Let's Meet David's "Mighty Men"

Do you ever meet people in your day-to-day activities without learning anything about them. I know you do, and so do I. Sometimes, we do similar things when we read the Bible. We will read over names and events without really considering why they are recorded in God's Book.
In this essay, I want to introduce you to some people (men) that I’ve met in the Old Testament, men who are often overlooked. In 2 Samuel 23:8-23, we meet four men who were David’s mighty men.

Among David’s mighty men, there was Adino.
Verse eight of our text begins a list of what David, Monarch of Israel, calls his “mighty men.” A man by the name of Adino was at the top of his list—“The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite....” The text goes on to tell us that Adino “...lift[ed] up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.”
Why was Adino in the camp of David’s mighty men? Could it be that he was included in this list because he was able to do so much with so little? The text says that he killed eight hundred with just one spear. How many times have we read in the Bible about those who have done great things with so little?
I think about the widow in Luke 21. In contrast to the rich who were casting great gifts into the treasury, here was a woman who put “two mites” (literally, two small coins) into the treasury. Jesus said, “Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had” (21:3-4).
Then, there is the parable of the talents. You know the story: Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a man traveling, and who gives talents (a talent is one hundred and eighty seven pounds ten shillings) to his servants. To one he gives five talents; to another two talents; and, to another he gives just one talent. The man with five talents made a trade and profited five more talents. The one with two talents gained two more. But, the one with just one talent hid it in the ground. The master was pleased with his servants that doubled their talents. But, to the one who hid his talent, the master was greatly displeased.
What’s the point of this story? Most of us will never be two or five talent men. Generally, we will be one talent men. What then will we do with our talent? Will we be maximum producers? Or, will we be like the one who buried his talent? May we be like Adino—a man who did so much with so little.

Among David’s mighty men, there was Eleazar.
Eleazar was “...the son of Dodo the Ahohite....” Why was he included in the list of mighty men? Well, consider what was written about him, “...when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away: He [Eleazar] arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword...” (23:9-10). Eleazar was mighty because he fought a battle. Not just because he fought a battle, but because he did it all by himself.
Have you ever had to fight a battle alone? Maybe it's a battle in the home. Perhaps you’re trying to lead a child in the way he should go (in the Lord), and yet your spouse is of little to no help. Or, have you ever tried to fight a battle in the work place? Every member of your work team is trying to do something on a project that is lacking in good ethics, and you fight to do what’s right, even if it means the loss of your job? Maybe you’ve fought a battle in a congregation where you have attended. Have you ever seen elders in the church go the direction of the “change agents,” and you are the only one who fought for truth? If you’ve ever found yourself fighting a battle alone, then you can relate to Eleazar.

Among David’s mighty men, there was Abishai.
Abishai “...lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them...,” but “...he attained not unto the first three...” (23:18-19). In other words, he was great but not the greatest.
God is not looking for great men whom He can make leaders. He is looking for ordinary men who are willing to be faithful, and whom God can make great. When I think about this, I’m reminded of Peter. We are all aware that Peter did great things for Jesus and His kingdom. But let’s not forget who led Peter to Jesus. It was his brother, Andrew (Jn. 1:40-42). A disciple of Jesus, by the way, whom we know very little about. Andrew was not the greatest of men, but he was a great man.

Among David’s mighty men, there was Benaiah.
Benaiah was among David’s mighty men because of the conditions in which he had to fight. The text says, “And Benaiah...slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow...” (23:20-21). Did you notice when Benaiah fought and slew the lion? It was “in the midst of a pit in time of snow.”
Benaiah went down into the pit. In this action, he was risking his own safety and ability to flee danger. He did it during the time of snow. This shows the difficulty of traction and the inability to run from the aggressor. In short, Bebaiah risked his life.
What do I learn from this, and what lesson can apply to my life today? I learn that God gives me the ability to accomplish even the most difficult of tasks.

Let’s read God’s word carefully and not overlook the “little heroes” of the Bible. There are a number of practical lessons to be learned from God’s mighty men and women.