that they possessed two outstanding qualities that we are in desperate need of today. Here’s how God introduced them:
…Of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command. (1 Chronicles 12:32 NKJV)
Seeing the Bigger Picture ~
These sons of Issachar had an understanding of the times and could see the bigger picture. 
They realized that there was more at stake for their little band than surviving the deadly cat and mouse game going on with King Saul. They considered the implications their actions might have on God’s long-term plan for David and all of Israel. Seeing beyond the chaotic circumstances of the moment was vital. It enabled them to deal with immediate challenges in a way that would ensure valuable benefits later on.
Their long-range vision and expanded perspective enabled them to discern more clearly what Israel ought to do. But having an understanding of the times solves nothing until somebody decides to do something with the information. Without subsequent action, knowledge is no more than a topic for another impotent, pointless discussion. Knowing what Israel ought to do was the foundation that made their foresight pragmatic, which also made it “priceless”.
But to bring our attention back to the here and now. How might some modern “sons of Issachar” react to a comment like, “Well… things shore ain’t like they used to be”? Maybe they’d remind us to look backward only long enough to get our bearings, and then pour all our energy and resources into doing things that can impact the present situation, and at the same time, produce powerful long-term benefits.
Not Just a Few Failed Policies ~
Any valid understanding of the times would recognize that the violent crimes plaguing our streets, the demonic ideas being taught in our schools, the sexual abuse being perpetrated on our children, and the rampant corruption infecting upper level government today are not just the product of a few failed public policies. They’re the predictable result of a long and
carefully orchestrated process of spiritual neglect, mental indoctrination and emotional manipulation. The national shift away from God promoted by academia and reinforced by every form of media has left a spiritual vacuum in the hearts and minds of millions of our people for multiple generations. That internal emptiness opened the door for every kind of moral degradation, ethical deception, and relational disintegration imaginable, and has become the fountainhead for the anarchy spreading through our country every day.
No combination of public policies alone will ever be able to correct the problems that have resulted from years of spiritual apathy and irresponsibility. We can’t undo the damage already done and return to former days, but the “sons of Issachar” would tell us that there are some things that we can do. They’d tell us that the values and principles that ensured a better, safer, and more prosperous life in earlier days are still available and just as powerful as they ever were. They would agree that, indeed, “Things shore ain’t like they used to be.” But they would go on to suggest some positive responses. For instance:
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- We can return to treating the Word of God as the final authoritative truth about life and the most effective and prosperous way to live it. The authority of the Word of God has never required government approval or popularity in the general culture. Its judgment regarding human behavior is eternally accurate and effective, whether or not we as individuals or the culture at large choose to recognize it. Denying it will not allow an escape from its domain or remove it from the heart of the One who holds our breath in His hands.
- We can return to treating sin as the repulsive and destructive thing it always has been. The culture may say that moral codes are different now, but you still can’t play with a rattlesnake and expect not to be injected with its venom. Refusing to call a serpent what it is has no effect
on its nature. For decades, entertainment icons and social “experts” have told us that deadly vipers are really harmless, while they ignore the millions living in misery and dying in despair. Destructive behaviors often feel good for a while, but knowing the difference between a venomous creature and a playful kitten might make us more careful in deciding what we want to pick up.
- We can return to treating traditional family relationships as the vital basis they are to ensuring our social stability and welfare. Regardless of the depraved, perverted notions about sexual practices, personal identity, and what constitutes a “family,” and in spite of the lies about gender being promoted everywhere, children are still born as boys or girls. When children are raised in an intact nuclear family as God describes it, they flourish best on every level and are happier and more prosperous. The benefits of a morally committed, spiritually mature, Biblically informed environment surpass anything the psycho-babble world ever conceived. We can’t mandate relationships, but we can define healthy ones and hold them up as the ideal to be pursued, promoted, and protected.
- We can return to our mission of unashamedly proclaiming that Jesus Christ still offers forgiveness of sin and eternal life to all who will repent and trust Him as Savior. No matter whose party is in power, every one of us will eventually breathe our last breath in this world. There are still only two options open to us, and the choice must be made prior to taking that exit ramp.
