David’s Mighty Men

2 Samuel 23

Intro Tonight we come to the 23rd Chapter of 2nd Samuel –

A) Here we have David’s last Psalm – Note 3 things

1) What David says about himself. V.1

2) What God said to David. V.2-4

3) What David says about God. V. 5-7

B) 1st What David says about himself

Thus says David the son of Jesse;

Thus says the man raised up on high,

The anointed of the God of Jacob,

And the sweet psalmist of Israel:

C) David says: He was raised up on high and anointed by God

D) Refreshing to see that even in his old age, even after he has accomplished so much-

1) David knows that he is where he is because of God {Great thing to know and realize – It is God!

E) The sweet Psalmist of Israel – His Heart for Worship

1) David realized that part of his calling was to lead worship – to be an instrument that God used to help people enter in

F) Here we are thousands of yrs later still being inspired by his songs

Note #2 What God said to David RD v.2-4

A) V.2 "The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue

B) David was aware of where his inspiration came from – the Lord

1) He refers here to God as his Rock -

C) Here that God gives David instruction about what makes a good leader –

1) V.3b – He who rules over men must be Just – fair / honest / upright

And walk in the FEAR OF GOD – {Motivation

D) The leader who does this will be like a Beautiful sunrise – on a clear day

1) Refreshing – Clear motivation and inspiration

Note #3 What David says about God Rd v.5

5 "Although my house is not so with God,

Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant,

Ordered in all things and secure.

For this is all my salvation and all my desire;

Will He not make it increase?

Now this is an interesting statement David makes – My house hasn’t been upright – I wasn’t that Just leader –

A) But God has blessed me anyway – Why – He made a covenant with me

B) David was well aware of the grace of God in his life – He didn’t get what he deserved from God –

1) And he got way more blessing than he deserved – Because of grace

C) We too live under a Covenant of grace with God – New Cov. Where God blesses us based on what Jesus has done

1) God’s riches at Christ expense

But David continues - 2 Sam 23:6-7

6 But the sons of rebellion shall all be as thorns thrust away,

Because they cannot be taken with hands. 7 But the man who touches them must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear, And they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place."

Different Story with the Rebellious {David realized that because of God’s grace and the Covenant that God made with him – his life had been a blessing to others

That however is not the case of the rebellious – their lives are not good for any product purpose at all.

Amplified 6 But wicked, godless, and worthless lives are all like thorns to be thrust away, because they cannot be taken with the hand.

7 But the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are utterly consumed with fire on the spot.

Now in v.8 David is looking back at the mighty men that God had brought into his life – 37 names listed –

A) Men who did some heroic things – Men that we can learn from

B) 5 guys that go into detail here that give us some insight into what is involved in the life of a mighty man or woman of God

V.8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-Bass/he/beth the Tachmonite, chief among the captains. He was called Adino [ 1st Italian] the Eznite, because he had killed eight hundred men at one time.

1st Guy is Adino – killed 800 men – KJV puts it this way he lifted up his spear 800 times against the philistines {Amazing Picture that -

A) Lifting up the spear is symbolic of Prayer

B) Therefore if you are going to be a mighty man or woman of God the first Prerequisite is that you be a PERSON OF PRAYER

1) 1 Tim 2:8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands.

C) Jesus and personal Prayer

Moses in the Battle – Aaron and Hur –

Listen to be a mighty man of God you need to be a man of Prayer – Learning to pray thru –

A) Being steadfast in Prayer – not growing weary in it

Thomas a Kempis : " The man of God ought to be more at home in his prayer chamber than before the public."

B) Prayer is sometimes a hard discipline – too busy to Pray

C) Tozer – Leadership Devotional

" Today the Christian emphasis falls heavily on the "active" life. The Favorite brand of Christianity is that sparked by the man in a hurry, hard hitting, aggressive and ready with the neat one liner. We are neglecting the top side of our souls. The light in the tower burns dimly while we hurry about the grounds below, making a great racket and giving the impression of wonderful devotion to our task."

V.9-10

9 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 for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated.10 He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder.

Next up is Eleazor – Battled all day until his hand stuck to the Sword

A) The Bible is called the Sword of the Spirit in Eph 6

B) #2 You must be in the Word consistently

1) Hand Stuck to the word

C) Listen you will not grow if you are not consistent in Bible study – it is impossible –

1) Know believers – saved a long time their faith is very shallow – why – they don’t study the word

D) Eleazor is a great picture of the person who is giving themselves continually to studying the word of God –

1) His hand stuck to the sword –

E) Encourage you – Pack your Bible – take it with you wherever you go

1) Pocket NT

3rd man: Shammah –

11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines.12 But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory.

