David"s Mighty Men

Measure the Bibles to second Timothy chapter 2 second Timothy chapter 2 second Timothy is Paul's last letter is in prison. Soon he will be in the presence of the Lord is assured that God has saved his soul and is giving a challenge to young Timothy and indeed to all of us. Second Timothy two verse three share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits since his name is to please the one who enlisted him.

Notice that we are to share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus of the New Testament, the Christian life is portrayed in many many ways and that one of the metaphors that Paul uses as we write here is that of a soldier he says in Ephesians 6 verses 10 and 11 finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. And here he saying share in the suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus, note, or why do we need to hear this because following Jesus is not easy is not a comfortable lifestyle and so the Scripture tells us to endure on the young brothers read visit before he got baptized from Deuteronomy 31 verse six, where Moses is telling the people to be strong and to be courageous and that's the message of the Old Testament and the message of the New Testament to be strong to be courageous to fight the good fight to finish the race to keep the faith, to share, and suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus in the first century Christians were driven from their homes and communities somewhere in prison somewhere beaten. Many were persecuted, some are monitored for their faith.

Paul says in second Timothy three verses 12 and 13. He says all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

So tonight as we think of David's mighty men soldiers warriors men strongmen. I want to encourage all of us to be strong and good soldiers of Christ Jesus have never been in the military but I I spoke to a young man today who is going to have a career in the Marines and he's a big strapping fellow, and I thought this is the kind of soldiers that we need someone who strong someone who's courageous someone who is brave and if that is true in an army.

It's certainly true in the Army of God, and I think as we look at some of David's mighty men, it will encourage us to be strong in our faith not to be weak not to quickly crumble to expect opposition to expect hardship to understand what a spiritual war, and to be strong in the grace of God in the Sunday evenings I would considering David, who is described as a man after God's own heart, and it is true that David did sometimes standalone is to the Lord against Goliath is only one. The young man who stepped forward, but throughout his life he was not a solo commander. He was surrounded by a group of soldiers who are described as mighty men, and I think all of us want to be mighty men, mighty women of God and how blessed we are.

This is part of the church as he did this with all of this morning that we are surrounded by others who are also strong in their faith.

I wonderful men and women around is a Calvary church who are strong in their faith who can help us can pray for us and who can encourage us in as we fight the good fight that we fully think of David's mighty men a little bit of context a little reminder that King David spent quite some time years. In fact, in exile. If you know your Bibles. You know there's a long period between David being anointed king and David being climbed as King was the first king of Israel. It is Saul, but Saul is an evil man and he's rejected by God from being king over Israel and Judah call that the prophet Samuel is sent by God to Bethlehem. That little time because from Bethlehem is going to come, the greatest cane and that Samuel comes to anointed you king. He doesn't know who is going to be defined side, although that David is the youngest of the sons of Jesse Samuel is told to anointed David for Samuel 16 verse seven for the Lord sees not as man sees man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart and soul.

Although David is the youngest. He is anointed king and were told that when these anointed by auto buying. Samuel, the spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward he is filled with the spirit of God is God's anointed and then he stands in the power of the spirit of God standing alone against Goliath and demonstrates as we read in first Samuel 17 verse 47 that the Lord saves not with sword and spear for the battle is the Lord's and he will give you into our hands is her strong words were and David then humiliates the Philistines and tells her champion Goliath, and demonstrates the Lord of hosts is strong and superior, and nothing can stand against him as he cuts off lives had so initially, of course, is very pleased with David, but soon Saltonstall is overcome by depression, bitterness and even anger against David who is victorious in battle against the Philistines.

Remember the woman sign. Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his 10,000s yes all is a good motive, but David is even better because the spirit of the Lord is upon him for a long time.

Then Saul is hunting David is persecuting David he wants to kill David and salt.

David has to flee to the wilderness and Saul and his army, against David the 1 pint pivot escapes to the cave of a doll in the Bible tells us that he became captain over them on the bed with him about 400 men. So as David is in exile between being anointed king and cried in caring. He has about 400 men around him. At this point, and from these men. Several of them are called David's mighty men.

This interesting.

