David’s Mighty Men

There were certain individuals referred to as David’s “mighty men” (2 Samuel 23:8). David was king over Israel and often engaged in battles with the surrounding nations. These men were distinguished for their courage and accomplishments in his service.

Today, Jesus is a ruler who descended from David (Matthew 1:1; Romans 1:3). But His kingdom is spiritual in nature (John 18:36). His servants fight for Him – just as David’s men – yet ours is a spiritual fight (2 Corinthians 10:3). However, we can learn from David’s mighty men to see how we are to serve Christ today.

Adino – “These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Joshebbasshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains, he was called Adino the Eznite, because of the eight hundred slain by him at one time” (2 Samuel 23:8). This man killed eight hundred in a single battle. The odds were certainly against him, but he prevailed.

We have the odds against us today. Christians are in the minority, just as Jesus said we would be (Matthew 7:13-14). Even in a so-called “Christian nation,” we are “aliens and strangers” (1 Peter 2:11). At times we may even be cut off from our brethren (2 Timothy 4:16), but we should remember that God is with us. Even when all had deserted him, Paul could say, “The Lord stood with me and strengthened me” (2 Timothy 4:17). As long as we are following the Lord, we should not concern ourselves with the numbers on the other side. “If God is for us, who is against us?” (Romans 8:31).

Eleazar – “And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there to battle and the men of Israel had withdrawn. He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword, and the Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to strip the slain” (2 Samuel 23:9-10). As the long battle wore on, Eleazar clung to his sword so tightly that his muscles cramped in such a position that he could not release it. This sword was the instrument he had for the defense of himself and the people. God used this to bring about a great victory (salvation).

Like Eleazar, we have a sword we use in our battles. In telling Christians to “put on the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11ff), Paul told them to take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). As we face challenges, temptations, and persecution, we must hold tightly to our sword – God’s word. Our lives should echo the words of the psalmist: “Your word I have treasured in my heart” (Psalms 119:11). God will bring about a great salvation through the word (Romans 1:16), so we must continue to cling to it.

Shammah – “Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered into a troop were there was a plot of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it and struck the Philistines; and the Lord brought about a great victory” (2 Samuel 23:11-12). Shammah is commended to us for refusing to surrender this plot of ground, even when the people had all fled.

We must have the same spirit – a refusal to compromise. Truth is constantly under attack – from outside the church and from within (Acts 20:29-30); from those who want to loosen Christ’s teachings (2 John 9) and those who want to make them more strict (Galatians 2:4-5). We need to “hold fast the pattern” (2 Timothy 1:13) and not give any ground to Satan and his allies. The wise man wrote, “Do not move the ancient boundary which your fathers have set” (Proverbs 22:28). If we start surrendering battles, where will it end? “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalms 11:3).

Conclusion

A common theme in the stories of these mighty men, in addition to their courage, is the fact that they accomplished these things without the help of their fellow man. Adino himself killed eight hundred at one time. Eleazar clung to his sword and defeated the Philistines after the rest of the army fell back. Shammah successfully defended a plot of ground, even though the rest of his brethren were willing to surrender it to the enemy. They fought nobly, regardless of the actions of others.

In our service to Christ, are we going to be like the mighty men (faithful, courageous, steadfast) or are we going to be like the others (pacifists, compromisers, and cowards)? A reward awaits those who “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12), but not those who “shrink back to destruction” (Hebrews 10:39).