2 Samuel 23:8-39

Intro

In battle the stakes are high—life or death.

It helps to have a great army stacked with great men.

Every great general from Alexander the great, to Napoleon, to Washington or Lee, has not been successful merely because they were great leaders.

But also because they surrounded themselves with great men.

In December of 1862, during the war of northern aggression, the union army sought to cross the Rappahannock river and take Fredricksberg.

Union army led by Burnside, and the confederate by Lee.

The weak point defensively was given to Stonewall Jackson, who through his heroic efforts helped win the day.

But its was a major, with two measly guns, who gave Stonewall the advantage.

Without direct orders he moved his two guns up in front of the confederate line.

Shelby Foote tells it this way in Vol 2 of his magesterial The Civil War trilogy

From Lee’s Hill, the southern commander was surprised to see two horse-drawn guns, toy-sized in the distance, go twinkling out to the old stage road and go into position in the open, within easy range of the left flank of the 18,000 Federals, which was thrown into some disorder and came to a milling halt as the two guns began to slam their shots endwise into the blue ranks, toppling men like tenpins.

They had been brought into action by Stuart’s chief of artillery, twenty-four-year-old Major John Pelham of Alabama, who in his haste to join the southern army had left West Point on the eve of graduation in ’61. He had often done daring things, similar to this today, but never before with so large an audience to applaud him. As the men of both armies watched from the surrounding heights, he fired so rapidly that one general involved in the blue confusion estimated his strength at a full battery. Four Union batteries gave him their undivided attention, turning their two dozen guns against his two. One, a rifled Blakely, was soon disabled and had to be sent to the rear, but Pelham kept the other barking furiously, a 12-pounder brass Napoleon, and shifted his position each time the enemy gunners got his range...When Stuart sent word for him to retire, Pelham declined, though he had lost so many cannoneers by then that he himself was helping to serve the gun. “Tell the general I can hold my ground,” he said. Three times the order came, but he obeyed only when his caissons were nearly empty. (Foote)

When he died just a few months later at the Battle of Kelly’s ford, Lee who had given him the name Gallant Pelham, wrote this to President Davis:

“I mourn the loss of Major Pelham, I had hoped that a long career of usefulness and honor was still before him. He has been stricken down in the midst of both, and before he could receive the promotion he had richly won. I hope there will be no impropriety in presenting his name to the Senate, that his comrades may see that his services have been appreciated, and may be incited to emulate them.”

Almost immediately congress acted and promoted him to Lieutenant Colonel.

The intended affect was to cause others to want to imitate his heroic deeds.

Just as David was an ideal leader who when he ruled justly in the fear of God brought blessing to His people, so also did David inspire others to follow in His train.

There heroic exploits are recorded much in the same way Lee had hoped a postumus promotion of Pelham would do for the ranks of confederate soldiers.

He would provide an example for others to follow.

God empowers His people for heroic action in service to the kingdom of God.

2 Samuel 23:8-39

Stories of the Three

Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite

Chief of three

Killed 800 in one battle.

Eleazar the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi

Defied the philistines with David

Struck down the Philistines until his hand stuck to His sword.

The LORD brought about a great victory.

Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite

Defended a plot of Lentils after the rest had fled.

Immovable, risking his life to defend a crop that was not a mainstay.

The LORD worked a great victory.

Stories of the Thirty

Three of the thirty chief men.

Story of David longing for water from the well in Bethlehem.

Story took place while David was on the run from Saul.

David inspires great loyalty

These three fight their way through to the well and bring back water.

David will not drink.

Instead he worships.

He gives what is of value to God

Only God is worthy of such sacrificial action.

It ends by telling us these kinds of actions were typical of the three of thirty.

Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah

we’ve seen lots of him, always eager to resort to violence to get things done.

here is wielded his spear against three hundred (maybe at one time, or it could be accumulated total)

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada

We’ve heard of these exploits before (David).

He’s a lion killer

One in a pit, on a snowy day.

Then an Egyptian (giant) by taking his spear away and killing him with his own weapon.

Then a list of thirty (one) men

Finally the text lists the Thirty (one) men of renown.

Ending with Uriah the Hittite (Bathsheba’s husband).

What are we to make of this

An Ideal king is surrounded by ideal warriors.

God empowers His people for heroic action in service to the kingdom of God.

Jesus, also assembled a team of three (Peter, James, and John).

Also the 72.

Think of the heroic action Disciples of Jesus have accomplished inspired by His example and empowered by His Spirit.

His kingdom is Spiritual, but its still a battle.

He still empowers His people for heroic action.

Think of the great missionary movements of the past.

Think of Paul bringing the gospel to the entire known world.

If David inspired this kind of heroic devotion, what does that say of your devotion to Christ.

Some of you have sloughed off when it comes to the battle Christ calls you to wage against your own sin, let alone the battle to advance the gospel.