Even after David is kind, caring. You will recall that his own son Absalom conspires against David to take over David's throne and David himself again for the second time finds himself in exile second Samuel 15 verse six Absalom, David's own son steals the hearts of the men of Israel, and David is under siege and has to leave Jerusalem and again he experiences exile after Absalom was killed. David returns to Jerusalem, so there's no doubt. But although David was a lawful king anointed by God, he experienced rejection. He experiences exile on these two occasions that exile that rejection, of course, is a picture is entitled David's greater son, our Lord Jesus Christ, although he is anointed king.

Without this morning that he ascends to the right hand of the father for that wonderful coronation as he then gives gifts to his church, but became King Jesus is presently today on recognized and is rejected by the world is not true is he the King of Kings. Yes, the world does not acknowledge that that they will come to the writer of Hebrews writes in Hebrews 13 verse 13, that we, his followers are to go to him.

That is, to our Savior outside the camp and bears an approach he and Jude just as David's followers had to leave the comforts of their homes and attach themselves to David so we were followers of Christ after turning us away from the comforts of the world and relates the world not be conformed to the world and follow pain Jesus that in these times of rejection and the time of exile in the time when he is being hunted by King Saul. David particularly depends upon his mighty men, and what is the think of a few of them very quickly this evening sometime back in your Bibles to second Samuel chapter 23 second Samuel 23.

Imagine how comforted David must've felt of having these mighty men running them when is being hunted by salt second Samuel 23. First of all there's eight. These are the names of the mighty men whom David had his first one. Joe Sharp Pasha bath, a pack of mite.

He was chief of the three he yielded to spear against 800, whom he killed at one time or warrior. No one that he is the chief's a pretty good accomplishment is lit 800 taken down 800 and you don't have a machine gun. I got a spear with a warrior is the other one Ellie Iser in verses nine and 10 and next to him. So there are three of the mighty men, as many of them over 30, but there's three of the highest the real warriors next to him among the three mighty men were Eleazar, the son of dodo son of a whole hi he was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew so some the men felt is getting her to hear it's two battles to heart heroes and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary and has time to client to the sort. And the Lord brought about a great victory that day and the men returned after him only to strip the slate so there were some who set them up in the fight but there for the spoils.

Eleazar he continued to fight the Philistines until his hand was weary until his hand clung to the sword.

Think of the enduring think of the courage and what loyalty these men had to king David the Scripture says, as we read the Lord brought about a great victory that day. Insurance is absolutely essential in the Christian warfare is lit as Satan harasses us as he tempts us put on the whole armor of God is the blind don't be weary in well doing in June is the third one in verses 11 and 12. His name is, and next to him. Verse 11 was Sharma, the son of Agee the Hutterites. The Philistines gathered together at Lackey where there was a plot of ground full of blank tiles and the man fled from the Philistines. The Philistines are coming, and many of the Israelites flee Philistines are pretty good warriors are. But this man, this mighty man of one of the chiefs of the mighty men, 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. He's 1/3 of the chief of the mighty men he stands firm when others flee essential for soldiers needed to defend this position not to retreat at this is exactly what this monster minded.

He took a stand for God against the enemy when others fled this mighty man stood on the Lord is victory here was a man who was prepared to stand alone for the cause of his cane when others fled when others were abandoned.

He stood strong in the Lord worked great victory would often like she parentally as followers of Jesus.

We follow the crowd. When things get difficult sometimes in the Christian faith administrate a we give up how important it is brothers, sisters, that we stand firm. Develop policies in Galatians 6 stand firm, take a stand for God and having done all, to stand firm.

You know what is right.

You may be the only person in your family. Standing for God. You may be the only person in your office, you may be the only person on your class at school and is very difficult. Do you find yourself isolated and others go stand for God. It was a mighty man of God know in verses 13 through 617 we have an act of worship. This is a wonderful story.

Let me read it still in second Samuel 23 verse 13, and three of the 30 chief men at Staples. Mighty men went down and came about harvest time to David that the cave of a dollar when Amanda Philistines. What were encamped in the Valley of ref i.e. David was then in the stronghold, something that might be Masada, but he was in the stronghold and that the garrison of the Philistines and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. David said longingly or that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate than the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines. Andrew wanted out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried on brought it to David, but he would not drink of the he poured it out to the Lord and said, far be it from me oh Lord, that I should do this July drink the blood of the man who went to the risk of their lives. Therefore he would not drink it these things. The three mighty man that I what is David from this from Bethlehem, Bethlehem been there's only 5 miles from Jerusalem. This time, as small as insignificant as on the greatest of the times and in Israel but Bethlehem.

