Mighty Men (W. 4) - "Marks of a Mighty Man" - 2 Samuel 23

“Marks of a Mighty Man”

2 Samuel 23:11–13 KJV 1900

11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victory. 13 And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.

2 Samuel 23:18–22 KJV 1900

18 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three. 19 Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three. 20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow: 21 And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear. 22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.

1. The Spirit of Shamman

Shammah means “there.”

God’s last name given in the Old Testament by the prophet Ezekiel was Jehovah-Shammah… “God is there”

Here in this passage of Shammah’s life, we find that he made a decision to fight when everyone else fled.

Having the spirit of Shammah is being a man that:

a. Has Convictions

Conviction is making your decision before you are faced with a decision.

He knew he would fight the philistines as soon as they crossed over the border.

b. He Considered the Cost.

Some versions point out that this pea patch was in Lehi.

Where was Lehi? It was a small city on the border of philistia.

Why does that matter?

One small legume patch today is a greater attack tomorrow.

Where has the enemy began to take over? It may seem small now, but it’s greater tomorrow!

c. Consider past Victories

Judges 15:14–16 KJV 1900

14 And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands. 15 And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith. 16 And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, With the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.

Who last fought in Lehi?

Samson!

He took a donkey’s jawbone and killed 1,000 Philistines.

So, I believe Shammah said, “you’ve done it before, Lord… why not do it again!”

2. Attitude of Abishai

what kind of attitude did he have?

a. Humble Attitude

His brother was Joab.

Abishai could have spent his days comparing himself to his brother, JOab.

Comparison is an instrument that can cause you to quit or at best steal your joy.

b. Submissive attitude

Earlier on in Abishai’s life, he had to listen to King David’s command.

1 Samuel 26:6–9 KJV 1900

6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee. 7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him. 8 Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time. 9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?

Imagine Abishai walking along toward Saul.

In his mind, everything is working PERFECTLY.

No one is keeping watch - check.

Everyone is asleep - check.

Saul’s spear is right beside him - check.

everything SEEMS to be leading to this moment… but, his king says, “no.”

Ever had a moment like this?

Attitude like Abishai’s allows the Lord to dictate every decision, even when it doesn’t make sense.

c. Trusting Attitude

Here’s where it’s hard.

Abner, who was laying beside King Saul that night, ended up killing Abishai’s brother.

Did that stop Abishai from serving his king? No.

He continued to trust.

3. Boldness of Benaiah