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The King’s Mighty Men (2 Samuel 23:8-23)
10 Plays1 month ago
In honor of Father’s Day, we shall look at 2 Samuel 23:8-23 where it introduces us to five of the soldiers who served in the Special Forces that protected King David. You could call these men, “The King’s Mighty Men”. Our first verse today says, “These are the names of the mighty men whom David had…” 23:8.
By the way, how would you define a “mighty man”? A wise theologian from the past named J.C. Ryle doesn’t actually define a mighty man for us, but he does disclose a list four common dangers that can weaken men, such as pride, pleasure, presumption and peer pressure. He also identifies four dependable resources which can strengthen a man like scripture, prayer, community and Jesus.
When wild geese take flight, they usually fly together in a V-formation. This natural structure of cooperation and unity helps them fly farther than they would have had they flown solo. As a matter of fact, researchers estimate that flying in a V-formation increases their range by 71%. Plus, have you ever heard geese honking as they fly through the air? These “honkers” are located in the back not the front of the wedge, perhaps saying to those near the point, “Stay at it! Stay at it! We are with you! We can do this together!”
Let’s learn some valuable lessons from these mighty men of the past who lives are saying to men of any generation, “Stay at it! Stay at it!”
A mighty man is a valiant man, 23:8
A mighty man is a vigilant man, 23:9-10
A mighty man is a vital man, 23:11-12
A mighty man is a voluntary man, 23:15-17
A mighty man is a vigorous man, 23:18-19
A mighty man is a victorious man, 23:20-23
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Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations
Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison
First Baptist Church
1700 Milam Street
Columbus, TX, USA 78934
http://fbccolumbustx.org/
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Greeting
00:00:08
Speaker
Welcome to Growing in Grace with Pastor Victor Morrison. This is a ministry of First Baptist Church located at 1700 Milam Street, Columbus, Texas. We are praying that God will bless you as you listen to this message.
00:00:22
Speaker
If you would like additional information on worship times and ministries at FBC Columbus, you can find out more at our website, fbccolumbustx.org. And now, take your copy of God's timeless Word as Pastor Victor gives today's message.
Father's Day and Mighty Men
00:00:43
Speaker
Welcome to Growing in Grace. My name is Victor Morrison. I'm the senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Columbus, Texas, and I'm so glad that you're listening today. Hey, I am so excited because this Sunday's Father's Day.
00:00:56
Speaker
You know, in honor of Father's Day, i want us to look today at 2 Samuel 23, verses 8 through 23, where it introduces us to five of the soldiers who served in the special forces that protected King David.
00:01:14
Speaker
But before we do, i have a question. How would you define a mighty man?
Understanding Mighty Men: J.C. Ryle's Framework
00:01:20
Speaker
You know, wise theologian from the past named J.C. Ryle, he doesn't define a mighty man for us, but he does list four common dangers that can weaken men, such as pride, pleasures, presumption, peer pressure.
00:01:39
Speaker
But he also identifies four dependable resources which can strengthen a man. like scripture and prayer, community of faith, and Jesus.
Lessons from King David's Mighty Men
00:01:50
Speaker
So I want to go from there and look at these mighty men of David. ah think we'd be safe calling them the king's mighty men. But I was thinking about the the message and what I want to try to get across today, and it made me think of wild geese.
00:02:09
Speaker
You know, when wild geese take flight, they usually fly in a V formation. Now, this formation helps them to fly farther than they would have had they flown solo.
00:02:23
Speaker
As a matter of fact, maybe you're not going to believe this. I know I was shocked, but researchers estimate that a when they're flying in a V formation, it increases their range for the whole flock by 71%. Plus, have you ever heard these geese honking?
00:02:44
Speaker
Well, the honkers are in the back. You know, they're they're they're not in the front. They're actually in the back. And perhaps what they're saying is, they're saying, stay at it.
