Defenders
These be
the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the
seat, chief among the captains; the same was
Adino the Eznite: he
lift up his spear against
eight hundred, whom he slew at one time. And after him was
Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one
of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that
were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:
He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand
clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the
people returned after him only to spoil. And after him was
Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered
together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the
people fled from the Philistines. But he stood in the midst of the ground, and
defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.
And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time
unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the
valley of Rephaim. And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines
was then in
Bethlehem. And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the
water of the well of Bethlehem, which is
by the gate! And the three mighty men brake through the host of the
Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was
by the gate, and took it, and brought it
to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the
LORD. And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their
lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty
men. And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among
three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and
slew them, and had the name among three. Was he not most
honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not
unto the first three. And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a
valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of
Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:
And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his
hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the
Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear. These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name
among three mighty men. He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained
not to the first three. And David set him over his guard. Asahel the
brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of
Bethlehem, Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, Helez the Paltite, Ira the
son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite,
Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the
Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth
the Barhumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, Eliphelet the son
of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the
Gilonite, Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, Igal the son of Nathan of
Zobah, Bani the Gadite, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite,
armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah, Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,
Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.” (2 Samuel 23:8-39)
Today’s Morsel: Today we honor
our military veterans. These are men and women who sacrificed their lives for
our freedom, the freedom of our allies, and others. This day is not to be
confused with Memorial Day, or Armed Forces Day. Veterans Day is to honor
and to pay tribute to all those who have served and are no longer on active duty.
Memorial Day is to pay tribute to all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice
while on active duty; and Armed Forces Day is to honor and pay tribute to those
who are currently serving on active duty for our freedom. When we look at
scripture, we see the list of thirty-seven of David’s mighty men. These
soldiers were willing to sacrifice their lives for the freedom of their nation
Israel. Like our veterans, history only shines a small light on what they
accomplished to insure our freedom, yet we must never forget them. As
President Coolidge said, “The nation that forgets its defenders, will itself be
forgotten.” We must never forget our defenders. Each day, let’s
honor them by showing our appreciation and thanks for their sacrifice for our
freedom.
Sing: Thanks, Thanks, I give thanks,
for all you have done. I’m so blessed, my soul have found rest, O’ Lord, I give
You thanks.
Thought For Today: Freedom is not free!
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