David’s mighty men – Preaching
Preaching Outline on II Samuel 23:20-23 – “Benaiah also, the son of Jehoiada, the son of a man of Kabzeel, a mighty man of valor and great deeds, slew the two sons of Ariel of Moab; then he went down and killed a lion in a pit in the snowy season. He also killed an Egyptian, a man of terrible appearance; he had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear out of his hand, and killed him with it. These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, so that he had a name among the three mighty men. He was the most renowned of the thirty, but he didn’t reach the top three. But David put him under his guard.
Introduction to 2 Samuel 23:20-23
Comment
The Work and Government of the Holy Spirit is only established in the life of man through many struggles. The Church has fought for its salvation and for the conversion of lives.
David struggled to protect and define his boundaries. The servant’s struggle is to maintain the boundaries of the Spirit in his life.
Benaia
David’s valiant men were remarkable and won great victories. Benaiah, using a staff, defeated a famous Egyptian soldier who used a weaver’s harpoon as a weapon.
Staff: In making an allegory, we can say that it speaks of the direction of the Holy Spirit who guides the servant.
Famous Egyptian: We can buy from the man full of resources and arguments.
The Weaver’s Harpoon: it was to be used to make cloth and clothes. Some men use religion to kill the Work of God in people’s lives. They take the gospel that should be used to transform people’s lives (garments of salvation) and distort the doctrine.
Lions of Moab: Benaiah killed two lions of Moab (the lion reminds us a lot of the enemy and the flesh). The servant has to overcome these two opponents every day.
Lion in the den: Benaiah also killed a lion in his den during the winter. It reminds us that in times of spiritual coldness, the enemy and the flesh try to get a foothold in the servant’s life. The servant fights and overcomes with the power of God’s word in his life, seeking to warm himself in communion with his brothers.
Benaia did all this, but he didn’t take a place with the three leaders.
The 3 Leaders of the Valiant
“These are the names of David’s mighty men: Joseb-Bassebeth the Tachonite, the chief of the three, who slew eight hundred at once with his spear. After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the son of Ahoi, one of the three mighty men who were with David when they challenged the Philistines who had gathered for the battle, while the men of Israel were retreating. And he arose, and smote the Philistines, until his hand was weary, and his hand was taken with the sword: and the Lord wrought a great deliverance that day: and the people returned to Eleazar, only to take the spoil.
After him was Shammah the son of Agé the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered at Lehi, where there was a field full of lentils, and the people fled before the Philistines. But Shammah stood in the middle of the field and defended it, and slew the Philistines, and the Lord brought about a great deliverance. And three of the thirty heads went down in the time of harvest, and came to David to the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim”. II Sam 23:8-13
Eleazar: (the sword clung to his hand) MAN OF ATTACK. The way Eleazar fought reminds us very much of our posture as servants in battle, we must never let go of the sword that speaks to us of the Word of God.
Shammah: (defended the camp) MAN OF DEFENSE. Shammah’s position reminds us very much of that of the man of faith, who uses the “shield of faith” to win battles.
Joseph-Bassebeth: (opposed 800 Philistines) MAN OF OPPOSITION. It reminds us of the action of the Holy Spirit, who has also opposed sin, which at times wants to lead us astray from the holy path. The Church, guided by the Spirit, has opposed sin and the world.
The mighty men of David represent the mighty men of the Work of God who are now spread throughout the world, winning the great battles using spiritual weapons.
The Work of God is made up of many brave men and women. Servants who win extraordinary victories, but the FATHER, the SON and the HOLY SPIRIT will always be in charge.
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