Personal Action Requirement ~
The sons of Issachar in David’s day could see what was coming, and they knew that it was time to act. It was time to get up, show up, and get personally involved in God’s plan for themselves and their nation. They knew what was going on and what they “ought to do” — and they did it. It’s time for us to stand up and do the same. May God help multitudes of us to follow their example.
“TWEETABLES” ~ Click to Tweet & Share from the pull quotes below. Each quote links directly to this article through Twitter.
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- “Having an understanding of the times solves nothing until somebody decides to do something with the information. Without subsequent action, knowledge is no more than a topic for another impotent, pointless discussion.” @GallaghersPen (Click here to Tweet)
- “The violent conflagrations in our streets aren’t just the product of a few failed public policies, but the predictable result of a long, carefully orchestrated process of spiritual neglect, mental indoctrination, and emotional manipulation.” @GallaghersPen (Click here to Tweet)
- “The national shift away from God opened the door for every kind of moral degradation, ethical deception, and relational disintegration imaginable and has become the fountainhead for the violence we’re seeing in our streets every night.” @GallaghersPen (Click here to Tweet)
- “The Word of God and His judgment regarding human behavior is eternally accurate and effective. Denying it won’t allow an escape from its domain or remove it from the heart of the One who holds our breath in His hands.” @GallaghersPen (Click here to Tweet)
- “The sons of Issachar in David’s day knew that it was time to act, time to get up, show up, and get personally involved in God’s plan for themselves and their nation. It’s time for us to stand up and do the same. May God help multitudes of us to follow their example.” @GallaghersPen (Click here to Tweet)
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Check out Ron’s book, “Right Side Up Thinking in an Upside Down World ~ Looking at the World through the Lens of Biblical Truth” 
Gallagher's Pen ~ 
Thank you, Ron, for reminding us here that if we don’t stand up for God and His precepts, who will? Let us put on the full armor of Christ and lead the charge to return to God wholeheartedly and with repentance for our sins. They are many and will only get worse if we don’t act.
Blessings, and may God save our nation!
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Brother, your post this morning caused me to feel I just sat down at a Brazilian Churrascaria and both sides of the circle were green. There’s so much meat in your message, I’m not sure where to start and am certain I can’t eat it all in one setting. Reckon God will let me take a doggy bag home with about twelve pounds of meat to work through later this week. I therefore reserve the right to add additional comments. In the present, I have knife and fork in hand and my mouth is watering at your “feast of wisdom.”
From the outset (as soon as I read the title of your post), I told myself, “Mr. Ron knew this was going to get my motor runnin’, didn’t he?” My initial thought was, “Oh, how we need more of those sons today!”
I thought about the young man’s missive of “… ain’t what they used to be” and as soon as I got through the lyrics of “Old Gray Mare”, I agreed wholeheartedly with your thoughts. The past is meant to provide us a means of performing “Lessons Learned.” In that, I mean we need to grow from our past, our history, rather than yearning to re-live it. I was reminded of something my ranch hand Mr. John says; “There’s a reason the rearview mirror is so small and the front windshield is so big.” In agreement with you, we must use the best lessons from the post to point us to the future. We must live our lives in the “end game” (a chess term for focusing on what will be in the future, not in the present). In other words, we need to be looking at and planning for six moves ahead, not “what’s my next move.” Let us point to the future rather than being mired in the past.
Next, I thought about your “long-range vision” statement. My mind went back to when I helped formulate and lead our company’s “Long Range Strategic Planning” activities for each year. While the LRSP was a seven-year look ahead, that was adjusted each year (because things change with time), the Long Range Strategic Plan was exactly that, a PLAN. A plan is nothing more than a roadmap that shows you how to get somewhere. It’s useless if you don’t start steppin’! To implement and adhere to the LRSP required leadership. I thought also about the difference between managers and leaders. I tried teaching this to every young person who ever worked with me. Managers manage with their mind. Leaders lead with their heart. Managers tell others to “Go do.” Leaders encourage others to “Follow me!” Managers track and measure performance against the plan. Leaders observe and aren’t afraid to dynamically change the plan and course to achieve the objective.
