2 Samuel 23: 9-10
"Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated, but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead" (NIV).
Imagine you are in a battle. A real battle. With the enemy screaming like wild animals. Running at you and your comrades. They swing their swords and hack down your peers, your commanders, your fellow countrymen. The stench of blood fills the air. And your comrades fall, never to breath again. The enemies comes shrieking closer and everyone around you runs. Runs for all they're worth. And what do you do?
Do you run too?
I wouldn't blame you.
I would probably run.
Eleazar did not run.
That amazes me. When things are so frightening, it's easy to run. It's even easier when everyone else does it too. Because then they won't mock you for it. In fact, it makes it harder to stand. Maybe they will mock you for standing. They'll think you're a fool. Or maybe they'll never get the chance to mock you to your face. Maybe if you stand, you'll be destroyed instead.
Because you'll be standing alone.
Eleazar stood alone with a whole band of Philistines screaming his death. He wasn't going to shame his king of the Name of his God. Because he knew his God was bigger than that. He was either going to go down fighting for his God and king. Or His God was going to give him the strength to stand. He put his life in God's hands.
He fought until his hand froze to the sword. How long would you have to fight for your hands to freeze like that? He had no one helping him. No one to watch his back. Except God. His comrades. They didn't come back until all was safe, because they only came back to strip the dead. So Eleazar either decimated the enemy, or they all retreated from one man and his God. His stamina amazes me. I wish I had that kind of energy. And that kind of courage.
Here's where it comes from.
Isaiah 40: 28-31
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow weary or tired, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (NIV).
1 Corinthians 15: 58
"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (NIV).
"Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated, but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead" (NIV).
Imagine you are in a battle. A real battle. With the enemy screaming like wild animals. Running at you and your comrades. They swing their swords and hack down your peers, your commanders, your fellow countrymen. The stench of blood fills the air. And your comrades fall, never to breath again. The enemies comes shrieking closer and everyone around you runs. Runs for all they're worth. And what do you do?
Do you run too?
I wouldn't blame you.
I would probably run.
Eleazar did not run.
That amazes me. When things are so frightening, it's easy to run. It's even easier when everyone else does it too. Because then they won't mock you for it. In fact, it makes it harder to stand. Maybe they will mock you for standing. They'll think you're a fool. Or maybe they'll never get the chance to mock you to your face. Maybe if you stand, you'll be destroyed instead.
Because you'll be standing alone.
Eleazar stood alone with a whole band of Philistines screaming his death. He wasn't going to shame his king of the Name of his God. Because he knew his God was bigger than that. He was either going to go down fighting for his God and king. Or His God was going to give him the strength to stand. He put his life in God's hands.
He fought until his hand froze to the sword. How long would you have to fight for your hands to freeze like that? He had no one helping him. No one to watch his back. Except God. His comrades. They didn't come back until all was safe, because they only came back to strip the dead. So Eleazar either decimated the enemy, or they all retreated from one man and his God. His stamina amazes me. I wish I had that kind of energy. And that kind of courage.
Here's where it comes from.
Isaiah 40: 28-31
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow weary or tired, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (NIV).
1 Corinthians 15: 58
"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (NIV).
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