A Mighty Warrior

What would king David be remembered for?  His fame began back when he was but a boy who trusted The LORD when no one else in the Israelite army would.  He believed that The LORD would give him victory over a 9-foot giant named Goliath who would mock Israel and Israel’s God.  David trusted The LORD to give him victory over this Philistine and victory was given to him.  David began a career as a mighty warrior.

These are the names of David's mightiest warriors. The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite, who was leader of the Three--the three mightiest warriors among David's men. He once used his spear to kill 800 enemy warriors in a single battle. Next in rank among the Three was Eleazar son of Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah. Once Eleazar and David stood together against the Philistines when the entire Israelite army had fled. He killed Philistines until his hand was too tired to lift his sword, and the LORD gave him a great victory that day. The rest of the army did not return until it was time to collect the plunder! Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. One time the Philistines gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of lentils. The Israelite army fled, but Shammah held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory. (2 Samuel 23:8-12 NLT)

Excellence attracts and breeds excellence.  David was excellent at war, so he attracted others around him who were also excellent at war.  This small core (three and thirty) would be key in keeping David alive, even when they were attacked by a large portion of the Israelite army.  David kept close the most mighty three.

Once during the harvest, when David was at the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty--an elite group among David's fighting men) went down to meet him there. David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem. David remarked longingly to his men, "Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem." So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the LORD. "The LORD forbid that I should drink this!" he exclaimed. "This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me." So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three. (2 Samuel 23:13-17 NLT)

How about you?  What are you great at?  Do you use that skill or gift for the glory of God?  Do you attract others who are good at the same kinds of things?  Do you all used your gifts to be useful to The LORD? Are you a mighty warrior in God’s army?