Of course, is a great history. Rachel, the wife of Jacob is buried in Bethlehem. It was at Bethlehem where Ruth and Boaz's fell in love, and of course Israel's greatest king David is from Bethlehem Bethel. It is its own time.

The thousand years after this event. David's greater son, our Lord Jesus Christ is going to be born in Bethlehem that many of you as I've experienced you left far away from your home time and if you had him you understand something a little bit of what's going on in these verses, David clearly loved his home time and away from home at war he longs for a drink from Bethlehem's well you see that's not really when you think about it, with a bottle water went out to get around back. This is 3000 years ago know in in today's waterwheel fluoride and other chemicals and sends wherever you travel more than a sense always taste like brothers of vast difference in the tastes of natural water wasn't until I was in my teens that my grandparents my mother's parents had running water and in their house living in a small village in the north of Scotland small fishing village and I remember going there is a boy and that there's no running water in the house to us. It's almost unbelievable as all that long ago know about your ancestors, but none of them had running with either your great-grandparents and soil and several yards away from the little house where my grandparents lived was a well and myself and my brothers we were dispatched from time to time with buckets to get the water to bring it to her home and remember my father often saying how much she likes the taste of the water in my grandparents village compared with the water arena where we lived in central Scotland at that time anything about water, not with the chemicals in natural weather taste difference. David longed for a drink, not just of water by the water from Bethlehem, but there was more I think than the taste of water of Bethlehem or the nostalgia of reflecting on Bethlehem going on the David. I think most of your tremendous happiness that the Philistines, the enemies of God had made eye garrison and is swamped home time at Bethlehem, so notice what the text says he said longingly or that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gates. David the anointed king is not able to enter his own home town of Bethlehem because it's in the hands of the Philistines, the Lord's enemies.

#Was going on. Three of David's mighty men. The commander-in-chief doesn't command them. I know this is not even their names are not even mentioned in the text. What did they do, they risk their very lives, and they bravely burst through the line of the Philistines at great less risk to their own lives and obtain water from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate wise by the gate mention is the most garbage place the gates.

The entrance Philistines were the guards that it would be the most difficult place to go to there maybe another Wells in Bethel and assure the wearer, but David wanted a drink of water from that particular well. One is by the gates and this is what exactly men do in the great love for 13 in honor of the commander-in-chief, they bring water from the well of Bethlehem is buying the gate and presented to David. Could you imagine the surprise with what he does but hear a thing would begin to understand the way why David is described as a man after God's own heart. David is so overcome by the man's devotion manhood to risk your life to get that drink of water for him that he wouldn't drink it here in the tangible form of water was reminded of the faithfulness of God. David would've remembered that one day. Yes, he would be crying to again and that God would give him the victory and what an encouragement to David that God would send true to his promise and he would reign over Israel, including his own kind of Bethlehem is what does he do.

He takes that water in the Old Testament there were different offerings and that was the drink offering, you can read about it in Leviticus and Numbers and David takes this, and pours it out as a drink offering to God, an act of beautiful worship, prompted by the love of these three mighty men for David and the tangible reminder of the mercies of God than the faithfulness of God with our worship and worship should because solution to we worship this morning. We worship this evening we listen to her children sing a beautiful song celebration of Joe I of entering his gates with thanksgiving and worship is presented as an act of gratitude. Why because we love hurricane, King Jesus is a difficult worship as it is sometimes difficult to concentrate is the if you are young family getting here in the Sunday morning is an easy getting the breakfast ready getting everyone dressed coming for worship on a Sunday morning, the Sunday evening is not always easy.

This the devil certainly doesn't want us to worship God. He wants to distract us and there's always seemingly good reason for not worshiping under David knew that worship was costly. This was the most valuable of water.

