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2 Samuel 23:13-17

Of Memorial Days and Mighty Men

A Sermon by

Dr. Bob BorgerAssistant Pastor

Highlands Presbyterian ChurchMay 28, 2017 10 AM

Theme: Those who are devoted to their King serve Him no matter what the cost.

This sermon is based upon a WTS Media tape of Dr. Edmund Clowney’s sermon entitled: “Biblical Principles of

Leadership.”

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Word count: 3964

David’s Mighty Men Chart

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I will read our text from 2 Samuel 23 in just a moment, but before I do, I wanted to bring your attention to the fact that tomorrow is Memorial Day 2017. I hope you all will be coming to the church picnic that starts at 3 PM. Traditionally, there are lots of picnics on Memorial Day, but I think it’s important that we not forget the reason Memorial Day exists.

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the armed forces of our country. Do you know anyone who has died while in the service of our country? I suspect some of you do.

Today, I want to remember and honor one such man whose name is Bob Holland. This is Bob when he was in Vietnam in 1969.

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Bob Holland died on January 20, 1970 after he stepped on a land mine while in Vietnam. Second Lt. Holland is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

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Some of you may have been wondering why there is a painted red milk can sitting by the pulpit this morning. This milk can was entrusted to us by our good friend from Annapolis, Maryland, Cindy Holland – Bob Holland’s widow.

Bob and Cindy were married in March 1969 and Bob died in January, 1970. During the only full month they had together in August 1969, they spent some time painting this antique. It’s a reminder that when a soldier dies in war, the grief that others must endure is very, very real.

As G.K. Chesterton has put it: A true soldier does not fight because he hates what is in front of him but because he loves what is behind him.

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Bob Holland was a believer and I look forward to meeting him in heaven. Cindy is our dear friend that Jan and I are trying to convince to move to Georgia. I hope you’ll remember to pray for Cindy this Memorial Day along with all those who have sacrificed so much so that in the United States we might enjoy religious liberty and many other privileges.

This morning, however, I want to direct your attention to the exploits of some other brave soldiers. These men lived many, many years ago in the time of David. Children, I want you to listen to this story

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very closely, because next year during our Wednesday night program, you are going to be studying the life of David as you learn how you can become a prince or a princess of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. So follow along as I read from 2 Samuel 23…

2 Samuel 23:13–17 (ESV)

13 And three of the thirty chief men went down and came about harvest time to David at the cave of Adullam, when a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. 15 And David said longingly, “Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” 16 Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it. He

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poured it out to the LORD 17 and said, “Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

This text is tucked away in a not very well known section of the Bible which talks about David’s Mighty Men. Our story is sandwiched in between Eleazar who fought so hard that his hand froze to his sword (vs. 10); and Benaiah, who killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day. If you read through this section you will discover that it contains a virtual list of the “Navy Seals” of the Old Testament; otherwise known as David’s mighty men.

My eyes were opened to the beauty and power of this passage by the late Dr. Edmund Clowney, the first president of Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. Dr. Clowney went home to

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glory in 2005. He was an incredible servant of the King and a very humble man. God used Dr. Clowney and the Vietnam War to greatly influence my decision to attend Westminster Seminary, and Westminster, in turn, changed my life.

The event that we are focusing upon in vss. 13-17 took place shortly after the death of King Saul (cf. 1 Chron 10:14 with 1 Chron 11:15). Even though David had been anointed as king, he had not yet succeeded in establishing his kingdom throughout all Israel. Indeed, we find him facing a great deal of opposition from the Philistine armies.

We are told that it was harvest time and David is at the cave of Adullam, which was one of his old hideouts during the period in which he was on the run from King Saul for so many years. David’s rag-tag army began to gather to him there at his stronghold in Adullam.