00:02:56
Speaker
Stay at it. We are with you. We're behind you. We can do this together. I don't know what geese would say to one another, but I think it's plausible. Well, why don't we learn some valuable lessons from these mighty men of the past whose lives are, I think, saying to men of every generation,
00:03:18
Speaker
Stay at it. Stay at it. Don't quit. Be the man. Here's what it says in God's word in 2 Samuel 23, beginning in verse 8. These are the names of the mighty men whom David had.
00:03:35
Speaker
Josheb, Bashabeth, a tochmanite. He was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against 800 whom he killed at one time.
00:03:46
Speaker
And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar, the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle.
00:04:00
Speaker
And the men of Israel withdrew. He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary. And his hand clung to the sword.
00:04:11
Speaker
And the Lord brought about a great victory that day. And the men returned after him only to strip the slain. And next to him was Shammah, the son of Aji, the Hararite.
00:04:25
Speaker
The Philistine gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils. And the men fled from the Philistines.
00:04:36
Speaker
But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines. And the Lord worked a great victory.
00:04:48
Speaker
And three of the 30 chief men who went down and came about harvest time to David at the cave of Adullam, when a band of Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
00:05:00
Speaker
David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then and Bethlehem. And David said longingly, Oh, that someone one would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate.
Modern Application: Courage and Commitment
00:05:17
Speaker
And then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried and brought it to David.
00:05:30
Speaker
But he would not drink it. He poured it out to the Lord and said, "'Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this.
00:05:40
Speaker
Shall I drink the blood of the the men who went at the risk of their lives?' Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.'" Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zerui, was chief of the 30.
00:05:59
Speaker
And he wielded his spear against 300 men and killed them and won name besides the three. He was the most renowned of the 30 and became their commander, but he did not attain to the three.
00:06:15
Speaker
And Benai, the son of Jehoiah, was a valiant man of Kabziel, a doer of great deeds. He struck down two aerials of Moab.
00:06:26
Speaker
He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. And he struck down an Egyptian, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benai went down to him with a staff and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand.
00:06:45
Speaker
and killed him with his own spear. These things did Benai, the son of Jehoiada, and won a name beside the three mighty men. He was renowned among the 30, but he did not attain to the three.
00:07:00
Speaker
And David said him over his bodyguard. Wow, what an incredible thing we can learn from each of these five mighty men.
00:07:10
Speaker
So let's dig in and see what could men today learn and how could I encourage fathers on this Father's Day? Well, first I would say one thing I noticed from this first man that's mentioned, his name is kind of difficult, isn't it?
00:07:26
Speaker
Josheb Boshabeth, man. What I learned from him is that a mighty man is a valiant man. I see it in verse eight. You know, courage is not the absence of fear.
00:07:40
Speaker
Courage is resistance to fear. Resistance to the point that we have mastery over fear. Those words were written by Mark Twain years ago.
00:07:51
Speaker
But Joseph was courageous against the odds. Did you pick up on that? eight hundred 800? Wow. You know, a valiant man is also not only courageous against the odds, but he's continuous against the odds.
00:08:06
Speaker
You know, it says that Joseph was able to kill the 800 enemies who were coming against him. He was able to kill them on one day. And I thought, how did he do that?
00:08:18
Speaker
You know, if he took, let's say, one minute for each combatant, then that would be over 13 hours of continuous fighting. I think what I'm saying is,
00:08:30
Speaker
that a mighty man is a man who's willing to take the challenges that life brings to him. And he's willing to say, I'm not gonna run away. Do you know that the US Census Bureau estimates that there are 18.5 million children in the US whose dad, for whatever reason, gave up in the fight for his family and walked away?
00:08:53
Speaker
I think that men should say, okay, Lord, this is definitely scaring me to death, all of these challenges, but I'm not going to back away. I'm not falling away.
00:09:04
Speaker
I'm going to keep in the fight. I think that's being a valiant man, a man of valor. But let's go to a second lesson that we can see in these men. I believe that Eleazar, you know, there's eight Eleazars that are mentioned throughout Scripture, but the name Eleazar means God has helped.
