DAVID’S MIGHTY MEN
2 Sam. 23:8-12, 18-23
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. Many times, life requires us to have courage.
2. We're going to be looking at courage this morning.
3. “NO NOVOCAIN”
a. A woman and her husband interrupted their vacation to go to a dentist. "I want a tooth pulled, and I don't want Novocain because I’m in a big hurry," the woman said.
b. The dentist was quite impressed. "You're certainly a courageous woman," he said. "Which tooth is it?"
c. The woman turned to her husband and said, "Show him your tooth, dear."
B. TEXT
8 These are the names of David’s mighty men: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter. 9 Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated, 10 but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead. 11 Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. 12 But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.
18 Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. 19 Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them. 20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab’s best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 21 And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men. 23 He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
C. THESIS
1. There are Mighty Men today in the world. Olympic athletes -- especially weightlifters, wrestlers, etc. And there’s great football athletes – men of speed and strength.
2. David’s Mighty Men are not in the Bible just to incite idle curiosity, but to teach us something.
3. "All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto every good work" 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
4. GOD WANTS US TO BE MIGHTY MEN/WOMEN of GOD TODAY! He wants us to be:
a. "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" Eph. 6:10.
b. "But mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds" 2 Cor. 10:4.
5. These Mighty Men were put in the Bible to teach us the qualities that will make us mighty men and women of God. We should adopt these qualities.
I. JOSHEB-BASSHEBETH
A. KNOWN INFORMATION
1. Name = "Sitting in the Council" - envisions a high position.
2. Feat(s)?
a. Killed 800 men in one encounter.
3. Crowning Quality? He was full of the "Power of the Spirit."
4. How do we know this?
a. Had to be supernatural/by the Power of the Spirit.
b. Think: Samson had the Spirit come on him and killed 1000 men with the jawbone of a donkey.
c. Josheb’s could be no less the power of God's spirit.
d. Josheb essentially had the strength of 800 men!
B. POWER OF THE SPIRIT – WE NEED!
1. Importance? The Works of God can't be done by natural means.
2. If we want to be MIGHTY WE MUST HAVE POWER FROM GOD.
3. How does it come? From being filled with the Holy Spirit.
4. SCRIPTURES
a. "The Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon" Samson -- so he tore the lion apart with his bare hands
-- so he killed 1000 men.
b. Micah 3:8, "I am full of Power by the Spirit of the Lord."
c. Zech. 4:6, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit saith the Lord of hosts."
d. Matthew 10:1, "He gave them power against unclean spirits" and Mark 3:15 adds, "and to have power to heal sicknesses."
e. Acts 1:8, "And you shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you and you shall be my witnesses."
f. Even Simon the Sorcerer said, "Give me also this power..."
5. If we would be Mighty Men/Women of God, we must be full of the power of the Holy Spirit! That power will transform us from wimps into warriors! From victims to Victors! From losers into Leaders!
II. ELEAZAR SON OF DODAI the Ahohite
A.WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HIM
1. Name -- "God is my helper."
2 Feat?
The Israelites retreated during a battle; he stood his ground. He fought until his hand "froze to the sword." The Israelites returned only to strip the dead (all dead).
3. Crowning Quality? Commitment/Endurance for the cause of Christ. He was completely committed to go all the way. Why is this important? TOTAL DEVOTION.
B. ENDURANCE – Taking the Long View
1. Mt. 24:13, "But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved."
2. Mark 4:17, Parable of the Four Soils. The thin soil over rock -- "And have no root in themselves and so endure but for a time; afterward, when affliction or persecution arises... immediately they are offended."
3. We want to go the distance -- go all the way!
4. We must harness Mental Determination! YOU CAN DO IT!
5. ILLUSTRATION
a. 73-year-old Iowa resident Aldin Straight needed to visit his ailing brother, who lived on the other side of the state.
b. There was no one who could drive Mr. Straight to his brothers house. He himself didn't feel capable of driving there; he can't read road signs when he drives faster than 20 mph.
c. So Mr. Straight did what he could. He road his lawnmower 240 miles across the state of Iowa to be with his brother! That’s endurance!
III. SHAMMAH Son of Agee the Hararite
A. KNOWN INFORMATION
1. Name -- "Desolation." He probably was born in a bad time, like the Great Depression. He had much difficulty to surmount.
2. Feat?
a. Philistines amassed; field of barley, the Israelites fled.
b. Shammah took his stand and defended it; "the Lord worked a great victory."
3. Crowning Quality? OVERCOMER OF OBSTACLES.
B. ADVERSITY BROUGHT THE CHAMPION FORTH
1. When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
2. Your Overcoming will encourage others.
a. A television ad about Bill Demby changed his life from that of a quiet hero to a minor celebrity. The ad was for DuPont.
b. It's said, "When Bill Demby was in Vietnam he dreamed of coming home and playing a little basketball, a dream that all but died when he lost both legs to a Viet Cong rocket.
c. “Then researchers discovered that a DuPont plastic could make truly lifelike artificial limbs. Now Bill’s back, and some say he hasn't lost a step."
d. During the voiceover, the camera focused on Bill playing basketball with neighborhood friends. The ads have had a profound effect on many.
e. Bill said, "A man came up to me and told me he had given up on everything. But watching me in the commercial had turned him around. He thanked me for changing his life. Me! I turned away so he wouldn't see me crying."
3. TAKING THE HEAT
a. In the early 1970s the firefighters of Fairfax County, Virginia received new helmets. They were sharp looking, colorful, size-adjustable, made of high-impact plastic, and scuff resistant.
b. There was only one problem with the helmets: when they were worn near the heat of a fire, they melted. This, of course, made them useless to firefighters; they needed helmets that could take the heat.
c. In the same way, we need a faith that can take the heat -- a faith that endures the fire and protects us in the midst of the blaze. Who could forget the 3 Hebrews!
