“ARE YOU ONE OF GOD’S MIGHTY MEN”? Lesson 159

“All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around David, and he became their leader” (1 Samuel 22:2). “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).

In 2nd Samuel 23, we have a roster of David’s mighty men. This list of names is also included in 1st Chronicles 11. These are the men who joined David before he came to the throne as king over Israel after David was anointed king by the prophet Samuel; there was a period of time before he was crowned king. During this period there were times when he had to hide in the wilderness to escape the anger of King Saul. Saul was fiercely jealous because David had become an overnight celebrity and favorite son in Israel after he had killed the Philistine giant, Goliath. Although Saul had already been set aside by God as the rightful king of Israel, he had not yet been removed from the throne. During this time when David was in disfavor within the establishment, many people joined him in the wilderness and became his army of loyal supporters. We read in 1st Samuel 22:2 that “all those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around David and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him”. Some of these loyal followers of David accomplished great things on David’s behalf, and they are registered as David’s mighty men.

Why did God include such seemingly dry and barren name lists in the Bible? We can be sure that every catalog of names in Scripture is there for a purpose. The Holy Spirit did not waste words. He did not inspire the biblical writers to include “fillers” to beef up the Bible. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Romans 15:4 says; “for everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope”. What teaching and encouragement of the Scriptures can we find from the list of David’s mighty men? It indicates to us that god records our personal service also. “For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing whether it is good or evil” (Ecc. 12:14). If God kept track of David’s valiant soldiers and their deeds, how much more does He keep track and reward the faithful servants of David’s greatest Son. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). Other Christians may not be aware of your behind-the-scenes services for Christ, but God sees and knows you as an individual soldier, and will reward every act of faithfulness.

In many ways King David portrays the coming Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. It is in his time of rejection that David particularly pictures Christ. As David was the anointed and rightful king but was unrecognized and rejected by the establishment, so Christ is the rightful King over mankind; “Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool” (Acts 7:49), but He is unrecognized and rejected by this world; “He was despised and rejected by men” (Isa. 53:3, John 19:1-16). Those who recognized David as king had to be willing to join him in the wilderness and share in his unpopularity and rejection. In the same way, we who have recognized the Lord Jesus as King have joined Him “outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore” (Heb. 13:13). We can identify in a spiritual way with those who came to David in the wilderness; people in distress, people in need and people who were dissatisfied with the “religious system”. David’s mighty men’s feats portray the activities of believers who have made Christ their King (Acts 9:16, 2 Cor. 6:4-10, 11:23-33).

The actions of David’s mighty men on the battle field contain lessons for us about spiritual warfare. These men overcame great odds. So can we! Eleazar (2 Sam. 23:8) stood and fought the enemy even though his fellow soldiers had retreated. Even though he was at the point of exhaustion he would not rest until the Lord brought victory. Spiritual warfare is very draining at times. Even though others may throw in the towel, great victory comes to Christians who hang in there on the strength of God. We fight with weapons of righteousness in both hands (2 Cor. 6:7), God gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:57), He stands at our side and gives us strength (2 Tim. 4:17) and the one that lives in us is greater than that is in the world (1 John 4:4). Shammah (2 Sam. 23:11-12) took his position in a lentil patch and defended the provisions of the Lord’s people. The Lord is looking for the Shammahs of today who will defend the faith and be willing to go to “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3).

David longed for a refreshing drink from the well of his hometown, Bethlehem. This was not a military duty and the men were not commanded to do this for David. However, out of love for their king, three of the men broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well and carried it back to David (2 Sam. 23:15-16). Our worship of the Lord should not be performed as a duty, but as an act of devotion because we love our King. “Here is a trustworthy saying; if we died with Him, we will also live with him; if we endure we will also reign with Him” (2 Tim. 2:11-12). Have you ever noticed how the devil tries to get in on every act of worship with our Lord and Savior? We must commit ourselves to time, effort and sacrifice and sometimes overcoming great barriers that are thrown in our path. The fact that David poured out the water (2 Sam. 23:16-17), makes is seem like the three were involved in a wasteful effort. But David considered their act to be so significant that he honored it and elevated it by giving the water as a drink offering to God. Paul said that he did not “run for nothing” but was being “poured out like a drink offering” (Phil. 2:16-17). Our times of quiet meditation in worship of God may appear to some people as a waste of time and effort. After all, thanking and praising God doesn’t feed any hungry or provide care for the homeless.

Benaiah went on to become the commander-in-chief of all Israel forces under King Solomon (1 Kings 4:4). He was a valiant fighter who struck down two of Moab’s best men, struck down a huge Egyptian and went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion (2 Sam. 23:20-23). In 1st Peter 5:8 Satan is pictured as a lion; “your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”. Benaiah was not caught off guard but was on the offensive. He was not backed into a corner to fight his way out but met the lion in the middle of the pit and killed him. Are we that courageous? We are commanded to resist the devil and we are promised that he will flee from us if we meet him head on (James 4:7). It has been noted that the full armor of God (Eph. 6:13-17) offers no protection for our back side. I have to disagree, using the Scripture from Isaiah 52:12 where it tells us that the Lord goes before us and will be our rear guard. Maybe that is why God did not design us with eyes in the back of our heads so we would trust Him!

The Moabites were physically related to Israel, yet as an enemy to Israel, they seem to represent “the flesh” in terms of spiritual warfare. Flesh is closely related to every one of us, yet it is our deadly enemy, and sometimes we are ruled by it. Paul said that sometimes he didn’t do what he knew he needed to but instead did what did not want to do. He knew it was no him but sin living in him that caused these “mistakes” (Rom. 7:14-25). Sinful natural desires are in conflict with Spiritual desires and if we become mighty believers we have the power of Christ to crucify the sinful nature (Gal. 5:16-25). Benaiah showed no mercy to the Moabites and we must show no mercy in overcoming the flesh. We must put to death whatever belongs to our earthly idolatry (Col. 3:5). Egypt was also an enemy of Israel and is pictured in our spiritual warfare as the world. As God redeemed His people out of Egypt, so God has redeemed us out of this world (Deut. 15:15, Gal. 3:13). One of Israel’s major problems was that they were still attracted to Egypt and the things that they remembered from lining there. Sometimes they even wished they were still in Egypt and often wanted to go back. If we are all honest, we will admit that the things of the world sometimes attracts us and every once in a while, way in the back of our minds, we want to go back to our old “not caring” lifestyle. We must continuously set our minds on things above and not earthly things (Col. 3:1).

Not much is said about the rest of David’s mighty men, but their names are recorded in 2 Samuel 23:24-39. Is your name recorded in God’s list of mighty Christians? When the court is seated and the books are opened will your name be there (Dan. 7:10)? When the scroll of remembrance is read will your name be there (Mal. 3:16)? Will your name be found written in the Book of Life (Rev. 20:12-15)? “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this Book” (Rev. 22:7). “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen” (Rev. 22:21)!