00:09:24
Speaker
So I want you to understand that God helped Eleazar and Joseph and all five of the men that are going to be mentioned in our text today. He helped each one of them to model what we're about to say.
00:09:37
Speaker
But it says here that he was he was a mighty man and he was a vigilant man. You know, not only are mighty men valiant, but I believe they're also vigilant.
00:09:52
Speaker
You know, those are two different terms with two different slivers of meaning. A vigilant man stays while others run. Did you pick up on verse 9 when it says that when those Philistines gathered for battle— the men of Israel withdrew.
00:10:10
Speaker
ah they came back later after the victory, but they ran when the battle was intense. But I don't think a vigilant man, a vigilant man is watching.
00:10:20
Speaker
He's trying to protect his family. He's watching over his family. And so he's going to stay right there in the thick of things and say, I'm not leaving, even though others may run away from responsibility.
00:10:33
Speaker
I'm not. I believe a vigilant man also serves even when he's tired. You know, most of the men who are listening to me today, I wouldn't doubt that there are times that you're so tired.
00:10:45
Speaker
You may be exhausted from all the work that you put in. And yet, when you go home, you know there are still responsibilities in the home that you want to fulfill. And I think that's something...
00:10:57
Speaker
that reminds me of this man, Eleazar. It says, he rose and struck down the philines Philistines until his hand was weary. Do your hands ever grow weary?
00:11:10
Speaker
Go to the Lord for strength and renewal whenever you feel tired. but also i believe a vigilant man sticks to the sword. You know, think about the tenacity that is behind these words, that even though his hand was weary, his hand clung to the sword.
00:11:29
Speaker
So it's like the grip that he had on the sword, was not going to let up. And I thought about how in the Bible, the sword is like an emblem.
00:11:41
Speaker
It's like a metaphor for the Word of God. You know, in Ephesians 6, 17, it compares God's Word to the sword, the sword of the Spirit.
00:11:52
Speaker
But then in Hebrews 4, 12, it compares God's Word to like a double-edged sword that pierces down deep. And so I just want to encourage you, don't let go of the sword in the midst of the battle.
00:12:06
Speaker
As a matter of fact, if the battles are against temptations, which some are and some aren't, sometimes our battles are against just trials and hard times and and challenges and so forth.
00:12:18
Speaker
But if it's against temptation, remember, Jesus won over the devil by always going to God's word and saying what the Bible says. Well, we've already seen from Joseph Bashebet that a mighty man is a valiant man.
00:12:34
Speaker
We've learned from Eleazar that a mighty man is also ah vigilant man. But now, thirdly, I believe we're going to see that a mighty man is also a vital man.
00:12:45
Speaker
He's the kind of man that you would say, whatever we do, let's don't lose this guy. You know, one of the Old Testament names for God includes this man's name, Shema.
00:12:56
Speaker
Do you know that God is sometimes referred to as Jehovah Shema? What does that mean, Shema? It means the Lord is there. The Lord is there.
00:13:06
Speaker
So can you imagine, you know, this man's parents when they gave him the name there? That's what his name means. Shammah is there. Well, maybe you would think that's kind of an amusing type of name and kind of ironic.
00:13:21
Speaker
But what I think is amazing is how he lived up to his name. You know, Shema, he just stood there in this this piece of ground that it says it was full of lentils.
00:13:32
Speaker
So it's ah a property that's given to beans. Perhaps it's important for the people of Israel, for the his community to survive. And so there he is.
00:13:43
Speaker
the The men of the the Philistines are trying to come and to take over that plot of land. But you know what verse 12 says? This guy Shammah took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines and the Lord worked a great victory.
00:14:01
Speaker
It kind of reminds me of what I think the Lord expects from a man, from a dad, from a husband. You know, there's two things that stand out to me that I think the Lord would look to us for that I see in Shema's life.
