It Takes More Than One Great Leader
These are the names of David’s mighty warriors:
Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter. Next to him was Eleazer . . . As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines . . . the Israelites retreated, but Eleazer stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand . . . froze to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. . . .
Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory.
During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam . . . David longed for water and said, ‘’Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near . . . Bethlehem!’’ So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD. ‘’Far be it from me, LORD, to do this!’’ he saId. ‘’Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?’’ And David would not drink it.
Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors. 2 Samuel 23:8-17
Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter. Next to him was Eleazer . . . As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines . . . the Israelites retreated, but Eleazer stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand . . . froze to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. . . .
Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory.
During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam . . . David longed for water and said, ‘’Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near . . . Bethlehem!’’ So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD. ‘’Far be it from me, LORD, to do this!’’ he saId. ‘’Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?’’ And David would not drink it.
Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors. 2 Samuel 23:8-17
These are very astonishing feats: Killing eight hundred men with a spear in one encounter; striking down enemy soldiers till your hand is frozen to the sword when others are running away; standing to defend a field of beans when your fellow soldiers are running away; breaking through enemy lines to fetch your leader a cup of water from a particular well that he longed to drink from. It is interesting to note that when those mighty warriors stood their ground to fight when their fellow soldiers were running away, ‘’the LORD brought about a great victory that day.’’
David was a mighty warrior, a great lover of God and an outstanding leader, but David could not have succeeded without the help of the other brave and outstanding men around him. It takes more than one great leader to achieve great things for a group. It is obvious that the other leaders around David were fiercely loyal and willing to do anything for the cause. God surrounded David with able and outstanding people who loyally stood behind him to accomplish the vision.
But we also see one outstanding characteristic about David: He valued the lives of his mighty men. When they risked their lives to satisfy his craving for water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, David poured it out on the ground as an offering to God and in honor of the bravery of his loyal soldiers. I am confident that not only was God pleased, but the men must have felt highly honored and valued as well.
When we each recognize our role in God’s agenda -- either as the overall leader or one called to serve the lead person -- there is no telling what victories God might accomplish for the group. It takes more than just a great leader to accomplish the agenda given by God. It takes several mighty leaders who are willing to do exploits in support of the calling. Are you one?
David was a mighty warrior, a great lover of God and an outstanding leader, but David could not have succeeded without the help of the other brave and outstanding men around him. It takes more than one great leader to achieve great things for a group. It is obvious that the other leaders around David were fiercely loyal and willing to do anything for the cause. God surrounded David with able and outstanding people who loyally stood behind him to accomplish the vision.
But we also see one outstanding characteristic about David: He valued the lives of his mighty men. When they risked their lives to satisfy his craving for water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, David poured it out on the ground as an offering to God and in honor of the bravery of his loyal soldiers. I am confident that not only was God pleased, but the men must have felt highly honored and valued as well.
When we each recognize our role in God’s agenda -- either as the overall leader or one called to serve the lead person -- there is no telling what victories God might accomplish for the group. It takes more than just a great leader to accomplish the agenda given by God. It takes several mighty leaders who are willing to do exploits in support of the calling. Are you one?
Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the role you have given me to play in your Kingdom agenda. Please help me to faithfully execute it as I support the vision you have called me to be a part of. Amen.