David and His Team
Text: 2 Samuel 23:8-38
Introduction: Man, after God’s own heart was forgotten by all, hatred by all but at the wend highly honoured by all. Because of his strong trust in the Lord. Today we meditate about David and His Kingdom based on some passages from 1 and 2 Samuel.
1. He became a leader of the Least
Borra caves in Andhra Pradesh. It is located in the Anathagiri hills of the Araku Valley at 2313 sq. ft. on the east coast of India. Narrow entry leads to inside the caves we can see like a village. Men in those days escaped from the wild animals and enemies. Same way, David escaped from Saul and went to the cave of Adullam (1 Sam.22:1-2). Adullam is located in the Elah valley. It has many caves which are roomy and dry and as dwelling by nomads. Adullam means ‘hiding place’. But in Arabic it means “turn aside”. Adullam also means ‘retreat and refuge’.
Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, everyone who was discontented joined with him. these were numbered about 400. His regiment was not made up of strong men, rich men but weak and needy. He was building the camp from the scratches. Mathew Henry comments: “God uses the weak instruments to fulfil his own purposes”. He had shown his leadership for the social justice of the times; he took the issues of every one as his one and wanted to do justice for them.
David refused to fight in an unethical way waiting for God’s own time. He had very strong belief that God’s ordained are not ordinary. He approached in a rightful way. 2 Sam 5:10 says day by day he became very strong, became greater and greater. 1 Chr 12:22 says “indeed from day to day people kept coming to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God”.
2. He became a King of all Israel.
He was from the tribe of Judah. It was very difficult for him to win the heart of other clans, tribes and nationals. First, he struggled to be recognized and to be accepted as king who was ordained and appointed by God. The Saul’s family was fighting with him. Many who are doubtful on his commitment, integrity, faithfulness were against him.
He had to fight nearly seven and half years to establish his kingdom and to become a king of All.
‘There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. David grew stronger and stronger and the house of Saul became weaker and weaker’ (2 Sam.3:1).it is futile to save the man-made ideas against God’s will (1 Chr.12:29). we can’t succeed against God’s will. Abner was his main opponent, a very talented and skilful commander, intelligent and mighty man but he was fighting against the God’s appointed king. “Right man at the wrong camp”. Benjamites continued to keep their strong allegiance to the house of Saul. (I Chr.12:29). But the tribes of Issachar had understanding of the times(1Chr.12:32), also the Zebulun helped David with singleness of the purpose to increase the kingdom (1 Chr.12:33). Gamaliel says in Ac.5:38-39 ‘so in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this understanding is of human origin, it will fail; but if is of God you will not be able to overthrow them- in that case you may even be found fighting against God”.
A true fellowship was cultivated among all of them so there was a great joy among Israel (Read: 1 Chr.12:40)
3. He became an Emperor
Four Bulls and a Lion. Always victory lies in unity and defeat and death in division.
God’s purpose for choosing David was David to establish God’s kingdom on the earth. A kingdom with righteousness, justice, equity. Isaiah 9:6-7 would have been fulfilled during the days of David. But Satan spoiled all the plans by misleading the citizens of Israel.
However, David had a beautiful team to work with him. It seems that the chief men were numbered in sets of 30, perhaps being leaders of various divisions of army. The standing army of Israelites numbered into 288000 divided into 12 monthly courses of 24000 each. We can see it from (1 Chr.27:2-15). David had 52 mighty men with him.
David’s army was composed of people with different personalities, such as, Joshobeam (Adino 1Chr.11:10, 2Sam.23:8) Eleazer (v.12), Abishai (v.20), Benaiah (v.22) Joab, Shammah (like lions, roes and valiant); people with varieties of talents (one was best at shooting. Another was best at leading yet another one was good at counselling some others were good at mighty works).
David’s team members were from different places like Tachmony, Athinoeshni, Kabshael, Bethlehem, Gibeah, Kakas, Carmel etc., yet they worked together for common cause and purpose. Main purpose was expanding God’s justice, peace through David and his kingdom.
Collective wisdom of the committed people is needed to bring vibrancy in our organization. Most of the time our committees, boards, conferences aim at putting down our own fellow workers, colleagues. It is a subtle togetherness.
David had Discipline Cadre: All these were disciplined cadres therefore they jointly established great empire on those days. David had committed officers: He had committed officers to oversee his properties movable and immovable and fields (1 Chr.27:25-31).
Committed Soldiers: David also had a group of Soldiers who were armed with bows and could use both the right and the left hands in hurling stones (ftz; fy;) and shooting arrows (1 Chr.12:2, 8,15).
David had 12 army officers to take care of his kingdom and his city, day and night (1Chr.27:1-15). Each officer was handling 24000 soldiers David had nearly 329822 soldiers in his army (1 Chr.12:24-37).
He had 9 stewards over the treasuries (1 Chr.27:25-31). Azmaveth was over the store houses in the fields, cities, castles and villages. Ezri was over the farmers to oversee the works of tilling the ground and farming. Shimei and Zabdi were over the vineyards, fruits and wine collars. Baal-hanan was over the sycamore trees. Joash was over the Olive and cellars. Shitrai was over the herds that were in the Sharon. Shabbat was over the herds in the valleys Obil was over the camels. Jeh-deiah was over ass. Jeziz was over the flocks.
David had counsellors:
1 Chr. 27:32-33 named Jonathan (wise man, scribe, and counsellor) Jehiel. Ahithopel hushai king’s companion (1 Chr.27:33). David’s victory was a victory of a committed team.
David captured the stronghold of Zion (2 Sam.5:7). He won the battle of Baal-perazim (5:20) David smote the philistines and subdued them (8:1). David subdued 7 nations- Philistia, Moab, Zobah, Syria, Ammon, Amalek, Edom (2 Sam8:1-14).
His team took 1000 chariots with them 3000 horses and 700 others horses and riders. 20000 army personnel and 3700 horses altogether. He brought shields of Gold, ornaments, vessels and much brass.
Joshobeam (Adino 1Chr.11:10, 2Sam.23:8) Eleazer (v.12), Abishai (v.20), Benaiah (v.22) and another 48 mighty men are mentioned in 1 Chr.11:26-47. Whereas in 2 Sam 23:8-39 only 37 mighty men are listed at the end of David’s reign. But he had 52 men in the beginning; evidently 15 of them died during the reign and were therefore not counted with the 37 at the close of David’s rule.
Chief Captains: Adino the Eznite. Eleazer, Shammah and Benaiah, Abishai. Adino (Josobeam) slew 800 hundred at once. Eleazer defeated philistines, he was a tireless soldier. Shammah guarded the harvest from philistines. Abishai killed 300 at once, he was a commander (2 Sam23:17-19). Benaiah was valiant man, he killed two lions and men of Moab, an Egyptian (2 Sam.23:20-23). He was an officer of the bodyguards of David.
Captains: Ashahel had a foot as that of wild roe(2 Sam.2:18). Also, there were other chiefs (1 Chr.12:8-13) they handled shield and buckler, whose faces were of lions and as swift as the roes upon the mountains.
Joab was his immediate general minister (prime minister). He argued for God’s people and lived for God’s people (1 Chr.21:3,6). He encouraged his colleagues for God’s sake (1 Chr.19:12-13). Elhanan killed Lahmi (Goliath’s brother). Jonathan ben Shemia slew a tall fellow (1 Chr.20:5-7) overcoming the evil and its root is important).
May the good Lord bless you.
