A Meditation on David’s Mighty Men
In this last of the series on David’s mighty men, we will consider the long list of names that follows the description of the first two trios, those who occupied the place of special prominence. From 2 Samuel 23:2424Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, (2 Samuel 23:24) to the end of the chapter, we have a large number of names, many of whom we know nothing about. But while we are not told the particulars of their service to David, they were well-known to him, and he includes their names here. This, too, is in keeping with the judgment seat of Christ, where no doubt many names will become prominent who were comparatively little known down here. Many having served in obscurity here will there enjoy the fullness of, “Thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly” (Matt. 6:1818That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. (Matthew 6:18)).
Asahel—Energy and Devotedness
Let us consider Asahel, the brother of Joab, first. We remember that he was killed at a comparatively young age, before David became king over all Israel. When a fight broke out between the followers of David and those who, under Abner, continued to support Saul’s son Ishbosheth, Abner and his men were defeated.
Asahel made a point of pursuing Abner, no doubt thinking that if Abner were dead, the rest would quickly make peace and follow David. But Abner was the more experienced soldier and, after remonstrating twice with Asahel, was obliged to kill him.
There are at least two lessons to be learned here. First of all, we see in Asahel the energy and speed of youth. (Scripture tells us he was “as light of foot as a wild roe”; 2 Sam. 2:1818And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. (2 Samuel 2:18).) But sometimes this energy is not directed in the right way. God cannot bless such zeal, although it is well intentioned. So, too, we may die in battle if we go forth in our own strength and without God’s mind.
On the other hand, we find that David includes Asahel in his list of mighty men. Though he died as a relatively young man, David never forgot his zeal and his devotedness. David valued the motive even if the act itself was not done with God’s mind. So we sometimes seek to act for the Lord with an energy and zeal that has much of the flesh in it. God is faithful and may not allow us to get the victory under such circumstances. However, the One who knows the heart can and will reward a right motive, and in that day when God will “make manifest the counsels of the hearts . . . then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Cor. 4:55Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. (1 Corinthians 4:5)).
Eliam—Faithfulness in the Face of Failure
Another name that is in this list is that of Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite. We will find that this man was the father of Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, with whom David committed adultery. We know too that Eliam’s father Ahithophel defected to Absalom when he rebelled against David, and when Ahithophel’s counsel was not followed, he committed suicide. We can only imagine the thoughts and feelings that must have rent Eliam’s heart over all this—how he must have felt to see his beautiful daughter’s marriage destroyed and her husband killed. No doubt he was one of the few who knew the details of the case. Yet how encouraging to see that Eliam did not waver in his loyalty to David, continuing to serve him faithfully. He is rewarded by a place in David’s list of mighty men.
This also has a solemn lesson for us. The Lord may allow wrong to be done to us or to our loved ones—serious wrong that cannot be passed over. At such times we are tested most severely as to whether we will honor the Lord, or whether we will succumb to the pain and sorrow of it all and do that which ultimately dishonors the Lord. On the human level we can understand how Ahithophel might have been influenced to follow Absalom, perhaps thinking that by his despicable conduct David had forfeited the crown. But the One who could say, “To me belongeth vengeance, and recompense” (Deut. 32:3535To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste. (Deuteronomy 32:35)), would take care of the matter. Meanwhile David was the rightful king and was to be owned as such. So today we are to honor God in all our ways, not allowing even the deepest pain to distract us from following the Lord with a full heart. We may rest assured that such faithfulness will have its reward in that day!
Nahari—Humble Service
Another name that comes before us is that of Nahari the Beerothite, armor-bearer to Joab. Here we find a man who perhaps all his life was given a relatively simple job to do, although involving a great deal of trust and also potential danger. Combined with this he was compelled to serve Joab, a man who was himself not a man of faith. But evidently Nahari did his job well, and he is rewarded for it.
Again we find a real lesson for our souls in this. We will not be rewarded necessarily for doing great things, but rather for using the particular talent that the Lord has given, doing what He wills. In Matthew 25 the man who was given two talents got the same reward as the one given five talents, for each used what he was given for the Master. May we be content to do that which may seem menial, for God rewards according to faithfulness and not gift.
Uriah—Faithful Unto Death
The last name in the list is that of Uriah the Hittite. We know how David first of all committed adultery with his wife and then used his authority as a king to have him set in the battle where he would be killed. We know too his remarkable devotedness to David while all this was going on, refusing the comforts of home while others were in conflict. We feel sad at the end of such a faithful man. Yet surely this has been, in principle, the lot of more than one devoted Christian down through the ages.
How many have been betrayed by those from whom they had a right to expect protection and support. How often selfish motives have allowed even dear Christians to take part in such treachery!
Does our blessed Master know and understand this? Indeed He does, for He was betrayed by one who had been intimately connected with Him during the whole of His earthly ministry, then forsaken by all His disciples, and eventually denied by one of them with oaths and curses. He may allow us to feel in some measure the same rejection, while reserving a reward for faithfulness under such extreme testing. May we count it a privilege to follow in His steps!
Joab—Fleshly Ambition
In closing we mention one name that occurs three times in the chapter, yet is not one of the mighty men and is mentioned only because of his connection with others. Joab’s name is most prominent in David’s history, and no doubt he performed mighty acts as well as supervising the winning of many victories.
But he was not a man of faith, and he is typical of man in the flesh. He had a great deal of ambition, no doubt a measure of ability, and also a fair degree of common sense. He could even discern at times a wrong spirit in David, but he responded using intrigue and human wisdom rather than moral power. It is sad to see such a man, so prominent in David’s various wars, yet not included in David’s list of mighty men.
At the end of his life David had to tell Solomon not to allow Joab’s hoar head to go down to the grave in peace, for he had killed two men better than himself and had shed the blood of war in peace. It seems clear from the history that both of these needless killings were motivated largely by a fear that somehow his position as captain of the host might be threatened.
May this also be a voice to us, for ambition and a fleshly desire to have the first place may in fact place us in the public eye down here, and for a time we may seem to have triumphed. However, God who knows the heart will reward according to His estimate, and He cannot reward that which has been done for self. No, all such things constitute wood, hay and stubble, and they will have to be burned up in that day (1 Cor. 3:12-1512Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:12‑15)). Let us not be envious of the present glory others may seem to get. Rather, let us quietly follow the Lord, for His approval in that day will make up for it all.
We trust the Lord will bless this meditation to our souls, that we live our lives down here in view of the Lord’s approval, rather than man’s.
W. J. Prost