00:14:16
Speaker
One is, I think that we're placed there, right there in the midst of our family to protect them. You know, he took his stand in the midst of the plot and he defended it.
00:14:30
Speaker
Dad, are you protecting your teenage children? Are you protecting your adult kids or your elementary school age kids? Are you protecting them from the things that would harm them, that would destroy them?
00:14:44
Speaker
I think we have to be vigilant, right? We've already seen that in one of the other biblical characters, but in this regard i think, well, there's a time when we have to take God's word and we have to fight with the enemy for our families. We have to protect them.
00:15:01
Speaker
But also, maybe there's something here with this whole idea that he was he was defending this field of beans. And you may think, wow, that seems to be an odd thing to take your stand for.
00:15:16
Speaker
But what if that field of beans was the provision for his family to make it through the coming weeks and months and so forth? Well, it wouldn't be sort of optional, right?
00:15:29
Speaker
Well, 1 Timothy 5.8 says, but if any anyone does not provide for his relatives and especially for members of his household, he's denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
00:15:44
Speaker
I honestly believe that God looks to men to be those that will provide for their families and those that will protect their families. Why would he or anyone back then, why would they be so convinced they have to defend that piece of property anyway?
00:16:04
Speaker
Why don't they just let the enemy have it? If he wants it that bad, just just give it over to him. Well, I think it's because of something Leviticus 25, 23 says.
00:16:14
Speaker
It says, "...the land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine." That's what God said about that land.
00:16:25
Speaker
And so I think that's why Shammah was so convinced, you know what? I've got to defend this property. This is God's property. This belongs to Him. And I'm not going to give it over to the enemy to desecrate and so forth.
00:16:41
Speaker
So anyway, I thought, man, that's something we can learn from is to say, Lord, help me to be like these men. Shema, a vital man, but Eleazar, vigilant man, and Joshua, a valiant man.
Volunteering and Community Service
00:16:56
Speaker
But when all three of those men combined work together on one particular mission, I believe they also demonstrate something else. a voluntary man, someone who says, you don't ask you don't have to ask me to do this.
00:17:13
Speaker
I'm going to do this. I'm going to do this because i see that it's a need. You know, it's interesting how this text that I read at the beginning, it focuses on five specific men.
00:17:27
Speaker
but we're learning six specific lessons. And I thought, you know, verses 15, 16, and 17 speak about those first three men joining their strengths together for one good cause.
00:17:43
Speaker
It's like they put their talents and skills and abilities together and said, you know what? We can accomplish something together that we could not accomplish separately.
00:17:54
Speaker
You know, God's design for manhood is for men to be ah strong, for men to have a strong work ethic, for men to be active, for men to say, Lord, I want to put my strength to good use.
00:18:09
Speaker
And so sometimes God shows us where that strength is needed most. And so I've seen just countless men through my lifetime volunteer to use their strength.
00:18:20
Speaker
Many times they volunteer with others. And I think that's definitely part of being a good volunteer, I think a good volunteer listens for a need. You know, there you have David reflecting upon his childhood, and he's thinking, you know, I remember when I was growing up there in Bethlehem.
00:18:39
Speaker
I remember that that fountain there. I remember that pool there and how it was so refreshing. Oh, if I could just have a drink of that water. Well, those three men were listening so closely that they said, you know what?
00:18:54
Speaker
Let's do this. They were willing to sacrifice in order to give their king what he was longing to give, you know, to receive. So I think a good volunteer not only listens for a need, but is also willing to sacrifice, willing to sacrifice.
00:19:14
Speaker
You know, it's interesting that it would have been 12 miles from the location where they were in that cave. But I'm thinking, you know what? They didn't care what it was gonna cost them, because that what they were thinking about is, we can really bless our King when we do this for him.
00:19:32
Speaker
Do you ever listen to King Jesus in that way? You ever say, Lord, is this on your heart? I'm willing to sacrifice to see this happen. Well, not only were they willing to sacrifice, there's something else very, very hidden beneath the surface of these words.
