1 Chronicles 12: 32 Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their kinsmen were at their command. (NASB)
The sons of Issachar were men who came to declare their alliance to King David. They understood the times, which means they dedicated time and effort to make sure the king was doing what he should be doing. The Issacharites were noted for their wisdom. They had “understanding of the times,” which also means they were astute and perceptive. They could see how things were going, and that it was now the right time to join David. Their discernment was practical: “to know what Israel should to do.”
Do we understand our times? Do we gripe? Complain? Or are we finding a way to understand what is going on in the world around us and how it affects the church? We need to understand the times in which we live so that we might know how best to serve our Lord. We need to be astute, perceptive and ready to act. We need to be serving the Lord and each other in efficient ways.