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It so happened that three of David’s thirty chief men (again, think Navy Seals) also came down to that cave to join their commander. And when they came they overheard David sigh deeply and say this in vs. 15:

2 Samuel 23:15 (ESV)

15 And David said longingly, “Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!”

The meaning of the Hebrew word which is translated “said longingly” in the ESV in vs. 15 makes it clear that David was NOT asking for volunteers he said this, rather he was simply deeply sighing in his heart.

(Cf. avah/aw-vaw/ desire, lust, longed for, wait longingly, sigh. For negative lust see:Numbers 11:4 (ESV)

4 Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat!

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For a legitimate desire see:

Deuteronomy 14:26 (ESV)

26 and spend the money for whatever you desire—oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves. And you shall eat there before the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household.

You may remember that David had been promised the entire land of Israel; God had promised him that he would be king over ALL Israel. But the kingdom was not yet in David’s hands. In fact, David was not even king over his own birthplace – the tiny village of Bethlehem. Evidently, the Philistines had chosen Bethlehem as the headquarters for their garrison. The City of David, therefore, was firmly in enemy hands. And so in a nostalgic moment, a thirsty and contemplative David lets out this sigh: “Oh, that I might have a drink of water, from the well that I drank from so often when I was a boy in Bethlehem.”

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Pay careful attention to what happens next: Three of these mighty men say to one another: “Did you hear that men? The chief says he wants a drink from the well at Bethlehem. Let’s do if for the Gibber. Let’s go get him his drink!”

So these men get ready to go. They strap their swords on their sides, collect their gear, and one of them grabs a small pitcher. Now mind you these were the days before night-vision goggles were invented or Blackhawk helicopters were able to deliver a team of commandoes behind enemy lines. True, it wasn’t as high-tech as Zero Dark Thirty (the movie about the killing of Osama Bin Laden), but nonetheless, this small band of mighty men break through the enemy lines, overcome the guards on duty and draw water from the well in Bethlehem. Afterwards, they have to find a way to get themselves out of there without

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becoming the main course for a Philistine picnic.

Don’t forget the logistics of this whole situation: Bethlehem was the very center of the Philistine’s garrison. That village had more top brass Philistines, enlisted men and military equipment than you would care to imagine. David’s wish would be like someone saying: “Oh, for a Coke out of the soda machine in the basement of the Kremlin.”

Yet here are these three mighty men making their way back to David’s stronghold at Adullam. They are no doubt sweating profusely and dying of thirst. Perhaps the most surprising detail of all in this story is the fact that these men did not drink the water themselves on their way back to David’s camp. But they resisted that urge and now arriving back, they present themselves before David, their leader.

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“Chief, we have heard that you were thirsty for some water from the well at Bethlehem. Well, here it is – Bethlehem bottled water – guaranteed fresh!”

When you think about what those mighty men went through, it really makes you marvel. Those men – no doubt about it – were devoted to David. They loved their leader and king.

Are We Devoted to Our Leaders?

Friends, please don’t let that kind of devotion and energy for a cause pass quickly from your mind; for it is that kind of dedication to leadership that energizes both families and local congregations.

Look at the respect those three men had for David, their leader. They were willing to serve him, no matter what the cost. They did not think of themselves (Cf.

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Phil 2:20); they were only concerned for their king. Do you know anyone like that? Someone to whom it is dangerous to let your wishes be known because they will rush out and do it for you?

That’s the kind of cooperation that the writer to the Hebrews must have been longing for when he wrote these words in Hebrews 13:

Hebrews 13:17 (ESV)

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Let me tell you the way a leader’s work can be a true joy to him: It is when he can report back to the Lord that the people under his charge are growing in grace,

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zealous for service, and making daily progress in their faith. An elderly Apostle John once wrote to his friend, Gaius, and said:

3 John 3–4 (ESV)

3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Sadly, the flip side of that coin is also true. The greatest sadness a pastor or elder can experience is when the people under his charge act more like mules than sheep; stubbornly persisting in ways that are displeasing to the Lord.

