2 Samuel 23: David's Mighty Men

When's the last time you feel as if you were fighting a battle? Most likely, many of the battles that you have fought in the past were spiritual battles, but battles nonetheless. In 2 Samuel 23, we get a picture of some of the mightiest warriors in all of scripture. From them, we can learn what it truly means to fight well in every battle as we depend on the Lord.

Perhaps many of you have heard of David's mighty men. They appear throughout all of 2 Samuel, helping David at various points in his journey, but are talked about most comprehensively in 2 Samuel 23. In this list and description of David's mighty men, five are pointed out to be especially mighty. One of them single-handedly killed eight hundred men in battle, another killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day, and another killed three hundred men with merely a spear. These men were surely all mighty, but there was something above their mightiness that we must examine today, that is, their dependence upon the Lord.

Verse 12 of this chapter speaks most clearly about God's role in the story of David's mighty men: "and the Lord worked a great victory." This verse clearly shows us that it was not David's mighty men who were so spectacular, but rather God's strength within them. It was not the mighty men who were achieving great military victories, it was God's power in them that enabled them to fight valiantly. Without the strength and favor of the Lord, all of the mighty men would have lost their battles, yet with the Lord, they all succeeded.

So, when is the last time you tried to fight your battles without the Lord? How did it go? Dear brother and sister, let me encourage you: fight your battles with the Lord, for it is the only way you will obtain victory! The Lord is a dependable God who can strengthen your arms for battle (see Psalm 144:1), yet we must not neglect to lean on him! Furthermore, let us always remember that every battle we fight--whether it be spiritual or physical--is won because of the Lord. We have never won a battle apart from the Lord's sovereign grace. Let us remember this, be humbled, and thank God for all of our victories over sin and suffering. Amen!