It was too holy to sacred for him simply to consume it himself. Just because you wanted a drink of water know he offers it to the Lord. He gives his very best to the Lord and I'm sure what we're teaching these tough warriors importance of giving the very best for the Lord incident reminds us, doesn't it of an incident in the New Testament of a woman member, the women of Bethany. She had costly alignments. What did she do with its she poured it out on the Lord is an act of worship to their son it was a waste of money to be sold and the money given to the poor. No some things to sacred and Jesus said, Mark 14 verse six. She has done a beautiful thing to me under things in life which are so precious that all we can do is deport them out before the Lord as an act of living worship.

I been challenging you to accept the challenge of total commitment to Jesus Christ, to present not just something, but to present ourselves to the Lord in this wonderful act of worship. Here I am Lord, I surrender everything I have to David man after God's own heart is a great love for God and presents that water which is mighty men gave him as an act of worship that there's other mighty men very quickly versus 18 or 19. There's a bit shy. Never be shy, the brother of Joab the son of Zechariah was chief of the third date.

He yielded his spirit against 300 men and kill them on one unnamed beside the three he was the most renowned of the 13 and became the commander that he did not attain to the three is a bit shy while he's David's cousin's mother WI is David sister is chief of the 32 brothers, Joab will think of him in the minute David's commander as a hell who was killed by Abner was up and I remember Abner was Saul's army commander in the bush I is a fearless mighty man of satiety for the against 300 men and told, and became the commander of the 13th versus 20 through 23. We have been the Iowa and the Benny I are the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man of Godzilla doing a great deep needs instruct dying to Ariel Zamora. He also went down instruct on the line in the pit on the day when snow had fallen and they struck down an Egyptian handsome man Egyptian had this feeling his hand but Benny I went down to him with the staff snatch the spirit of art of Egyptian signed and killed him with his own spear these things that Benny I have the son of Jehoiada on one unnamed beside the three mighty men. He was renowned among the third date, but he did not attain to the three and David set over his bodyguard was was a favorite question of my mother's to us who killed a line on the snowy day who killed a line on the snowy day we just read is Benny. I write so during one of these Bible quizzes and you get the question who killed a line of the snowy day you can say Benny I had it come from second Samuel 23. Some of you look as if you've never even read this before and encourage you to read your Bibles. Yes it's amazing what you learn here we have the heroism of this man killing a lion in the news. Just a few days ago was a fellow who was attacked by Moncton line wasn't in the. He fought back and killed it into that some who blinded some damage to the mind. I think this is a bigger line and that was snow and the snow at the time, which is unusual in Israel and also he killed this Egyptian with his own spear and David put some ahead of his security when a guy like that protected me. Men who can kill a line on the snowy day, minute can kill Egyptian one him by my side, we have aligned only on the physical line.

Peter says the deviled was around like a roaring lion, seeking someone who Egyptian in the Bible is a is a picture of the world from which were delivered. These are enemies for those of us who were soldiers of Jesus Christ the devil and the world from verse 24 to the end. Many other mighty men are mentioned, I'm not going to read the lists of the names of difficult and thus are not going to read it, but look at the last in the list. This is very interesting, isn't it verse 39 second Samuel 23 mighty men who is last on the list. Uriah the Hittite therapy seven in all, is not interesting that the last man mentioned in the list of mighty men is Uriah the Hittite.

You say you shoot Uriah should know he is he is the husband of Bathsheba, with whom David committed adultery is not an Israelite is a tight but as a man whose disc was in the list of the mighty man, a man loyal to David member after David's about holiday. David calls Uriah home. He wants to get Uriah in bed with his own wife but Uriah won't do that. He says how can I go to my own home and sleep in my own bed when when the Israel is fighting there I can do that. And so then David gives instructions to Joab's commander to put Uriah the very front of the line of battle against the ammonites and Uriah is killed as David wanted because what's David trying to do is trying to cover it up as adultery. This cover-up of course fails, and yet here it is for everyone to see.

Here is Uriah listed as one of David's mighty men, a loyal soldier, one who obeys his commander, one who demonstrates his loyalty to King David.

David acted studied this honorably and betrayed Uriah, but Uriah never betrayed King David is a mighty man is a man of integrity's a man of courage, and then this list of mighty men here stands Uriah's name is also a reminder that the greatest of man, the greatest of canes like David are still sinners and that through the grace of God. David experiences wonderful forgiveness will think of some 51 later in the series note as you as you look at the list. Is anyone there that you think is missing is not listed.

