I Want To Be A Two Handed Soldier

1 Chronicles 12:1–2 1 Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war. 2 They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul’s brethren of Benjamin.

In 1 Chronicles 10 Saul and his three sons are killed in battle against the Philistines. In 1 Chronicles 11 David, who in 1 Samuel 16 had been anointed as the next King after Saul, is anointed as reining King over Israel, Jerusalem is made the capital of the united Kingdom of Israel - you can begin to read more about that in 2 Samuel 5. In 1 Chronicles 11:10 the Bible begins to list the “mighty men” of David and even some of the deeds that they did. As we come into 1 Chronicles 12 we go backwards in time to when David was in Ziklag, and Saul was still King - 1 Samuel 27:1-7 gives a brief synopsis of that time in David’s life. There is, of course, the gripping story of Ziklag being burned and the women being captured when David and his men returned, and then their revenge against the Amalekites found in 1 Samuel 30.

That is not however, where our focus concerning Ziklag is for the moment. In fact, I don’t even want to talk about Ziklag itself. I want to talk about the mighty men of David that we find here. In particular I want to focus on the first group that we have mentioned as we open the rolls of these mighty men in 1 Chronicles 12.

First, I want to take a journey through some different Scriptures and establish a precedent that I believe we can all already agree upon.

Judges 8:33–35 33 And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a after Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god. 34 And the children of Israel remembered not the Lord their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side: 35 Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.

1 Samuel 12:11 And the Lord sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.

1 Samuel 14:47 So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.

1 Kings 5:2–3 2 And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, 3 Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the Lord his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet.

Solomon may have made this statement while thinking back on stories and writing of his Father such as:

Psalm 12:8 The wicked walk on every side, When the vilest men are exalted. This is the heading of Psalm 12: To the chief Musician upon Sheminith (this is a word supposed to denote the lowest note sung by men's voices), A Psalm of David.

Psalm 31:13–14 13 For I have heard the slander of many: Fear was on every side: While they took counsel together against me, They devised to take away my life. 14 But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God. This one under the heading: To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

Jeremiah 6:25 Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.

Jeremiah 20:10 For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, And we shall take our revenge on him.

Notice the phrase, “All my familiars” here. The word “familiars” Refers generally to human beings. The wording of this phrase connects what Jeremiah is saying to another Psalm of David, Psalm 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, Which did eat of my bread, Hath lifted up his heel against me.

Jeremiah 49:29 29 Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: They shall take to themselves their curtains, And all their vessels, and their camels; And they shall cry unto them, Fear is on every side.

2 Corinthians 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

2 Corinthians 7:5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

All these Scriptures show us that in the Christian life we constantly face problems from the enemy. Perhaps, out of all these Scriptures Paul may have said it best in 2 Corinthians 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; It seems as though no matter where we turn we are always finding trouble. The enemy is there. Problems are there. Heartache, burdens, and cares! It seems that on every side there is a fight that we must face!

WITH ALL OF THIS IN MIND, AND LOOKING BACK AT OUR TEXT, I WANT TO PREACH ON:

I WANT TO BE A TWO HANDED SOLDIER

Two-handed: adjective

1 designed for or requiring the use of both hands (a two-handed sword)

2 having or being efficient with two hands (two-handed tennis players are rare)

This what we would usually call ambidextrous.

ambidextrous: adjective

synonyms with VERSATILE, adaptable, all-around, many-sided, mobile, myriad-minded

1 Chronicles 12:1–2 1 Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war. 2 They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul’s brethren of Benjamin.

USE PERSONAL EXAMPLES SUCH AS THUMB AND BASKETBALL; SHOOTING PISTOL/RIFLE LEFT HANDED

Now we face another problem. Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We don’t have an enemy that can be defeated through the means of men.

2 Corinthians 10:4 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

That doesn’t mean we are not to be ready to fight.

Ephesians 6:10–18 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

The good news is that it is a fixed fight all the way!

Psalm 33:18 18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, Upon them that hope in his mercy;

Psalm 34:6–7 6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encampeth Round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

Isaiah 26:3 3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on thee: Because he trusteth in thee.

King James Version (Psalm 121)

1  I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,

From whence cometh my help.

2  My help cometh from the LORD,

Which made heaven and earth.

3  He will not suffer thy foot to be moved:

He that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4  Behold, he that keepeth Israel

Shall neither gslumber nor sleep.

5  The LORD is thy keeper:

The LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6  The sun shall not smite thee by day,

Nor the moon by night.

7  The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil:

He shall preserve thy soul.

8  The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in

From this time forth, and even for evermore.