Sermons
May 25th, 2025 by Pastor Solley052525AM Soldiers Remembered
Sub. David’s mighty men
Theme: Lessons from David’s mighty men.
Text: 2 Tim 2:4
“Soldiers Remembered” 2 Tim 2:1-4
Introduction
A memorial is something that serves as a focus for the memory of a person or event. Our nation’s capital has many memorials. Memorial Day began as a day set apart to honor all those who died in the Civil War, both North and South. The now Federal Holiday has been expanded to include all those who died in all of America’s Wars as well as acknowledge all those who have served in all branches of our military. Memorial Day is a very fitting holiday and we need to give thanks and remember tomorrow.
I. The Bible has many memorials: The word itself is found 32 times in the Bible the first being connected with Moses being sent to deliver Israel from Egypt. The Jewish Passover is a memorial to be kept each year by the Hebrew people. Israel left 12 stones in the Jordan River as a memorial when they entered into the Promised Land. The last time the word memorial is used in the Bible tells us that our prayers are held up as a memorial before God. (Acts 10:4) The Bible has many memorials.
II. The Bible also has many soldiers, battles, and wars that are to be remembered: 2 Tim 2:1-4 Christian, do you know you are a soldier in the army of God and as a soldier we are engaged in a war and many battles of that war? – 2 Tim 2:3-4 – I am a soldier, I am not going to become one, I did not used to be a soldier, I am a soldier. – 2 Tim 2:3 – That tells me I am a soldier and if a soldier I must be in a war and will be found in many battles of that war.
A. This is a part of the Christian life, the spiritual warfare we are in, that many don’t like to think about and some don’t even want to acknowledge: But we do stand today on a great spiritual battlefield and the confect is fierce.
1. Why would Timothy be called to war a good warfare if that were not so? 1 Tim 1:18
2. Why else would we be given armor to wear and a weapon to use in Eph 6:11-18 if that were not so?
3. Why else would the Bible tells us that the weapons we use are not carnal in 2 Cor 10:3-4 if that were not so?
4. Brothers and sisters in Christ we are soldiers and are engaged in a great spiritual warfare:
B. The Bible has many soldiers, battles, and wars that are to be remembered: As Christians we are soldiers in those battles and wars.
III. The Bible has many soldiers that have been memorialized as well: It is good for us to take time to look at them, to be encouraged by them, and to learn from their examples. How encouraging it is to read of a young shepherd boy running to meet a giant and see how God gave the victory. How encouraging it is to read of Elijah standing before the false prophets and God sending fire from heaven and then giving Elijah the victory. How encouraging it is to read of the walls of Jericho being pressed into the earth. It is good for us to look at the soldiers and battles that are recorded in the Word of God for they do encourage us.
A. None more encouraging than David’s mighty men: 2 Sam 23:8 There is a listing of these mighty men that continues through the end of the chapter where we find 37 numbered. – 2 Sam 23:39 – There is also a record of these men in 1 Chron 11. David had of course many more men in his army, hundreds of thousands, but these men stood out, these were David’s mighty men.
B. When looking at David’s mighty men we can find examples that we are to follow today: We have much in common with them.
1. They served a king, David: We serve the King of kings, the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. They were loyal to king David: We are to be loyal to the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. They engaged in physical battles: We are engaged in spiritual battles today.
4. We have those things and more in common with David’s mighty men:
PROP: David’s mighty men do serve as an example of what we should be today. TS. For we are in the same spiritual war today and face the same enemy that they did.Body
I. Adino was one David’s mighty men who stood outnumbered: 2 Sam 23:8 Here we have a man, Adino, a man who stood outnumbered in order to stand with his king. Many times David found himself outnumbered, especially early on as we learn of his history. One against a lion and a bear would be outnumbered to me when only armed with a sling, a rod and a staff. One against a giant would be outnumbered to me when armed with only a sling and five smooth stones. One against the armies of Saul when Saul was filled with a jealous rage would be outnumbered to me. Even as David gathered an army it was greatly outnumbered when perused by king Saul and his army.
A. Adino was willing to stand outnumbered because he was standing for his king: 2 Sam 23:8 Alone against 800 is outnumbered to me. He is singular. – 2 Sam 23:8 – Where were the other mighty men? Where was the army? That didn’t matter, all that mattered was that those who stood against David had massed and there needed to be one to stand and defend the king. Adino was that one.
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B. Brothers and sisters in Christ if we are going to stand with Jesus, stand for Jesus, if we are going to stand for our King and our Lord, we are going to find ourselves to be greatly outnumbered today: In this spiritual war that we find ourselves we do stand against many. 2 Cor 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. That we was Paul and those who stood for Christ in that day and that we are all those who are willing to stand outnumbered today because they choose to stand with Jesus Christ.