If you know your history for familiar with second Samuel in first Chronicles Joab, Joab is David's commander, he's David's cousin and he's the commander of David's army and Joab is a very fierce warrior, it's Joel who takes the lead in conquering Jerusalem. Jerusalem is held by the Jebusites is on a high ridge. There's no way they can get up those of us who have recently had Israel were saying this I would David, the Israelites conquered Jerusalem. How did they get up so high and conquer the Jebusites was a water shaft was of you losers remember the water shaft Joab you can read about it in second Samuel five in first Chronicles 11 Joab mighty men obviously very athletic, very strong, very brave. He goes up the water shaft right into the heart of Jerusalem and through Joab. David then these men are able to capture Jerusalem.

The tremendous achievements, a brave warrior is not mentioned here in the list of monument because job great warrior of the years is also a treacherous man he kills Abner souls commander who killed his brother. As I help he also killed the mass on the commander of Solomon's army and Joab dies in a very dishonorable way after the death of David's. Remember some of the sons once his throne.

Absalom was tried in his leg killed on the throne after David is going to go to which son Solomon brothers another son, Adonijah he wants to became an actual good spent so long was David then must've known that Solomon was in the line to be king.

He identifies with Adonijah instead of Solomon goes into the tabernacle takes hold of the horns of the altar and one of David's mighty men, the man who killed a line on the snowy day. Benny goes in and is told to King killed two of them that we Benny, I have then becomes a commendable Solomon's army and is not so here. Joab is not listed in the list of mighty men, although he served David for many many years. Although he did incredible exploits for David, but his deceit, his treachery, his disloyalty caught up with him and then the end he seemed to be more concerned with his own reputation rather than David's warning is kind of Judas of July cousin to give her think of this.

There were 12 who are very close to the Lord. One of them was a traitor Judas. It was job very close to David. David aligned on them, but joy was a hard harsh man and is not listed in the list of mighty men, what would we make of all of this I find interesting, don't you, that the mighty men that listed some of them are better known than others, but God knows each one and has recorded them in secret Scripture to you immediately met, they may just be names but they are men who fought for the Lord and for the king David. If there's a list of mighty men and woman.

Which would you be on that with typing on that you think your legacy is weak with you, leaving behind was important for you to click for those of us were getting older Republican to think about this, don't we talk this morning about when I got Monica just seems F. Few years ago. I know my grandfather you think we did the years go, you begin to think of it done with my life and leaving behind God's grace. What exploits are we doing for God. Are you are my mighty soldier of Jesus Christ are you loyal to your king you loyal to King Jesus, or when you're with your friends when you're with unbelievers. You just blend in order here. The kind of individual like these mighty men are that they are so loyal to David and Saul loyal to the Lord, that they take a stand.

They stand strong, while others flee, while others abandon David, while others are therefore self interest.

Perhaps like Joel wonderful to think that in the grace of God and in the strength of God.

We can stand firm is what Paul is saying. And in Ephesians 6 stand fast. James says, resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Going to bed and don't compromise on. Take the easy road be a strong soldier a good soldier of Jesus Christ, so that were never motivated by treachery or self interest or betrayal that we keep fighting the good fight against the devil against the world against their own sinful desires because we follow a better king than David Nathaniel as he was praying was reminding us that David great Mandy that he was was marked by failure will think of that in a few weeks.

But the king that we follow King Jesus was no failure, no spot no blemish absolutely perfect.

Not only the king of Israel but the King of Kings and Lord of lords, and then his grace. He's reached out and saved you and me and asked us to follow him to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ. What does that mean in your contacts looks at me as you go to work tomorrow. Let me know your home and your family and society that we wouldst stand firm when we see so many compromising and being captured by the world and becoming just cultural Christians but always be loyal to arcane and be a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Help us father to be that thank you you call us into your army is aware and to do that we do shut suffer hardship. Sometimes it's hard sometimes we feel like giving up. Sometimes we feel like going back into the world are compromising the pray for each one of us here that we will stand strong. Give us strength father, thank you for the example of these mighty men that we will do mighty things for God to hear that Calgary church will never compromise your word will never compromise your standards. Whatever the world may say we will stand firm, strong in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen us. Father, help us, forgive us when we fail as we do, and help us to keep her eyes on king Jesus the King of Kings and Lord of lords in whose name we pray