23 Verse 18 and 2nd Samuel 23 tonight and I think we'll just take this
a verse or two at a time so verse 18 and Abishai the brother of
Joab the son of Zeruiah was chief among three and he lifted up
his spear against 300 and slew them and had the name among three
now we continue in the rest of this chapter to read about David's
mighty men David throughout much of his life was
in battle with somebody. And as we read, there were men
that came out to him, pledged their allegiance to him when
he was in exile from Israel because of Saul. And some of these men
distinguished themselves. And everything and everybody
that's excellent is just a shadow of our Savior. We see in these mighty men the
attributes of our Lord Jesus Christ. The words chief among are the first thing that catch
our attention here. Chief among. In other words,
you're among others, but you're the chief. And the number, there's
a number that comes after that. It doesn't matter in this case.
Doesn't matter how many. because among those he was among
he was chief in Solomon's song of the Savior
these same words are used chiefest among and they also are followed
by a number in Song of Solomon 5 9 it says what is thy beloved
more than another beloved O thou fairest among women. This is
a scenario where in Song of Solomon 5. Why don't
you turn over there. I want us to see this together.
Song of Solomon chapter 5 if you would please. Song of Solomon 5.9, this question
is asked, what is thy beloved more than another beloved? He's
among others. There are others who are beloved
of people. So what's special about your
beloved, O thou fairest among women? What is thy beloved more
than another beloved that thou dost so charge us? And this question
is posed by those who are answering the charge given in verse 8.
And the charge that this woman, this fairest among women, which
is the church. The charge is this, you tell
my beloved when you see him that I'm so much in love with him
that I'm sick. I'm sick. And their answer is a question.
They seem a little bit astonished that someone could love somebody
that much. That it made them physically
sick. Because that's all that's said. Just tell him I'm sick.
I'm sick with love. That's what it says. I'm so much
in love that I can't bear to not be with him. And so they
say, well wait a minute. What's so special about your
beloved? So they asked that question.
This is not normal. Other people love each other,
but not like that. What's so special about him? And here's the answer. My beloved
is white. In this regard, he's more than
others. That was the question. How is
he different from everybody else? Well, he's white. And nobody
else is. Nobody else. This is, of course,
spiritual language. Doesn't mean he's Caucasian,
that's needless to say. It means he's pure, he's holy.
He's white. In Revelation 7.13, one of the
elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are
arrayed in white? In white robes, and whence came
they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to
me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and
have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood. the Lamb Now the difference In
the one spoken of in song of Solomon and those spoken of in
Revelation there the white means the same thing It's the righteousness
of the Saints, but the difference is this beloved one. He doesn't
have to wash his robe Because he is white He is the
one That makes others white by his precious blood. It's his
character. He's holy and pure and spotless.
White as snow. White as snow. Though your sins
be as scarlet, they shall be as well. Though they be red like
crimson, they should be as white as snow because he is white. And he is our righteousness. And Ruddy. He's white and he's
ruddy. How is he chief? What is it that
this one, this mighty man pictures concerning our Savior? There's
nobody else like, he's chief among. Chief among however many
you want to name, chief. The name Adam means man, but
it's from a root word that means red, ruddy. The word ruddy in Song of Solomon
there where we read he's white and ruddy is Adam. Adam with two A's and then Adam
with an A and an O. Adam, it's just the adjective
form of the verb. Same word, it means red. So what this is simply saying
is he's holy and he's man. That's how he's chief. That's
how he's not like anybody else. He is the only man that's white,
that's holy. There's none like him. He is
more than other beloveds in that regard. And the red also It's
hard to think about that without thinking about his precious blood.
He's described in Revelation 9 13 this way. He's he was clothed
with a vesture dipped in blood and his name is called the Word
of God. You know, that's the Savior. It's only as man. Ruddy. It's only as man that
he could shed his blood for us. That's why he became a man. Listen
to Hebrews 2.14, for as much then as the children are partakers
of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same,
that through death, that through shedding his precious blood,
he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the
devil, and deliver them, those he died for. who through fear
of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily,
he took not on him the nature of angels. He can't die for angels. The angels who left their first
estate, the third part of the angels who were cast into hell
along with Lucifer, there's no redeemer for them. He took not on him the nature
of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore,
in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things
pertaining to God, especially in this sense, to make reconciliation. That's what the high priest did.