The kind of respect and devotion which the three mighty men displayed for David should make us take a second look at how much respect we’ve been showing our leaders lately.

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Among the vows that we each have taken as members of this church are these words:

“I promise to support the church in its worship and work to the best of my ability.”

“I promise to submit myself to the government and discipline of the church and promise to study its purity and peace.” BCO 57-5

I think it is equally profitable to ask ourselves how much we respect the leadership in our own home. As you think about your own parents, do you honor your father and your mother?

We need to pay careful attention to the words of the Fifth Commandment as they are recorded in Exodus 20:12…

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Exodus 20:12 (ESV)

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

We would do well to observe that the 5th Commandment comes with a promise attached: that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. Therefore, it doesn’t matter whether one is talking about the family, the church, or our nation; we will not last long if we refuse to show proper respect for authority and to demonstrate devotion towards those who lead us.

But let’s return to our story in 2 Samuel 23 now for I want you to notice what kind of leader David was to his men. Standing there, holding this precious jug of water from the well at Bethlehem, David refused to drink from it. To the utter amazement of his followers and as well as

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to those of us who read this account many years later, we read in vs. 16…


16 Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried

and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it. He poured it out to the LORD…

Was David being ungrateful? After all, had not these men fought their way through enemy lines just to give David a drink? How could he respond to their gift by pouring it out; leaving nothing more than a wet spot on ground? Listen carefully to me: David was not being ungrateful. To the contrary he was showing us what a great leader looks like. For you see, David cared deeply about these men. Their lives were precious to him as we see in vs. 17.

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17 and said, “Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

David saw the devotion his men showed to him. David knew well that they had risked their lives simply to satisfy his thirst. He responded the way any of us should respond if we want to be good leaders. David offered their devotion TO THE LORD, for that is to whom all true devotion belongs.

“This water is like the blood of these men who risked their lives to get it. I am not worthy of such supreme devotion,” David thought to himself, “it belongs to the Lord alone.”

Folks, let’s be honest with each other. Sometimes we aren’t such good leaders. A

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lot of so-called leaders don’t respond the way David did. If you bring them water from Bethlehem, there is a very good chance that they will respond by saying, as Dr. Clowney has put it: “Where is the ice?” Some leaders rather like the idea that THEY are the ones who ought to be served – reminiscent of the Pope whose hand we are expected to kiss.

It’s very sad, but perhaps it is also more common than we sometimes admit. Do you remember that even the 12 disciples were found arguing amongst themselves about who was the greatest? Sadly, Jesus had to rebuke them, saying:

Mark 10:43–44 (ESV)

43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.

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Having been spoken to like that must have left a deep impression on the Apostle Peter. Many years later, a much more humble Peter would write:

1 Peter 5:1–3 (ESV)

1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

Likewise, sometimes even as parents, we fail to be the kind of leaders we should be. Paul knew what he was talking about when he wrote in Colossians 3…

Colossians 3:21 (ESV)

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21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

I’m reminded of one father who shared his story on Dr. Dobson’s radio broadcast some years ago (Harold Morison). He told about his own unrelenting anger, which he usually took out on his children, somehow. One Christmas, in particular, money was very tight. He discovered that his wife had taken some of their limited funds and spent $1.50 on wrapping paper. He was furious at her, but his anger bubbled over when on Christmas morning his daughter handed him a box wrapped in that same paper. For upon opening the box, he found there was nothing inside. In an instant, he flew off the handle at his daughter. He told her how stupid she was to waste good paper on an empty box. He gave full vent to his angry emotions.

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The little girl was crushed. She began to cry and ran out of the room. That was when his wife explained to him that the little girl had given him that box because she said she was putting all her love inside – wrapping it up for her daddy. Yes, sometimes, even parents are not worthy of their children’s devotion.

