DAVID'S THREE MIGHTY MEN
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. Text: 2 Sam. 23:8-17
B. Consider the men Adino, Eleazar, and Shammah and what they
did. Vs. 8-12
1. These men were bravely fighting to deliver God's people,
and God blessed them.
2. There were other great men in David's army, but they did
not attain to these first three. Vs. 19b, 23
I. WE FIGHT A DIFFERENT TYPE OF WARFARE THAN THAT FOUGHT BY THE THREE
MIGHTY MEN.
A. 2 Cor. 10:3-5; 1 John 4:4; 5:18-19
1. The kind of battles we face can at times be harder than
those faced by the three mighty men. Prov. 16:32b
B. We need to stand together when necessary.
1. The three mighty men were united in obtaining water for
David.
2. All members are important. 1 Cor. 12:20-27
3. Each one needs to supply his part. Eph. 4:16
4. We all need to work together toward our common goal. Phil.
1:27
5. The giant Sequoia trees of California tower as much as 300
feet above the ground. Strangely, these giants have
unusually shallow root systems that reach out in all
directions. One will not find a giant Sequoia tree standing
alone because high winds would quickly uproot it. Instead,
they always grow in clusters. Their intertwining roots
provide support for one another against the storms.
a. Let us, as members of the body of Christ, work
together, support, and sustain one another so that we
can weather the storms of life, and obtain heaven
together.
C. We need to stand alone when necessary.
1. We must always be ready to give answer. 1 Pet. 3:15
a. We may be required to stand alone against a troop as
was the case with each of David's three mighty men.
b. That troop may be our co-workers who attack the
Lord's church and promote denominational falsehoods.
c. That troop may be our fellow students at school.
d. That troop may be our own family. Our own family can
be the hardest troop to face. Matt. 10:35-36
2. Whether we face a troop or just one, let us be brave and
courageous soldiers of the Lord. 1 Cor. 16:13; 2 Tim. 2:3
a. Some people might contend that religion has no place in
the office, but a recent study proves otherwise. It might
be to your advantage, the study concludes, if you
profess your religious beliefs rather than keep silent
about them. Professionals who actively expressed their
religious beliefs were perceived to be more intelligent,
more trustworthy, more moral, and better adjusted than
those who did not. (From Roger Bailey and Philip
Doriot via "Pulpit Helps")
b. Let us boldly speak the word of God at every
opportunity regardless of what men might say or think.
1 Thess. 2:2
II. THE THREE MIGHTY MEN WERE USED BY THE LORD TO BRING ABOUT GREAT
VICTORIES. 2 Sam. 23:20b, 12b
A. Through God, we tread down our spiritual enemies. Psalm
108:13
1. Through God, we are able to quench all the fiery darts of
the evil one. Psalm 144:10
2. Through God, we can mount up with wings like eagles. Isa.
40:28-31
3. God can give life even to dry bones. Ezek. 37:1-14
4. Psalm 23 was written in the word of God for other purposes
than to be read only at funerals!
a. The Psalm encourages toward personal strength; e.g. vs.
4.
b. "If God is for us, who can be against us?"
B. We should not think that our own personal battles are
insignificant.
1. We might think, "If only I had the opportunity to defend a
field of beans against the Philistines! And, since I can't
do that, there is nothing I can do!"
2. We should never belittle any work that the Lord has for us.
a. Zechariah said, "For who has despised the day of small
things?" Zech. 4:10
b. If we are faithful in a little, we will be faithful in
much. Luke 16:10
c. A lady, who was in the check-out-line behind a small
boy, rejoiced that she could give seven cents to help a
small boy buy some things he needed.
(1) The small boy was bewildered because, to buy the
things he needed, he lacked seven cents.
(2) The lady said that it made her feel very good that
she could help someone, even though it was in a
very small way.
d. Consider what Naaman's servants said to Naaman. 2
Kings 5:13
(1) They were saying, "Since you would have gladly
done some extremely difficult thing, why not do
this simple task?"
(2) Naaman accepted their good advice. 2 Kings 5:14
3. Let us not bury our talents in the earth, even if they might
be small, but get out and go to work in the Lord service.
Matt. 25:25; 44-45
III. WE ALL ARE ENLISTED SOLDIERS IN THE ARMY OF THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST.
A. The three mighty men were valiant soldiers in the army that was
allied with David.
1. Evidently, they knew that David had been anointed king, and
they chose to follow him rather than evil king Saul. 1 Sam.
23:13
2. All believers should make sure they are enlisted in the
right army.
B. The three mighty men did their job well, and God saw fit to
record their names, and what they did, in His permanent record
for all men of all time.
1. Though our names may never be in a permanent record of
some kind here on earth, we are listed in the Lamb's book of
Life; and, this is truly what's important.
a. We are soldiers, let us make our stand in the Lord. Eph.
6:10-13
b. When we stand for the Lord, the Lord will stand with
us. 2 Tim. 4:16-17; Heb. 13:5-6
C. Please consider this essay written by an unknown author
entitled, "I Am A Soldier." We will let these be our concluding
remarks:
I am a soldier in the army of my God. The Lord Jesus Christ is
my commanding officer. The Holy Bible is my code of conduct.
Faith, prayer, and the Word are my weapons of warfare. I have
been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by
adversity, and tested by fire. I am a volunteer in this army,
and I am enlisted for eternity.
I will either retire in this army at the end of time, or die in
it; but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed
out. I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable. If my
God needs me, I am there. If He needs me to teach a class, to
teach my neighbor, to help someone in need, or just to sit and
learn, He can use me because I am there! I am a soldier. I am
not a baby. I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up,
pumped up, picked up, or pepped up.
I am a soldier. No one has to call me, remind me, write me,
visit me, entice me, or lure me. I am not a wimp. I am in
place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name,
and building His kingdom. No one has to send me flowers, gifts,
food, cards, candy, or give me handouts. I do not need to be
cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to.
I am committed. I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to
turn me around. I cannot be discouraged enough to turn aside. I
cannot lose enough to cause me to quit. When Jesus called me
into this army, I had nothing materially. If I end up with
nothing, I will still come out ahead. I will win spiritually.
My God has supplied my needs, and will continue to supply all
of my needs.
I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph. I can do all
things through Christ. Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot
disillusion me. Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop
me. Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me. Governments
cannot silence me, and hell cannot handle me, because I'm safe
in my Savior.
I am a soldier. Even death cannot destroy me. For when my
commander calls me from this battlefield, He will promote me,
and then allow me to rule with Him. I am a soldier in the army,
and I'm marching, claiming victory. I will not give up. I will
not turn around. I am a soldier, and I am heaven bound, and
here I stand! Will you stand with me as a good soldier of Jesus
Christ?