He brought an offering. He came into the most holy place
once a year, not without blood. to make reconciliation for the
sins of the people. So you see, both Ruddy's, they
go together. The only way he can shed his
blood and his vesture be dipped in blood is if he's Ruddy, a
man, a dom. And so the white one, the holy
son of God, Is also man that's how you want
to know how he's different than everybody else. He's the God
man That's how Utterly unique Utterly unique Isaiah 45 21 tell ye and bring
them near ye let them take counsel together who that hath declared
this from ancient times Who hath told it from that time, have
not I the Lord, and there is no God else beside me? What is
he more than everybody else? Everything. No God else beside
me, a just God and the Savior, the holy God of heaven and earth,
and a man, the Christ, the word that was made flesh and dwelt
among us. And listen to what he said next, and there's none
beside me. Chiefest, chiefest. The chiefest among, that's the
next line there in Song of Solomon, the chiefest among 10,000. This
is a manner of speaking by which to say he is chiefest period. When I say you're one in a million,
I don't mean by that that for every million people there's
one of you. I'm saying there's nobody like
you. That's what I'm saying. You're one in a million. And
that's what this is saying. It doesn't mean that for every
thousand people there's one of him. He's the chiefest. You're the best. You're the highest. That's what
the church is saying about her beloved there in Solomon's Song. Now our text also says of Abishai,
back in our text there in 2 Samuel, he had the name. He had the name
among them. That just simply means he had
made a name for himself. He had the name. He was the one
whose name everyone recognized as the chiefest. And then in 2 Samuel, I want
you to turn to 2 Samuel 7, you should just be able to flip back
a little ways there, to 2 Samuel 7 verse 18. 2 Samuel 7 verse
18, he had the name. Second Samuel 7 18 then went
King David in and sat before the Lord And he said who am I? Oh Lord God, you remember this
is the chapter where David said to the Lord I'm gonna build you
a house and God said no, I'm gonna build you a house Already
have and then he went in under the Lord and sat down. I like
this. I love this right here I remember when we looked into
this and A while back, David came in and sat before the Lord. We need to do a whole lot more
of that. I just don't know how else to say that. He said, Who am I, O Lord God,
and what is my house that thou hast brought me hitherto? And
this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God, that thou
hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come.
And is this the manner of man, O Lord God? And what can David
say more unto thee? For thou, Lord God, knowest thy
servant. For thy word's sake and according
to thine own heart hast thou done all these great things to
make thy servant know them. You know me. And so you must have done these things
not because of who I am. You see that, that you know your servant. Therefore,
according to your own heart, you have blessed me. And not because of my heart.
You know my heart. It's because of your heart. Wherefore
thou art great, your chiefest. Oh Lord God, for there is none
like you. There's nobody like you. Oh boy. Neither is there any
God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our
ears, and what one nation in the earth is like that people,
even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself,
and to make him a nation. He had the name. He said, there's
nobody like you. You're the chiefest. You're the
greatest. You're almighty. You're high and lifted up. And
what a name. To do for you great things and
terrible for thy land before thy people, which thou redeemest
to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods. For thou
hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people
unto thee forever. And thou, Lord, art become their
God. And now, O Lord God, The word that thou hast spoken concerning
thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it forever,
and do as thou hast said, and let thy name be magnified forever. You've done all this to make
a name for yourself, and I like it that way. Let your name be
magnified. Let everybody forget who I am
or what I ever did, and praise your name forever. Saying this, the Lord of Hosts
is the God over Israel. The only reason you mention us
at all is just to say we belong to Him. We belong to Him. Let the house of thy servant
David be established before thee. Listen to Isaiah 63 7. You can
certainly turn there if you'd like to. I haven't yet turned
to a lot of scripture. But I'll read this Isaiah 63 7 I will mention the loving kindness
of the Lord and the praises of the Lord according to all that
the Lord has bestowed on us and The great goodness toward the
house of Israel which he has bestowed on them according to
his mercies That's what that His name is wonderful because
of his mercy because of his grace. I According to the multitude
of his loving kindness, for he said, surely they are my people. He didn't say, surely
they are wonderful people. They weren't. And he said, they're mine. Children that will not lie, so
he was their savior. In all their affliction, he was
afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them. You know, I just kind of passed
over that, but in all of their affliction, he was afflicted. We have not an high priest which
can't be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He saved them in his love, and
in his pity he redeemed them, and he bared them and carried
them all the days of old. But they rebelled and vexed his
Holy Spirit, therefore he was turned to be their enemy and
fought against them. Then he remembered the days of
old, Moses and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them
up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? Where is he that
put his Holy Spirit within him, that led them by the right hand
of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them,
to save them, no doubt? But even more important than
that, to make himself an everlasting man. So each of these mighty
men of David, they all have something particular mentioned about them.