Here we see in Shammah trait #3 : Faithfulness in service

A) When everyone else bailed because of the Philistines – Shammah remained faithful - -

B) He stationed himself in the middle of this field of beans and defended it !

C) What has God put before you – what called to Mom – Nursery

Convalescent home / Husband – Be Faithful

D) Listen, are you standing your ground? In the mist of the Battle

1 Cor 4:2

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful

Matt 25:21

'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.

E) 3 Traits Prayer / The word / Faithful Service

RD V.13-17

So here we find David in this hot cave – he is thirsty – Longing for some water from the well in Bethlehem { Thinking outloud – oh I wish …..

A) Problem: the Enemy - Philistines, surrounded Bethlehem

B) Interesting Picture in this text – Bethlehem = House of Bread

1) That is where the water is – Water being a type of the HS

John 6:63-64

The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

D) Listen this house of Bread – the word of God – this Beth your Bible is the place where you are going to draw from the water of the HS

1) Longing in your heart – Not entertained – not new toy – not better this or that – It is to experience God in his word

E) How many times I have thought – If only I had this – if only I could do that –

1) Discovered what I am longing for – Experience the Lord in His word

Have him speak to me thru the Word!

So David is kind of thinking outloud – Longing Oh for a drink

A) Suddenly these 3 guys are missing - Now this is something that makes up the mindset of a mighty man of God

B) They heard what the king was thinking – they heard what was on his heart

1) Do you hear the heart beat of your king?

C) It is one thing to obey the commands of Christ – and that is good – but what is even better is to hear the heart beat of Christ

1) What is his heart! What is he doing –

D) These 3 guys hear David’s heart beat and go to the enemy camp and broke thru – to get water for their king!

Listen: Need refreshing – Be like these guys and Break thru

A) Some here tonight – Dry need refreshed – from the word

B) The word is surrounded by the enemy – Phone / TV / Gym/ Lethargy

Apathy / Things that keep you out of this book

1) YOU NEED TO BREAK THRU

C) Note this: It doesn’t tell us how they Broke thru – just that they did

1) Why – God is not into formulas

D) Our tendency – You seek the Lord – Honesty and he will reveal

Now I can See David asking – where is Shammah / Adino / Eleanor? Don’t know sir –

A) 3 men in the distance – It is them – Beat up / dirty / bloody

B) Where have you guys been – what happened to you – Pull out the skin – Water from the well in Beth. Sir

C) David is blown away here – and does something at first glance seems odd – but in reality is beautiful – Pours it out to the Lord –

1) Offering –

4th Prereg is seen in the life of David himself - Worship

A) David pours the water out to the Lord – might seem odd

B) But what He was saying to these men, this water means more to me then something good to drink,

1) this water represents love loyalty, sacrifice and faith. The best thing to do with those kinds of things is to offer them back to the Lord.

C) So these are the 4 things that make up the practice of a Mighty man or woman of God – Prayer / Word / Faithful in Service / heart for worship

1) Seems so simple – It is – It is attainable –

Next RD V.18 -19

 Next is Abashai -

A) The interesting thing about Abishai is that he did some really good stuff, and he did some really bad stuff.

B) Suicide mission w/ David into Saul’s camp – took Saul’s spear and jug of water.

1) He lead a third of David’s troops during Absalom’s rebellion

2) He lead troops in battle against the Syrians & Ammorites

3) He took on and kills 1,000 Edomites in the valley of Salt

C) And of course the last great thing that he had done was to take on kill the giant who had David on the ropes.

1) There is no doubt that in this situation, he had saved David’s life.

 

But he was also the guy who was always prodding David to kill Saul;

A) he was the guy who along with his brother Joab killed Abner, after David had made a truce with him.

B) He was the guy who wanted to Kill Shimei because he had cursed the king.

1) He did some good stuff, but he was also full of bad advice and he had a short fuse.

 

C) Abishai’s life is comforting to me – because it reminds us that warriors are going to make mistakes,

1) warriors will sometimes have real lapses in judgment,

2) warriors might not be the most compassionate people in the camp,

3) warriors may turn off as many people as they help. Abishai certainly did.