00:19:49
Speaker
They were willing not only to sacrifice, they were willing to deny self. You know, when they got back and David received the water that they had risked their lives for, he could not drink it.
00:20:02
Speaker
He had to pour it out like a drink offering to God. And I wonder if some of them were like, oh, no, don't pour that out. We just went to a lot of trouble to get that for you. But then I think they realized what he was saying.
00:20:14
Speaker
He was saying, I ah value you men and I respect you so much that ah this is too holy for me to drink this water. I'm going to pour this out like a drink offering to God because these men denied self.
00:20:29
Speaker
These men were willing to sacrifice. These men overheard me express something that I was longing to have and they wanted to get it for me. You know, even if voluntary service is overlooked in this life, unnoticed by man, let's say, it's going to be recognized by God.
00:20:51
Speaker
The reason I know that is because of Nehemiah chapter 3. You know, in Nehemiah chapter 3, Nehemiah realized that they needed to restore some broken down gates and a broken down wall that was around the city of Jerusalem.
00:21:05
Speaker
And so he asked, "'Who's in this with me? "'Who will help rebuild the wall? "'Who will help to restore the gates?' Do you know that in that chapter, we have 38 individual workers' names?
00:21:18
Speaker
They were all volunteers. I don't think they were paid to do this. They volunteered to do this. 38 people's names are mentioned that you and I don't know today. But yet God said,
00:21:30
Speaker
I haven't forgotten. And then there are 42 different groups of people that are also mentioned. They too were like volunteer teams who said, we want to be a part of this.
00:21:42
Speaker
42 different groups, 38 individual workers' names. You know what that tells me? I heard an evangelism professor at Southwestern Seminary named Dr. Roy Fish tell our class long ago, heaven always keeps a record.
00:21:58
Speaker
Never forget that heaven keeps an accurate record. of all that is done for Jesus. So men, i just wanna let you know that if you're a man who volunteers his talents, volunteers his time, that God notices.
00:22:13
Speaker
And one day, there will be a reward for how you've volunteered your time and volunteered your talent with others to accomplish something for God's kingdom.
00:22:24
Speaker
Well, let's move to the fifth thing. A mighty man is also a vigorous man. He's a vigorous man. You know, another member of the special forces was Abishai. He was the younger brother of David's general, Joab.
00:22:38
Speaker
You know, a biblical review of Abishai's life, you're going to say this guy was not passive. This guy was active. He was very active. He wasn't like proverb six verses six through eleven ah Proverbs through verses 30 through 31, describing the sluggard.
00:22:56
Speaker
Have you ever seen a sloth? Man, sloths don't exactly break speed records, do they? Well, man, I think that Proverbs is so clear on what God wants, what his design is for men, that we be diligent men, that we use our time wisely.
00:23:14
Speaker
Sometimes check out Proverbs 10, 4, Proverbs 12, 24, Proverbs 13, 4, Proverbs 21, 5, and there's other ones, but all of these are admonitions that we would live with diligence, that we would be characterized by diligence, not by sloth.
00:23:33
Speaker
Abishai, he modeled effort in the fight. What does it say he did? He lifted his spear, he wielded his spear. What does it say that Abishai did? Well, he went against 300 men.
00:23:45
Speaker
i think he exhibited engagement in responsibilities that we have in life. He felt responsible to be a part of that battle. And then Abishai also, because he was such an active man, an energetic man, putting all of his life's energies into helping others, he earned respect.
00:24:06
Speaker
He said he won a name among these three, the most renowned of the 30, it says. You know what, Abishai? He was no couch potato. He was an active man using his energy to make a difference in his world.
00:24:21
Speaker
Is that what people are saying about you? Well, let's go to the sixth and the final thing. A mighty man is also a victorious man. You know, there's a man here we need to look at named Benai.