Which just happens to be spectacularly true of our Savior. In every
case. Look at the next one in verse
20, back in our text. And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada,
the son of a valiant man of Kabziel, who had done many acts. But here are the two that are,
these are the three, I guess it is, that are mentioned about
him. And again, in every case, it's something a little different,
isn't it? Something a little different
about each one of them that shows a different facet of our Lord Jesus. He slew two
lion-like 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 they say this is a shepherd's
staff, not a weapon. But he plucked the spear out
of the Egyptian's hand and slew him with his own spear. What
a picture. These things did beny the son
of Jehoiada and had the name among three mighty men. The distinctive thing about this
man is that he killed two lion-like men, he killed a lion, and he
killed an Egyptian. Well Satan is compared to a lion
it just so happens in the scripture in first Peter 5 8 be sober be
vigilant because your adversary the devil is a roaring lion walking
about Seeking whom he may devour And here's here's what you need
to do about that resist Don't challenge Don't stomp around
and say what you're going to, you know, I'm going to rebuke
Satan. No, just resist. Just stand your
ground. Resist steadfast in the faith
knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren
that are in the world. It's always good to know that
you're not alone in something. That's a blessing to me. But
the God of all grace who hath called us unto his eternal glory
by Christ Jesus After that you have suffered
a while make you perfect Satan's gonna do what Satan's gonna do
when all is said and done because of the God of all grace you're
gonna be perfect That's how it is if you belong to him It ends
with you being perfect, established, strengthened, and settled. To Him be glory. To Him be glory and dominion
forever and ever. Amen. Be vigilant and resist. Be wise as serpents and harmless
as doves and resist. Look the other way. Refuse. You know, Paul talked about crucifying
the flesh. We're selfish. We're proud. We're
self-righteous. We're evil. Recognize it. Satan has something
in us. But resist by the grace of God.
Look to Christ. That's how you resist the devil.
You flee to your shepherd. Who with the Shepherd's staff
Can disarm Our enemies Be vigilant and resist but the
Lord's the one that's gonna take care of you He will complete
you. That's the word perfect He will perfect you he will complete
you He will make you stable You'll make it to where you're not carried
about with every wind of doctrine that Satan whispers. From friend
or enemy. He'll make you strong. He'll have to do that, won't
he? He'll have to do that. And the word settle means to
lay the foundation. In other words, your house is
built on a rock. And Satan can huff and puff, the winds are
going to come and the floods are going to come. But as the
Lord said in Luke 8, 48, it cannot shake it. It cannot shake your
house. For it's founded upon a rock.
Not because it's a strong house, because it's because of the foundation.
And that rock is Christ. That's our hope. So he's going
to destroy Satan for us. He's going to crush his head.
It's already done. And then the two lion-like men,
there are some men that are lion-like, aren't they? They're like Satan.
Everybody is in a great sense, right? We all pervert the word
of God and reject God and raise up and say, I will be, I will
do this, I will do that, like Satan did. We have a satanic
nature. But there are those who are characterized
specifically in the scripture as sons of Belial. and others
who aren't. Even though in a sense we all
are satanic, there are some distinguished from the rest of the world by
that title and they're openly and actively enemies of Christ. I believe it's false religion.
I believe it's the leaders of false religion mainly because
I think the scripture is pretty strong about that. The Lord made
a clear distinction between the Pharisees and those whom they
deceived. When he spoke to the Pharisees,
there wasn't a lot of kindness. He didn't mince words with them.
He said, you're of your father the devil. He said, you've been killing
my prophets from the start and you'd kill me if you could. He said, you're going to die
in your sins because of the fact that you hate me. So he made
it clear, when he talked to sinners, the woman taking in adultery,
I don't condemn you, go and sin no more. He spoke with kindness and compassion
to sinners, and he made that distinction. These are the lion-like
men. You're of your father, the devil,
and his works are what you're doing. They prayed upon and they do
I say in past tense. They're still doing it the Ferris
that the religious Leaders of this world they still pray upon
the souls of men like Satan does They're devouring souls just
like that's what he did was do it and still does The old nature is proud and self-righteous
and evil and anti-christ just like Satan and But this is particularly
those who are just, I guess you could use the word reprobate.
The Lord said of Judas, he'd been a devil from the start.