D) These kind of warriors require a lot of grace, but they will do stuff that no one else can do. {Jeff

1) I am sure I have been that way before –

E) Greatest mistakes that we make in the body of Christ is we forget that we are all sinners – {Hold each other to impossible standards at times

Well after Abishai is Benaiah v. 20 { Rd V.20-23

A) Benaih killed two lion like men – fierce guys – intimidating men

B) And then after that – He killed a Lion –

1) Benaiahs life teaches us that – God sometimes allows us to go thru things that prepare us for the REAL THING

C) Two lion like men – Prep for the real thing - A real lion

1) Satan is a raging lion - trials with people sometimes prepare us for more intense spiritual battle

After He kills the Lion – He kills this Egyptian – Spectacular man

Huge / impressive / mighty warrior – { World class Stud

A) I want you to notice what Benaiah was armed with – His Staff

B) Now this is interesting to me – Egypt is always a symbol of the world in scripture

1) So Benaiah goes up against this guy who is the epitome of the world representation of the greatness of the World –

C) And he takes him out armed only with his Staff

Staff – is the symbol of the Pilgrim – Lesson

A) How do you overcome the world? You remember that you are a Pilgrim – Keep eyes on eternity

B) Times that I have blown it or become distracted in what God has called me to have been the times I have lost sight of Eternity

C) Paul said in Phil 3

 

 

 

 

Phil 3:12-14

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

 Redpath: " He pictures the believer as one who presses on, full of energy, with holy discontent in himself disowning any thought of having "arrived" in the sense of being conformed to the image of his Lord. Yet he is always climbing, remembering that God’s grace is with him and that heaven’s glory is ahead of him. This life is only the journey, not his home, life is the climb, not the summit, so he keeps his eyes on the prize – the future crown."

Verses 24-39 give the rest of the names – Note the Last one – Uriah

David’s mighty men! – What about us! The Church today needs some mighty men & women – Stand up make a Stand

A) Men & women of Prayer - / The word / Faithful and Steadfast in Service / Worshippers –

B) That is the kind of guy that I want to be!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ch.24 Rd V. 1

A) Now at first glance this seems really odd that God would move David to do something that was Sinful – Forbidden to # the People

B) Confidence was not to be in #’s but in the Lord!

James 1:13-14

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

C) So this doesn’t make sense – Why would God lead David to do something that is wrong – The answer is He wouldn’t – he didn’t

D) Best commentary on the Bible is the Bible itself – 1 Chron 21

1 Chron 21:1

Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel

There is the answer: this wasn’t something that God inspired it was something that Satan inspired that God allowed

A) That is the Difference – Much like in the story of Job – God didn’t afflict Job – But he allowed Satan to. – Test

B) Job passed the test – David doesn’t! Rd v. 2-9

C) Now 1 Chron 21 puts this event after the last defeat of the Philistines by Israel in 2 Sam 21

D) Insight into the possible motive of this action by David – Pride

1) After a great victory he is tempted to see just how great he has become and he falls for it –

E) Joab tries to warn him – Joab begs him to reconsider – David ignores the word of Joab

This reveals one of the Problems in David’s life – No accountability

A) He was able to make decisions as a leader on his own. Joab as a friend could question his decision – but not over ride it

B) Accountability is important – I might feel very strongly about something – share it with the other Leaders – not see it

1) Not going to happen – I trust them – I listen to them – Team

C) David doesn’t have this in his life – Problem

D) So Joab comes back and reports to David – in Israel 800,000 and in Judah 500,000 – notice David’s response – v.10

2 Sam 24:10

And David's heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the LORD,"I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O LORD, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly."

 

After committing this sin – David is convicted – His heart condemned him – David had this sensitive heart toward the Lord

A) Condemned = attacked or assaulted – it conveys the idea of being wounded and crippled

B) Your heart when you sin – Sensitive – or Hard and calloused

C) David’s inner man was disturbed – because of what he had done in causing displeasure to the Lord

D) Repentive heart – Not excuses – I have sinned – I was wrong – Lord forgive me

RD V. 11-17

So Plague hits Israel from Dan to Beersheba – 70,000 perish

A) Comes to Jerusalem where David was – the Lord calls it off

B) Lesson for every leader – Our sin has far reaching ramifications!

C) Good Chapter for every leader to read now and then

D) David begs to be punished personally – v.17 let your hand be against me

Rd v.18-25 David’s sacrifice lifts the Plague

Jesus Sacrifice place