1. We live today surrounded by those with corrupt minds: 1 Tim 6:5 Those minds detest God, detest Christ, detest all that is of God.
2. The Bible calls then filthy dreamers in the book of Jude: Jude 8-11 They will have the same end as Cain and Balaam and we will not meet either of them in heaven.
3. They are in an eternal fire today just as Sodom and Gomorrah burned with a physical fire: Jude 7
4. We are surrounded by far worse than those we see in the Bible today who opposed our God: The Satanic liberal agenda of our day is out of control, is completely unhinged. Our nation, our society has moved far beyond Sodom and Gomorrah.
C. When one stands for Christ they will stand outnumbered: But a few verses that encourage is. – 1 Sam 14:6 ; 2 Chron 14:11 ;
Ps 56:11 ; Rom 8:31-33
D. Adino was one of David’s mighty men who stood outnumbered: 2 Sam 23:8
II. Eleazar was one of David’s mighty men who stood with his sword in hand until he could not let it go: 2 Sam 23:9-10 This man was also outnumbered and we find the key to his victory in battle in these verses. – 2 Sam 23:9-10 – All of the others had gone away and he stood alone. – 2 Sam 23:9 – There were 800 of the enemy before Adino, how many were there we are not told.
A. But Eleazar took sword in hand and entered the fray: 2 Sam 23:10 Eleazar fought long and hard, how long we are not told but when the battle was over, when the victory won, he could not go of his sword. – 2 Sam 23:10
1. Others would have to take his hand, begin to straighten his fingers, so he could leave go of his sword: Bothers and sister, that is a mighty soldier.
2. How that man held onto his sword would have been an inspiration to all around him: It does impress me today.
B. We also have a sword that we are to take in hand and take within: Eph 6:17 ; Heb 4:12 I have a sword this morning, it is to fit into my hand, I am to be used to feeling it in my hand, I am to hold onto it, treasure it, take care of it. I have a sword this morning.
1. In the pieces of armor in Eph 6 the sword is our only weapon: Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: This my only weapon, no spear, no bow and arrow, only the sword of the Spirit.
2. We need to remember that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, they are spiritual: 2 Cor 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
3. This, my sword, is a very powerful weapon: Heb 4:12 The Greek word translated word in this verse is the word “LOGOS” and it is the very same word used of the Lord Jesus Christ in John chapter one. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Those two, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God, cannot be separated. What does that tell you this morning about the Bible, the KJB?
a. I should never want to be separated from my Bible. I never want to be separated from Jesus.
b. I should want to spend time in my Bible. I want to spend time with Jesus.
c. I should want to hold my Bible in my hands. I love the picture of Jesus holding my hand in John 10.
d. I should be familiar with everything in my Bible, all is important. I want Jesus to be familiar with all that touches me.
4. I am not to worship this book, but I hold something very special in my hands this morning and I do worship the one who gave it:
C. Every believer should cherish, should cleave to this book: We are to have as great a hold on it as Eleazar had on his sword. We can only find victory in this spiritual battle we are in daily when we know how to hold onto and use this sword. The Word of God is able to give real answer to every problem in my life if I am willing to cleave to it.
1. When I am troubled I find comfort: John 14:1-6, 26-27
2. When I begin to worry: 1 Pet 5:7 ; Matt 6:9-24
3. When I am afraid: Joshua chapter 1 ; Psalm 56
4. When I am faced with difficult decision: James 1:4-6
5. When I feel all alone and no one understands: Heb 13:5
6. When I am weary: Matt 11:25-30
7. When I doubt His love and presence: John 10:27-30
8. When I don’t want to love as I should: 1 Cor 13
9. When I feel as if I need answers right now: Psalm 27:14 ; 37:34
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10. When I don’t know how to pray: Rom 8:26-27
11. When I don’t understand my wife: 1 Peter 3:7-8
12. When I think I can do something on my own: John 15:1-4
13. When I need to feel His presence: John 14:17-18
14. When I know I have things figured out: Prov 3:5-6 ; 14:12
15. When the mountain is too high to climb: Zech 4:7
16. When I wonder if God hears my prayers: Jer 33:3
17. When I wonder if God will answer my prayers: 1 John 5:14-15
18. Even when I doubt salvation: 1 John 5:11-12 ; Rom 8:35-39
19. Even when I question His love: Rom 5:7-8
20. When standing up to preach: Mark 13:11
D. Eleazar had hold of his sword, knew how to use it, and would not let it go: May we be the same today.
III. Benaiah was one of David’s mighty men who preformed an act because it needed done: 2 Sam 23:20-23 Benaiah was close to David, part of his guard and there are two acts in these verses that I do understand. The two lion like men of Moab and the Egyptian with the spear in his hand I understand. No one guarding David would allow those ones to get close to the king.