00:24:34
Speaker
F.W. yeah Borham says about Benai, Benai met the worst of enemies, a lion, in the worst of places, a pit, under the worst of circumstances, a snowy day.
00:24:47
Speaker
But then he says, and he won. he won. this guy This guy was amazing. I don't think you would have wanted to cross this guy Benai in the wrong way.
00:24:59
Speaker
As a matter of fact, I remember hearing Pastor Tony Evans say long ago that he wanted to become such a man of God that when he got up in the mornings, that the enemy, the devil, would say, oh no, he's up.
00:25:14
Speaker
I never forgot that. But Vinay was a winner. Why was he a winner? Well, I think he's a winner because of three things that are given to us in this text in verses 20 through 23.
00:25:27
Speaker
I think he was a winner first because he was coachable. You know, when he was a young guy, I wonder if he learned from his dad. It says that he was a son of Jehoiada, a valiant man of Kabzeel.
00:25:41
Speaker
a doer of great deeds. I wonder if he was coachable, and that's why later in life, he became a doer of great deeds. So he was consistent. Did you catch that? It's plural.
00:25:52
Speaker
He didn't just do one great deed. No, he was a doer. Benai was a doer of great deeds over and over again. Throughout his life, he was consistent.
00:26:05
Speaker
Why? Because he saw his dad. His dad, Jehoiada, he was consistent. And so I'm thinking, wow, he must have been coachable. And that made him set a life in the direction of being a consistent man.
00:26:20
Speaker
And I think he was consistent. Because he had character. He was a man of character. You know, it says here that David later appointed him as, they set him over his bodyguard. So he's like the chief of the bodyguards.
00:26:35
Speaker
Think about the kind of person that you would trust so much they that you would say, you know what? I can lay my head down on my pillow now. Me and my family are safe but because Benai is watching over the door.
00:26:50
Speaker
Man, that's the kind of guys that I think every mighty man wants to be like that. To be such a winner, to be so victorious in his life that his wife and his kids and others that are under his care,
00:27:05
Speaker
would say, you know what? We're going to be safe today because that person is praying over us. That person is watching out for us.
Call to Action and Conclusion
00:27:13
Speaker
You know, it's interesting how God, He's looking for men even today. Ezekiel 22 verse says, would and stand in the breeach before me for the land that i should not destroy it but i found none wow would that be what god would say when he's looking in your community
00:27:37
Speaker
What about Jeremiah 5, 1? Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem and look and take notes, search in her squares to see if you can find a man, one who does justice and seeks truth that I may pardon her.
00:27:54
Speaker
Jeremiah 5, 1. Wow. You know, these men were mighty men because they all came together for one purpose. They came under one king.
00:28:07
Speaker
They united together for one kingdom. Now, these are the chiefs of David's mighty men who gave them gave him strong support in his kingdom together with all Israel to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.
00:28:25
Speaker
Hey, I got a great suggestion. Why don't we all agree? And let's say, let's let King Jesus be the one that we will use our strength and our skill for as we go through this week.
00:28:40
Speaker
Hey, Dad, He will help unite your heart to give it everything you've got. Let's pray together. Lord, thank you so much for being our Heavenly Father.
00:28:51
Speaker
on this Father's Day. But also thank you for the dads that are out there who are living all of these kind of principles that we were looking out at today. And if we're not living them, then now we have a strategy.
00:29:04
Speaker
Now we have goals. We can walk in the direction of these kinds of of principles and virtues and these kind of character qualities and These men were responsible.
00:29:16
Speaker
And so i'll help us as we go through this Father's Day into the next week to say, Lord, help us to be true men, mighty men, strong in the strength of the Lord.
00:29:30
Speaker
In Jesus' name I pray, amen. Hey, you go out there and be a mighty man in the strength of the Lord. God bless you. Thank you so much for listening.
00:29:52
Speaker
This is a ministry of First Baptist Church located at 1700 Milam Street, Columbus, Texas.