By Andrew Williams
Series: The Year of the Prophet- Month 6: The Watchman on the Wall
Week 23: The Issachar Anointing (Times & Seasons)
The watchman doesn’t just see enemies; they see the timing of God’s movements.
Anchor Scripture: “…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)
The Teaching
In the roster of the tribes of Israel that gathered to turn the kingdom to David, the tribe of Issachar is mentioned with a very specific distinction. They were not noted for their physical strength or their weaponry, but for their Intellectual and Spiritual Discernment. They had “understanding of the times.”
The Hebrew word for “understanding” here is Binah, which refers to the ability to distinguish, to separate, and to perceive the meaning behind events. To have Issachar understanding is to look at the “chaos” of the natural world and see the “calendar” of the spiritual world. While everyone else was confused by the transition from the house of Saul to the house of David, the sons of Issachar knew exactly what “Now” it was.
The Office of the Prophet requires this Temporal Discernment. You are called to be a spiritual “clock-watcher.” You must be able to tell the Body of Christ whether it is time to mourn or time to dance, time to build or time to uproot. Without the Issachar anointing, the Church is always “out of step” with God—trying to do yesterday’s work in today’s season. To be a prophet is to provide the “Beat” that the rest of the army marches to.
Prophetic Insight
The “Now” of God is rarely the “Now” of the news cycle. If you are only prophesying based on current events, you are a commentator, not an Issachar prophet. The Issachar anointing allows you to hear the “Tick-Tock” of the Throne Room. If you find yourself feeling a strange “urgency” for something that doesn’t seem urgent to others, or a “calmness” in a situation where everyone else is panicking, you are likely picking up on God’s timing. Your job is to bring the Church into Divine Synchronicity. When the Prophet declares the “Now,” the “brethren” come into alignment and the Kingdom advances without wasted energy.
The Activation
Identify a major project or a decision you are facing. Today, stop asking God for the “How” and start asking for the “When.” Say, “Lord, let the Issachar anointing rest on me. What time is it in Your calendar regarding this situation?” Wait for a sense of “Wait,” “Prepare,” or “Go.” Look for the “Now” signal in your spirit rather than the “Soon” pressure of your soul.
Daily Prayer: Lord God, I thank You that You are the Master of the Ages. I ask for the Issachar anointing today. Give me the ‘Binah’ to understand the times and the wisdom to know what Your people ought to do. Forgive me for being out of sync with Your rhythm. Calibrate my spirit to the ‘Now’ of Heaven. Let my voice be a clear signal that brings Your Body into perfect timing. Amen.
