Never Was So Much Owed

February 14th, 2025

Never Was So Much Owed

2 Samuel 23:18-39

18 Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty.[h] And he wielded his spear against three hundred men and killed them and won a name beside the three. 19 He was the most renowned of the thirty and became their commander, but he did not attain to the three.

20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds. He struck down two ariels of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. 21 And he struck down an Egyptian, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and won a name beside the three mighty men. 23 He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.

24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25 Shammah of Harod, Elika of Harod, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, 27 Abiezer of Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah, 29 Heleb the son of Baanah of Netophah, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the people of Benjamin, 30 Benaiah of Pirathon, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, 31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth of Bahurim, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai of Maacah, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 Hezro[m] of Carmel, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.

Churchill

“Never was so much owed by so many to so few,” said Winston Churchill after the Battle of Britain. David must have thought the same as he reviewed this list, perhaps through tears. These men gave all for him, and God used them to save his people.

Duplication (v18–23)

Abishai is David’s nephew and Joab's brother (the one who always volunteers to kill David’s enemies). He once took on 300 with a spear, and became chief of The Thirty. Fathers told their boys stories around campfires about Benaiah, the “doer of great deeds.” Once, the people could not draw water, because a lion had gotten into the cistern. One snowy day, Benaiah slid down into the pit, took out the lion, and brought up the water. Another time, a giant Egyptian with a spear was menacing God’s people. Benaiah walked up, took the giant’s own spear, and killed him!

These stories are not only fun; they show us how the mighty men served their King. Who else killed lions, giants, and hundreds of other bad guys? David! The king has stamped his own courage and character on his men. The Mighty Men love and look up to David, and they follow his own faith-filled exploits. At the same time, did you notice which prominent name is not on the list? Joab was loyal, brave, and accomplished. But he did not share the king’s character. The King is honored by his servants who do what he does, the way that he does.

Diversity (v24–38)

These mighty men are from all over the place! They first gathered around David in the the days of his suffering, when he lived in a cave in the wilderness. “And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul gathered to him, and he became commander over them (1 Sam 22:2).” They are like a pirate crew, hailing from various hometowns, speaking in different accents, bearing a spectrum of skin tones. But they were all outcasts, and they all believed in David. So he took them in and became their leader. He bound them together and molded them into his own image, for God’s glory. They would all charge hell for him! It takes quite a King to form a people like that.

Disappointment (v39, 1–7)

We are stunned by that final name: Uriah the Hittite, Bathsheba’s husband. He was probably the youngest of “The Thirty.” We learn here that Uriah spent years serving David with the same devotion as the three men who drew him water from Bethlehem’s well. David repaid his loyalty by stealing, lying, and murdering him. We also find here the name of Eliam, Bathsheba’s father (34). These men gave everything for David, but he proved unworthy of their love. Imagine the hot shame that washed over David as he sees these names, knowing how he failed them.

Why draw our attention to such ugly disappointment? vv1–7 remind us. at his best, David was like the sun dawning on the people. Briefly but imperfectly, he showed us what a real king is meant to be. But another King was coming. Jesus is the true Mighty Man, who has received the Name above all names. When we were helpless, he stood alone to fight our enemies. He laid down his life for us at the cross, went down into the pit of death, and came back out again to bring us the water of life. He is now drawing to himself a people from every nation, tribe, and language. He binds us to his own great heart, conforming us to his image, inspiring our deepest loyalty, sending us out in a cause that will matter for eternity. What are you living for? No other purpose is worthy. All others disappoint. Serve this wonderful King.

FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT, SEE:

A Storybook Ending?