4. To be a Mighty Man/Woman -- we must be an Overcomer!
IV. ABISHAI, BRO. OF JOAB, Son of Zeruiah
A. WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT HIM
1. Name -- "Father of a Gift."
2. Feats?
a. He volunteered to accompany David to the camp of King Saul and risked his life taking the King’s water bottle and spear.
b. He pursued after Abner after the death of Asahel and later aided in his treacherous assassination.
c. He opposed the Army of the ammonites before the gates of Rabbah and drove them headlong into the city (2 Sam. 10:10,14).
d. When King David had to flee Jerusalem from Absalom, Abishai remains faithful. He later pursued Sheba in his revolt and stopped him.
e. When David's life was imperiled by Ishbi-benob the giant, Abishai came to his help and slew the giant (2 Sam. 21:15-17).
f. He broke through enemy lines in order to get David a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem (2 Sam. 23:14-17).
g. He withstood 300 men and slew them with his spear (2 Sam. 23:18)
h. In Israel’s victory over the Edomites in the Valley of Salt Abishai is described as (2 Sam. 8:13).
3. CROWNING QUALITY -- RISK TAKER. This was especially true when he faced the giant Ishbi-benob and got David a drink from Bethlehem's well.
B. FAITH ATTEMPTS GREAT THINGS
1. The old statement is, "No guts, no glory!" We must be willing to dare some things we've never tried if we want to accomplish something remarkable.
2. Every scientific advance took place because of heroic attempts in the face of skepticism.
3. ILLUSTRATION
a. The Genessee River runs through Rochester, New York, between steep and crooked banks. A man, who lived in Rochester, had just arrived by train from a long business trip.
b. He was anxious to get home to see his wife and children. He was hurrying along the streets, with a bright vision of home on his mind, when he noticed on the bank of the river a lot of excited people.
c. "What's going on?" he shouted. Someone replied, "A boy is in the water, and apparently can't swim!" "Why doesn't someone save him?" he asked.
d. No one reacted, and in an instant, he threw down his briefcase, pulled off his coat, and dove into the water.
e. He grasped the boy in his arms, struggled with him to the shore, and as he wiped the water from his dripping face and brushed back the boy's hair, he exclaimed, "My God, it's my son!"
f. He had plunged in for the sake of saving another man's boy and had saved his own! Thank God for Risk-Takers!
V. BENAIAH, Son of Jehoida, Chief Priest
A. KNOWN INFORMATION
1. Name: "Built by Jehovah."
2. Feats
a. He was placed by David over his bodyguard of Chelethites and Pelethites (2 Sam. 8:18) and given a position above the "30 Mighty Men."
b. He “struck down two of Moab’s best fighters; he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion; and he struck down a huge Egyptian” 2 Sam. 23:20-21.
c. Benaiah remained faithful to Solomon during Adonijah's attempt on the throne (1 Kings 1:8).
d. At Solomon's order, he slew Joab and was appointed to fill his position as commander of the Army (1 Kings 2:35; 4:4)
3. CROWNING QUALITY -- LOYALTY/love to David and love to God.
B. LOYALTY TO GOD, a top Characteristic
1. Loyalty to God is a supreme quality and also the greatest commandment; "You shall have no other gods before Me."
2. You can't serve sin and Satan, and also think you can serve God. Choose whom you will serve. We can't play with the devil and God.
3. ILLUSTRATION
a. Loyalty is counted as very important, and corporations. Coca-Cola takes employee loyalty seriously.
b. Company salesman Webston Rivelino, who works in Brazil, had spent the day calling on stores in the sweltering Amazon, and was parched.
c. He stopped at a store that had neither Coke nor bottled water in stock, but they did have some ice-cold Pepsi.
d. Rivelino bought a Pepsi and "only took a swig” but was routinely fired for "breaking his contract by drinking the competition's product in route" according to a company spokesman
4. How much more important is it that we be loyal to God?
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: Second Chance
1. When Thomas Stevens was 22, he fell through a window and severed most of its tendons and arteries.
2. He had lost so much blood that he couldn’t have anesthesia so watched as the operating team was working feverishly to reconnect all the arteries and tendons.
3. "During the surgery, a small nurse with almost black hair and green eyes held my right hand and just kind of stood beside me," he says.
4. Apparently, this was the nurse's only job. "She told me frequently that I had to fight because there was so much left for me to do," he recalls. But what?
5. Once in recovery, the surgeon said, "Tom, you lost so much blood that you should have died," the doctor began. "You've been given a second chance at life now, and you need to make the most of it. You’ll never regain any feeling in that hand---and you're going to need extensive therapy to even be able to use it."
6. Almost immediately, he thought of the dark-haired nurse who comforted him and spoke about his future. "Could I see her?" He asked the doctor.
7. The physician looked puzzled. "There wasn't any nurse in the room at all. Just me and the other surgeon."
Then Tom understood. The nurse had been right. There were many more things he had to do with his life, and God would give him the grace to do it all.
8. Thomas not only completely regained the use of his hand, but married and is the father of 3 small children. He’s active in the Air Force, with no complications to his hand.
9. "I do have a scar," he says. "It is about 8 by 6 inches, and is in the form of a cross on the bottom of my left forearm." It's a daily reminder that God did give him a second chance---and he plans to make the most of it. Joan Anderson
B. THE CALL
1. Five qualities: Power of the Spirit, Endurance, Overcome Obstacles, Risk Takers, and Loyalty to God. We need these.
2. God is giving some of you a second chance this year. You need to fight for the causes of Christ in this world, because God has a lot for you to do before it’s time for you to go to heaven.
3. Rededication of ourselves to God.