2 Samuel 23 has a way of keeping the reality of our failures very much before us. If you will look closely at this chapter, you will find a long list of names that are difficult to pronounce. These are the names of David’s Mighty Men. They are sometimes categorized under groups of 3, or 30 or 37 in all. Yet note that after you’ve waded through the Harodites in vs. 25 and the Hararites in vs. 33, and even the Ithrites in vs. 38, you come to the very last name of these mighty men in vs. 39: Uriah the Hittite.

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You remember Uriah. He was the first husband of Bathsheba – the woman King David committed adultery with many years later. And you’ll remember that when David discovered Bathsheba was pregnant, he called Uriah back from the battlefield. David hoped that Uriah, one of his trusted Navy Seals, would sleep with his wife to cover up David’s sin.

But Uriah was a faithful servant of his king. He refused to take time for such pleasures as long as the rest of the soldiers were out fighting in the open field. Uriah was supremely faithful to David, his commander-in-chief, but David was not worthy of Uriah’s devotion.

Dear friends, we serve Jesus Christ, not David. Jesus Christ is always faithful to us. (cf. 2 Tim 2:13) The Lord Jesus Christ offers to the Father the devotion that we offer to Him. He pours it out before the

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Father as a sacrifice well-pleasing to God. (Cf. 1 Cor 15:24-28; Rev 5:13; Phil 2:11)

The Bible reminds us that Jesus Christ is also a servant. Jesus Christ is the One who risks his life to bring us water from the well. Jesus Christ is the One who gives his life. For Jesus put it this way: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Drink from it, all of you.”

There ought to be no doubt in our mind that Jesus Christ is worthy of our complete devotion. Yet I wonder how many “mighty men” there are among us? Are you one of them? Are you devoted to your King? Are you devoted enough to…

Listen carefully to His Word? Do you spend time reading the Bible each day or is that something you only occasionally get around to?

Since all any of us really have is our time and money; are you willing to

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sacrifice both for the sake of his kingdom? Did the amount of money you gave to God’s church today represent a sacrifice on your part, or was it simply your loose change? What about your time? If Jesus asked you for water from the well, would you reply that your calendar was full and so maybe he should ask someone else?

What if you overheard your Lord longing for the day when you would finally admit you were wrong and seek the forgiveness of that other person whom you offended so long ago? Would his desire, his fervent prayer the night before he died, that all Christians would be one in their visible love for one another – would that have an impact on your behavior?

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For the three mighty men, whatever was important to David was important to them – even if it was only a cup of water. But friends, do you realize that Christ gave his very life for the sake of his bride, the Church? How important is the Church to you?

Of course, if you’ve never become a Christian, you probably can’t understand why someone would want to be so devoted to Jesus. No doubt the reason it doesn’t make sense to you is because you’ve spent all your time in the past trying to make yourself king instead of serving Jesus as King.

But if you’ve never learned to serve the right King, you won’t be able to serve other people. That’s because you’ll just be too busy demanding your own so-called rights so that you never

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stop and think about the ways you should be serving others.

Could it be that this is the very reason why your marriage, or your relationships in your church or your family just aren’t the way they should be? You’ve been thinking that the world should revolve around you, but evidently someone forgot to tell Earth’s almost 7 billion people about that.

Maybe what each one of us needs to discover is that our love for Jesus Christ is the source and foundation of our love for other people. What we owe to Jesus – who is Himself God – is nothing less than our complete devotion and service. Your exploits may never be recorded in Scripture as those of the 3 mighty men were. I doubt many of us here are good enough with a sword to fight our way into Bethlehem. Your deeds don’t have

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to be daring or famous – they simply must display faithful service to your King.

It was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself who spoke about these little things, which demonstrate every day whether we really do respect and follow our leader, or not. Here’s how Jesus put it:

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Matthew 10:42 (ESV)

42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

I pray that your devotion to Christ will be abundantly seen in what you choose to do with your cup of cold water.

Benediction:

2 Peter 3:18 (ESV)

18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

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