Everyday Courage: David's Mighty Men (2 Samuel 23:8-17)
Courage isn’t only being willing to give up your life, but also how you live your life day to day.
It takes courage to face up to the responsibilities and realities of life. It takes resolve and takes character.
Key Scripture:
2 Samuel 23:8-17 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.
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, 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.
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. 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. 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. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 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 . “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. '
Over time, those broken, overlooked men became warriors marked by courage, loyalty, and faith. They stood when others ran, risked everything for their king, and understood that real victory always belonged to the Lord. As we walk through this passage, we’re going to look at some remarkable acts of bravery - and consider what it means for us as we build a life of faith…
Jashobeam the Hacmonite
2 Samuel 23:8 These are the names of David’s mightiest warriors. The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite, who was leader of the Three - the three mightiest warriors among David’s men. He once used his spear to kill 800 enemy warriors in a single battle.
The Courage to...Believe God Can Exceed Your Abilities.
It takes courage to believe God can do something with your life - it takes courage to walk it out.
Are We A Generation That Doesn’t Dream As Much As We Should Dream Anymore?
Acts 2:17 ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants - men and women alike - and they will prophesy.
The church of Jesus is designed to be filled with followers of Jesus who believe that God can do something amazing with their lives.
Eleazar son of Dodai
2 Samuel 23:9 Next in rank among the Three was Eleazar son of Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah. Once Eleazar and David stood together against the Philistines when the entire Israelite army had fled. 10 He killed Philistines until his hand was too tired to lift his sword, and the Lord gave him a great victory that day. The rest of the army did not return until it was time to collect the plunder!
The Courage to... Endure All Things.
It takes a depth of courage and fortitude to keep going when you have very real reasons to give up!
Romans 5:3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.
Rejoicing in suffering doesn’t mean we enjoy the storm; it means we trust the One who’s in the boat with us. It’s the certainty that no pressure we face can cancel the promises we’ve received.
When the weight feels heavy, don’t give up. Because in Christ your endurance is never empty.
It’s producing something eternal.
Shammah son of Agee from Harar
2 Samuel 23:11 Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. One time the Philistines gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of lentils. The Israelite army fled, 12 but Shammah held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.
The Courage to...Protect What Matters Most.
Thank God somebody stood their ground and protected what mattered most. What are those important things for you?
What does this look like?
Believe in What Your Fighting For
It’s difficult to endure and keep on going if you’re not sure you believe in what you’re fighting for.
Stop Waiting for Others
You have a duty before God to faithfully tend to the things in your life that are your responsibility.
Nobody can affect your life more than you can.
Come to Me…
The promise from God Almighty is that we don’t do this alone. People may run, we may stand alone - and yet what God is able to do with our lives is impossible. When we persist and endure we keep building the life of faith.
Matthew 11:28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
The Three
2 Samuel 23:13 Once during the harvest, when David was at the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty - an elite group among David’s fighting men) went down to meet him there. 14 David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem. 15 David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” 16 So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord. 17 “The Lord forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three.
Ensure that Everyday Courage Leads to Everyday Worship.
How do we respond?
The Courage to… Believe God Can Exceed Your Abilities
Start dreaming again…and take the first step.
Watch God do the impossible. You can affect people’s lives. You can make a difference.
The Courage to... Endure All Things
This is applicable to the average person at any given time.
We admire the courage to endure in others. Determine to make this true about yourself!
The Courage to… Protect What Matters Most
Protect the most important things in your life with passion, intentionality and intensity.
Don’t let the most important things in your life, the greatest gifts God has given you, slip away without a fight.
Difference is seen over time, but it means exercising this courage day-by-day.
When we’re aware of what has the potential to upend our lives it means we can be on guard.
And when we’re actively protecting the most important things in our lives, we see over time them grow and improve and flourish rather than deteriorate and decay.
Ensure that Everyday Courage Leads to Everyday Worship
Center your life on Jesus.
When you dig deep to fight another day, here is a simple prayer, “Lord, I do this for your glory and because I’m trusting you.”
COURAGE MAKES THINGS BETTER.