“ These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: “ Josheb-Basshebeth the Tachmonite “, chief among the captains. He was called Adino the Eznite, because he had killed eight hundred men at one time, And after him was “ Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite “, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword, The Lord brought about a great victory that day… And after him was “ Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite “ The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils, Then the people fled from the Philistines. But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. And the Lord brought about a great victory… And David said with longing: Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate. So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David… “ (2 Samuel 23 : 8 – 16).
The heroes story
Many people around the world fight, race and compete to reach status and positions, that would enable them of take hold of things in their societies and countries, and the objectives are many and variant, few are good, but many are for personal glory, show off, achievement of personal goals, and many other similar goals, and you hear people saying:
We want to enter the History.
And the lord had revealed to his disciples the goals of the earthly rulers when they had a debate among them about who is the greatest of them, He said to them:
“ … You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them, Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant, And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many “ (Matthew 20 : 25 –28).
Don’t have this mindset of the world rulers, neither their goals in you.. but he who wants to be great or hero.. let him be like me.. let his goal and motive be the service of others and giving himself for them.. not fame nor dominion nor personal glory, neither to lord it over them..
This calling from God, doesn’t have any low self esteem in it, or rejection to reach high positions and status, through which we can serve the Lord and fulfill His will on this earth, but it has a warning and a caution, for those whom God prepared to reach these positions, not to fall in the trap of pride and dominion and the love of fame, and all that is similar from non pure motives, because when the Lord washed his disciples feet, He said to them these expressive words:
“ … Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am, If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you “ (John 13 : 12 – 15).
How precious and expressive are these words, and how filled they are of messages and lessons..
You call me Teacher and Lord.. for so I am.
The Lord didn’t deny His position at all.. but He gave His disciples from this position an example of what they should do to their followers, when they become in leadership position.. and the example was:
Humility, service of others and giving yourself for them.. He wanted them to be heroes.. He wanted their names written in the history and glory records.. but without having motives like the world rulers, but pure motives.. exactly like His motives..
I wanted to start this devotion about the heroes story, and I will encourage you to be like them through this devotion, by talking about these heroes qualities like the Lord wants them to be, so we might not have other motives like the ones that control the world’s people..
The Holy Spirit didn’t hesitate for one moment in mentioning the names of heroes on the Bible’s pages, but He was pleased in mentioning them as we read in the passage we included from the book of 2 Samuel, as the Lord was pleased to say: “ Assuredly, I say to you: wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her “. (Mark 14 : 9).
He was here talking about Mary who broke the expensive fragrance bottle , and poured it on the Lord’s head.
The Holy Spirit was pleased to mention a whole list of faith heroes in the Hebrews letter chapter 11, the heroes who didn’t love their life to death for the goal of fulfilling God’s plan.
And I want you, after reading this message, to become one of these heroes, who’s names will be mentioned in God’s own records, maybe people won’t read your name like those faith heroes.. but God will read it and that’s what matters..
Our goal today from reading the life story of these three heroes and others, is to know their qualities, and learn from them, to become like them..
There are four important and essential qualities that I conclude from this passage, let’s see them together:
1 - Faith:
Faith that is completely contrary to fear..
Three heroes.. each by himself.. who faced, challenged crowds of enemies.. and overcame.
They had faith that God is with them, protecting them and giving them victory..
They had the same attitude like Caleb who said: Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.
How great is Faith Beloveds, especially when challenges are big, and circumstances are contradictable, and what we’re doing seems illogic by sight or maybe imaginary..
for such faith:
Frustrates kingdoms, receives promises, shuts the mouth of lions, tears down the
power of flame, strengthens he who is weak, defeats armies of enemies, as the Hebrews letter says, and without such faith it is hard to please God.. And without such faith, no dreams nor visions nor prophecies will be fulfilled no revivals will come, no plans of Satan will be defeated, and we won’t conquer territories at all..