Also loved your point about the fact that we can never create enough laws to correct the ills found in society today. I think it was Rev. Martin Luther King who said in a speech (and I’m sorry, but I can’t recall exactly which one), “We cannot legislate morality.” For the “Sons of Issachar” to rise again and effect real change, we must change hearts more than minds.
For the world to return to a place of godliness, with an emphasis placed on godly values and sound morality that permeates the lives of the majority again, we need leaders (Sons of Issachar) who can muster the masses to follow them and start stepping out toward their goal of realizing their long-term vision.
I’m not sure if you ever saw the movie about the start of the Cowboy Church movement, “Nail 32” (how many nails does it take to shoe a horse?) or not. Bet you can find it on the Internet, but the concept depicted there was “each one, reach one.” If just a few of us reach one. Then, us and those we reached reach one more, so on and so forth. You can see where this is going. Modern-day “Sons of Issachar” must start with our own families, then our own church, then our own neighborhood, then our own city, county, state, and nation. That’s how lasting change happens. It doesn’t begin and then hope the next generation continues. It happens when we all keep pulling the wagon together. As we do, momentum builds and the load gets easier. I’ve wondered in the past if that’s what happened. Did our forefathers just tired and quit, saying, “Okay, we’ve got you on the right road, you take it from there, we’re going to sit here and rest on our laurels.” Our job as Christians doesn’t end until Christ returns my friend.
I think it important to remember that revival does not happen in the hearts of the unsaved. Revival must happen in the hearts of Christians. When it does, then we are excited and motivated to reach out beyond the now-threatened security of our church walls. “Sons of Issachar” realize that the walls that need to come down are around our hearts, not our pews. If you will, Revival births Reach!
Man, will your message preach this morning. In case y’all cain’t tell, y’all done fired this ol’ stump jumper up this mornin’. 🙂
Have a blessed one brother, and please thank your Ms. Diane for her two “Amens” and big smile this morning.
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Let me tell you, Brother–Mrs. Diane has a lot more than two “Amens”. Her response is more like “Why don’t you just throw J.D. an idea or a Scripture passage every week and then publish whatever he says about it?” :). But seriously, we both thought the way you expounded on the difference between managers and leaders was masterfully done. it’s an enlightening and in some cases, disturbing, way to look at examples of both roles in the context of the Church. The concern way Christianity is being “managed” by so much of our leadership these days breaks our heart for the people sitting in the pews waiting to be led and longing to see the power of God move against the darkness and evil encroaching from every direction. To be honest, I find the spiritual fraud being perpetrated by so many groups operating under the guise of a “church.” infuriating. If I’d been with Jesus when those Samaritans were being so rude to Him, I’d have probably joined in with the whole, “How ’bout we call down some fire from heaven on those guys?” Thankfully, Mrs. Diane intervenes for the Lord and reminds me that it ain’t the way He wants us to deal with the problem.
Along those lines, the Amens also poured out from both of us in reaction to your comments about revival. It brought to mind something I heard one of the old evangelists (can’t remember who at this point) preach. He said that we really want revival, we should begin by getting some chalk and drawing a circle about three feet in diameter. Then we should get in the middle of that circle and start praying for God to pour out His Spirit. We should pray for conviction of sin, confess whatever comes to mind. Then we should ask God to grant the repentance and cleansing we claim to want and fill that circle with it. If and when God does that, the only revival that will make a difference in our life will have begun.
It’s stimulating to consider God’s plan again, and remind ourselves that God has, indeed, given us a plan and He’s not about to change it. Our challenge not to revamp the plan. It’s to confront each day with the determination to carry out the mission He sent us to fulfill and not to let the distractions, obstacles, and surprise attacks deceive us into thinking that there’s something wrong with the plan and we’ve go to develop a new one.
Thank you once again for blessing our hearts with your presence. Neither of us is quite sure what a “Brazilian Churrascaria” is (I’ll look it up later so I can bring it up in a conversation at church and sound impressive) but regardless, you have certainly filled our spiritual plates with some richly nourishing stuff to think about. Mrs. Diane is definitely sending some big smiles back your way, along with our heartfelt, continuous prayers for her namesake in your life, and for the many challenges you and Mr. John face every day.
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