He'd always been a devil. I would say that applies here,
wouldn't you? There are men like that. But he also killed an Egyptian. Egypt, always in the scripture,
just pictures the world. The world outside of Christ. The world whose fashion passes
away. The world as opposed to the church. That's Egypt. Come ye out from
among them. And be ye separate, saith the
Lord. Touch not the unclean. God delivering Israel from the
bondage of Egypt is a picture of God spiritually calling his
sheep out from among this world of bondage. Defiance of God you remember
when? The Lord delivered his people from Egypt Pharaoh said
who is your God and why should I listen to him? That's the world.
That's the attitude of the world Of course he delivers us by the
blood of the Passover lamb, that's how it happens And all others in Egypt who do
not have The protection, the redemption that is in the blood
of that lamb. They got to die. The Lord's gonna
kill them too. He's gonna kill the Egyptians.
He said, when I see the blood, I'll pass over you. No blood
though? Wherever he did not see the blood,
he did what Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada did. He slew an Egyptian. That's what he did. That's what he still does. And notice that he killed the
Egyptian with his own spear. You brought the very instrument
that kills you with you, didn't you? You brought it with you. You brought it with you. And the Lord said to the Pharisees
in Matthew 12, 37, for by thy words thou shalt be justified
and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. In Acts 13, 46, Paul and Barnabas
waxed bold and said it was necessary that the word of God should first
have been spoken to you. But seeing you put it from you
and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn
to the Gentiles. You're your own problem. You're gonna be shot with your
own ammo. Jonah 2.8, they that observe
lying vanities forsake their own mercy. The Scripture speaks of those
who are taken in their own snare and are fallen into the very
pit which they themselves have dug. That's what we're talking
about here. You forged and brought, paid
for, bought, forged, whatever, and brought your own, the very
spear that's going to be plunged into your own heart. David speaking
of the evil man apart from God's grace in Psalm 715 said, He made
a pit. He dug it. and has fallen into
the ditch which He made. That's what we're talking about.
His mischief shall return upon His own head. The spear that
He hates the Savior and tries to slay the Savior with, it's
going to be turned on Him. And His violent dealing shall
come down upon His own pate. That's what happens, isn't it? Lord didn't come to condemn the
world. We did a pretty good job of that ourselves. He came to
save somebody and he did. That's what he came to do. And so in all of the scriptures
we're reminded again that Christ is all. Christ is our champion. He's the destroyer of all of
our enemies and the savior of our souls. He's the chiefest
among 10,000. He's white and ruddy. He's holy,
harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners, but was made a
curse for us that he might redeem them that were under the curse
of the law. God has raised up mighty men, both physically and spiritually,
and has used them greatly. He's used other men. They'll never forget who the
chief is. Listen now, he's chosen the weak
and made them mighty through Christ. Here's why he did it, according
as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. These mighty men are named and
described so that he that glorieth might glory in the Lord. I just want to close with Jeremiah
9 23 thus saith the Lord let not the wise man glory in his
wisdom if you have if you know anything
at all it's because he gave you an understanding all wisdom comes
from him and he is the omniscient God neither let the mighty man
glory in his might There are mighty men It doesn't say nobody's
mighty, but him these are just these are called mighty men,
but you know what so we can look at them And praise him So that
men may see your exploits and glorify your father Otherwise
it's not worth talking about if he can't be glory in it then
shut up about it and Neither let the mighty man glory
in his might. Let not the rich man glory in his riches, but
let him that glorieth glory in this. You want to get excited
about something? That he understandeth and knoweth
me. If you have some wisdom, you
glory in him who is the wisdom and power of God. If you have
some strength of some kind, some power, some authority, some ability,
you glorify Him who is the wisdom and power. Unto the Jews a stumbling block,
and unto the Greeks foolishness, but unto them which are called
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Let the rich man glory in the
one, who giveth and taketh as it pleases
him. Job was rich, and then he was
not, and he blessed the name of the Lord for the giving and
for the taking. That he knoweth me, that I am
the Lord, which exercise loving kindness. What a wonderful way
to say that. He could say that love centers,
that'd be a wonderful, but love is not just an emotion. You exercise
love, don't you? He exercises loving kindness. His love is what he does for
me every moment of every day of my life. He, this is love, not that we
love him, but that he loved us and did something about it. He sent his son to be my sin
offering. He exercises loving kindness and judgment. Always remember, judgment's not
always wrath. Judgment is mercy too. If you're
in Christ, he judges you. Here's his judgment of me justified. And righteousness in the earth.
Oh boy, you don't see much of that, do you? You don't see much
of that. Remember who's keeping the books.
That's what helps me sleep. Remember who he exercises righteousness
in the earth. Doesn't look like it much, does
it? But he does. For in these things I delight,
saith the Lord. May God give us grace to glory
in him alone. Let's pray.