A. It is the lion in the pit with snow on the ground that I don’t understand: 2 Sam 23:20 We are not told if they dug a pit and made a trap for the lion or if the lion fell into the pit but we know the lion could not get out and perhaps because of the snow on the ground.
1. So why not just leave the lion there? Warn people not to go near the pit, put up barriers and just leave the lion down there.
2. Why not shoot the lion with a bow and arrow? There were many archers among David’s mighty men according to 1 Chron 11.
3. Why not kill the lion with spears? We know they had those.
4. Why not wait until the snow melted: At least then Benaiah would have good footing.
5. Why did this one who guarded David need to jump into that pit and kill that lion? The only explanation I can come up with is because David needed it done and he did not have to understand everything David needed done, he would just do it.
B. We don’t, I don’t need to understand every command in the Bible, I just need to obey them: I have over the years been asked about many commands in the Bible and the answer is always the same, if the Bible commands it of me I need to obey.
1. Why do you think it is so important to be in church? The Bible commands it. – Heb 10:25 – And the Bible tells me there I need more church, not less. – Heb 10:25 – That is commanded.
2. Why do think it is so important to dress modestly? The Bible commands it. – 1 Tim 2:9 – Study dress in the Bible and you find that applies to men as well.
3. Why is it important to separate from that which is against God? The Bible commands it. – 2 Cor 6:14-17
4. Why is it important to tithe and give? The Bible commands it. – 2 Cor 9:6-7 – Study giving and you find it begins with a tithe.
5. Why is it important to keep going for the Lord even when weary? The Bible commands it. – 2 Thess 3:13
6. Why pound on Bible doctrine when others forsake it? Because the Bible commands it. – Titus 2:1
7. What is clearly commanded I need to obey and obey without question:
C. Benaiah did not question when the lion needed to be killed: There is no need to question the commands of God but there is a need to obey them.
IV. Then we have three of David’s mighty men who did something for David just because they loved him: 2 Sam 23:14-17 David had water to drink, David did not need this water, David never drank that water.
A. Why then did those three risk their lives to get David a drink from that well when he did not need it: For no other reason than their love for their king and they wanted to please their king.
1. They had to fight their way through a host of the Philistines: 2 Sam 23:16 I don’t know how many in a host be certainly a lot more than three.
2. They would have to fight as they drew the water out of the well: A battle raging about them they drew the water.
3. Then they would have to fight their way back to David: Why?
4. Why? Because they loved their king and wanted to please their king?
B. Is there any better reason to do things for our King today other than we love Him and want to please Him? Any better reason?
1. There are other reasons by the way? They are in the Bible I have before me.
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a. To be rewarded in heaven is a reason to please Jesus in what I do. That is Bible.
b. To secure answered prayer is a reason to please Jesus in what I do. That is Bible.
c. To receive the full blessings of God is a reason to please Jesus in what I do. That is Bible.
2. But can there be a better reason other than I love my Savior to please Him in what I do? What better way to show my love for Him than to please Him with all that I say and do?
3. I ought to ask myself before I do anything, can I do this and show my love for Jesus, can I do it in a way that shows my love for Jesus? What better way to show my love for Jesus than to please Him in all that I do. – 1 Cor 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
C. Those three did something just because they loved and wanted to please their king: What an example for us today.
Conclusion
David had some mighty men, soldiers of renown, and Jesus needs some mighty men today.
I. Adino was one David’s mighty men who stood outnumbered: 2 Sam 23:8 Here we have a man, Adino, a man who stood outnumbered in order to stand with his king. Many times David found himself outnumbered, especially early on as we learn of his history. One against a lion and a bear would be outnumbered to me when only armed with a sling, a rod and a staff. One against a giant would be outnumbered to me when armed with only a sling and five smooth stones. One against the armies of Saul when Saul was filled with a jealous rage would be outnumbered to me. Even as David gathered an army it was greatly outnumbered when perused by king Saul and his army.
II. Eleazar was one of David’s mighty men who stood with his sword in hand until he could not let it go: 2 Sam 23:9-10 This man was also outnumbered and we find the key to his victory in battle in these verses. – 2 Sam 23:9-10 – All of the others had gone away and he stood alone. – 2 Sam 23:9 – There were 800 of the enemy before Adino, how many were there we are not told.
III. Benaiah was one of David’s mighty men who preformed an act because it needed done: 2 Sam 23:20-23 Benaiah was close to David, part of his guard and there are two acts in this verses that I do understand. The two lion like men of Moab and the Egyptian with the spear in his hand I understand. No one guarding David would allow those ones to get close to the king.
IV. Then we have three of David’s mighty men who did something for David just because they loved him: 2 Sam 23:14-17 David had water to drink, David did not need this water, David never drank that water.