God said to Jeremiah:
“ Therefore prepare yourself and arise, And speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, Lest I dismay you before them “ (Jeremiah 1 : 17).
Are you afraid in front of your enemies.. the result will be that you will be terrified and dismayed before them, and then you will withdraw..
And David the king of these three heroes said:
“ The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war should rise against me, In this I will be confident “ (Psalms 27 : 1 – 3).
“ For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall “.
(Psalms 18 : 29).
What armies are facing you today, whether it is personal or on ministry level?
Name all you want from obstacles, challenges and fears that are facing you.. but rise up, take up your sword and face those armies with faith, trust that are able to defeat them, go and conquer them.. because God will surely grant you victory, like He did with three heroes and others..
2 - Perseverance and commitment:
Twice the Holy Spirit mentioned in this passage these expressions:
- and when the men of Israel had retreated. He arose and attacked
the Philistines.
- Then the Israelites fled from the Philistines. But Shammah
Stationed himself in the middle of the field, and killed the
Philistines.
The plague that controls most of the believers is, that they withdraw when faced with hardships and challenges and fears.. they don’t persevere and continue the battle.. their commitment is weak and fragile.
In that incident men had retreated and run away.. only the heroes persisted..
The same is true in the New Testament, the gospel of John tells us about a great number of the Lord’s followers, who left Him in the middle of the road saying:
how hard is the speech of the Lord, who can bear it?
And Paul says to Timothy:
“ For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world… Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm… At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me… “ (2 Timothy 4 : 10 – 16).
Paul says: all forsook me..
And Mark tells us that when they take hold of Jesus:
“ Then they all forsook Him and fled " (Mark 14 : 50).
The perseverance and commitment in our Journey with the Lord.. are a very important subject that needs many pages to be explained and clarified, but I trust the Holy Spirit who is able through these simple words, to deliver the message needed for everyone.. Wind doesn’t always come to push the glide of the ship for easy sail, many times sailors use the oar with strong fixed firm arms, to make the ship move and reach the wanted destination..
Don’t withdraw from your commitment to the ministry God put in your hands, no matter how great are the sacrifices and the challenges, even if everybody retreated and ran away or withdrew, persevere to continue the journey, and the Lord will strengthen you and empower you to continue the race..
3 - Submission that results from sincere love:
“ And David said with longing: Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate. So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David…”
David didn’t ask them directly to bring him water, but just by hearing him wishing to drink water from the well of Bethlehem, they broke through the enemy lines, risking their lives just to bring water to their leader nothing more, they were submissive to him, their submission wasn’t forced, but came out of sincere love, for he didn’t order them or force them to bring him water.. they did it out of themselves.. this is the kind of submission God wants from us.. a volunteered kind of submission, motivated by sincere love..
4 - Humility:
heroes in all the meaning of the word.. they killed multitudes of enemies.. without any support from others.. without any success resources according to the sight.. yet they risked their lives just to bring water to their leader.. none of them said:
“ I am a strong fighter.. my duty is to face the enemies and kill them with the sword.. and win battles.. not bring water to my leader.. there are other soldiers who can do simple or secondary tasks like this ”.
They were humble, they didn’t consider bringing water as something that will diminish their value or dignity or position..
This what the Lord has done also when He washed His disciples feet, and HE is the Master and the Teacher saying: I came to serve not to be served.
It is a story of heroes.. I encourage you to gaze on it.. gaze upon their qualities.. so you can be like them..
And I want you to know that you should have a practical faith, that results in moving toward fighting the enemy and winning battles, and fulfilling the plan of God for your life, your church, and your country.. because God will confirm and support you when you move and go, not when you only wish and hope, for His word says:
“ And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs “.
(Mark 16 : 20).
They went out.. and the Lord confirmed them and worked with them what they needed of signs and wonders..
At Last.. be a hero, and refuse not to let your fingerprints in everything you do, and to have your name written in the book of heroes.. not for fame or personal glory.. but for the love of the lost and the love of the Lord, who kept nothing from you.
