THE CHURCH AND THE MIGHTY ONES
2 Samuel 23: 8- 17
8 These are the names of David’s mighty warriors: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 warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, 10 but Eleazar 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.
13 During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 15 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 16 So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. 17 “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it.
Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.
Introduction:
This passage describes something that happened either during that time or a later time of battle against the Philistines when David went back to the cave of Adullam.
During this time David had a nostalgic longing for the taste of water from a well near his boyhood home. “David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem.”
– The three mighty men immediately went to fulfill David’s desire at great personal risk.
David was so honored by the self-sacrifice of these three mighty men. But he felt that the water was too good for him – and worthy to be poured out in sacrifice to the LORD.
Title: THE CHURCH AND THE MIGHTY ONES
- The Mighty Ones
- The Devotion and Honor of The Mighty Ones
- The Greater Honor In The Mighty ONE
The Bible says, “Many are called but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22: 14) Out of the many, a minority is chosen and among the minority can come the “mighty ones.”
I. THE MIGHTY ONES
David was nothing without his mighty men, and they were nothing without him. He was their leader, but a leader is nothing without followers – and David had the mighty men to follow him.
Thirty-seven in all: These remarkable men were the foundation of the greatness of David’s reign.
1 Samuel 22:1-2 “David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him.”
“These men came to David when his fortunes were at the lowest ebb, and he himself was regarded as a rebel and an outlaw, and they remained faithful to him throughout their lives. Happy are they who can follow a good cause in its worst estate, for theirs is true glory.” (Spurgeon)
The day for mighty men and women – heroic men and women for God – has not ended. The triumph of the church as a whole depends upon the personal victory of every Christian. In other words, your victory, your life, your personal testimony, your service are important to the cause of God today.
II. THE DEVOTION AND HONOR OF THE MIGHTY ONES.
- The Place of Honor is Reserved for Those Who Render High Service.
Because of great service these men were honored with a place in the record which is to be read by all mankind.
Those who by prayer, self-denial, holy living, written or spoken words, or other means and weapons, go forth daily in the name of Christ and achieve great things, will be honored in the esteem of the coming ages and in the esteem of Christ.
While all good men shall shine as with the brightness of the firmament, these shall shine forth more distinctly as the “stars” forever and ever (Daniel 12:3; 1 Corinthians 15:41).
- The Ground of Honor Lies in The Overcoming of Much Evil.
Quote: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
John Stuart Mill: “Let not anyone pacify his conscience by the delusion that he can do no harm if he takes no part, and forms no opinion. Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing. He is not a good man who, without a protest, allows wrong to be committed in his name, and with the means which he helps to supply, because he will not trouble himself to use his mind on the subject.”
The riddance of sin and the introduction of holiness are concurrent acts in Christian warfare.
Some men are marvelous warriors as compared with others.
- The Spirit Which Makes Triumphs Possible Is That of Devotion to The King.
These men followed David, were under his guidance, caught his spirit, sought to establish his supremacy, and hence were nerved by a definite inspiring purpose.
Consecration to Christ is the key to our victories. Wherever there is true devotion to him; and in proportion to its depth, there will be great deeds done in his name.
Where true loyalty exists there is no waiting for formal commands.
- The Highest Devotion Risks All for God.
As these men went forth, risking life for their king, so the truest devotion leads men to risk all for Christ.
There are forms of devotion in which little is given up, and much reserve is made.
E.g. The Apostle Peter.
Wherever there is a real appreciation of who Christ is, what we are, what his vast mercy to us is, and the infinite claims of his love upon heart and life, devotion to him becomes so complete.
III. THE GREATER HONOR IN THE MIGHTY ONE
The greatest factor for service and sacrifice is LOVE. It makes our service better.
David received them when they were distressed, troubled and had nowhere to go. He was true to them.
When we realize the depth of God’s love for us, it will not be difficult for us to love him back. When we realize how great is that love that caused Him to give his best away, it will be easier for us to serve and give our best.
John 3:16a, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son….”
Song: “How Deep The Father’s Love for Us”
V1a
How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
V2
Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
The 3 men had given themselves as a sacrifice to the Lord to serve David, so he added his offering to theirs to show them he was one with them in their devotion to Jehovah. He would not treat as nothing that which had cost those 3 men everything.
When David looked into the cup, he didn’t see water; he saw the blood of the 3 men who had risked their lives to satisfy his desire.
David turned the cave into a temple and poured the water out as a drink offering to the Lord, as he had seen the priests do at the tabernacle. The drink offering accompanied the giving of another sacrifice, such as the burnt offering, and was not offered
independently. It was an act of dedication that symbolized a person’s life poured out in the service of the Lord.
Our highest sacrifices and services should be reserved to the One who loved us and gave His life for us.
Jesus, God’s only Son, our Greater David received us when we came to him as lost and condemned sinners. He loved us so much that He willingly gave himself, suffered and died on the cross.
David understood how his men felt because he was numbered with them. Jesus knows how we feel because He was numbered with us and gave Himself as a sacrifice for us, a burnt offering, and also as a drink offering.
Psalm 22:14 – “I am poured out like water,and all My bones are out of joint;My heart is like wax;It has melted within Me.”
Isaiah 53:12 –“Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,and He shall divide the spoil with the strong,because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
Song: “Jesus It Is You”
Who sees my brokenness and carries me when I am frail and weak?
Who tells the storm to rest when I am overwhelmed and cannot speak?
Who wears my guilt on his shoulders, who holds my heart in his hands?
Who takes my thoughts and fears and hangs them on the arms of Calvary?
Jesus it is you.
God acknowledges all our sacrifices because Jesus our Greater David, poured, offered His own life, when blood and water dripped on the ground from the cross where He died. And so the honor and glory of Christ will also bring honor and glory to those who serve Him because He is One with them and He is now seated on the throne and is coming back as King of kings and Lord of Lords.
We love Him because He first loved us.
Song: “I Will Serve Thee Because I Love Thee”
I will serve Thee because I love Thee
You have given life to me
I was nothing until You found me
You have given life to me
Heartaches, broken pieces
Ruined lives are why You died on Calvary
Your touch is what I long for
You have given life to me.
Jesus is seated on the throne in heaven and his kingdom will never end. We are loving and serving the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
CONCLUSION:
Let us not be satisfied by just being the ‘called’. Let us not stop at being the ‘minority’. Let us aim to be ‘the mighty’ for God. Jesus is One with us and He has poured our sacrifices along with His blood on the cross.
There is honor awaiting us just as Jesus received glory and honor from the Father.
Do not think that God is not able to honor you.
Story: A young minister.
Do you feel unworthy to love Him? Jesus told Simon about the woman who cried at his feet, “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Luke 7: 47 (NLT)You can love God when you know your many sins have been forgiven.
Do you feel inadequate to serve?
God loved us with an everlasting love. And that love causes us to love him back and serve him. If you feel you are unworthy remember that love that forgives. If you feel inadequate just trust Him. That love will propel you to serve him not in an easy way but in the best way.
To the degree of Jesus’ lovefor you that He gave everything, to the degree of your love for him and to the degree of your service.
