Tag: Not the Best But Still Better - 2 Samuel 20-24

2 Samuel 23:20-23 (ESV Strong's)

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. 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. These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and won a name beside the three mighty men. He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.

Tag:  Not the Best But Still Better

The above mention about Benaiah is taken from chapter twenty-three of Samuel’s book.   In this chapter the author is outlining the various men who assisted David in his warring and kingdom.   These men are called “David’s Mighty Men.”   They are “hero’s” of the day and their exploits are mentioned here as a worship song to God.   God is outlining for us what “mighty” men who serve His servants look like.  It should be noted that these men probably rose for David’s beginning days when he was on the run from King Saul.  Note:

1 Samuel 22:1-2 (ESV Strong's)

David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. 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. And there were with him about four hundred men.

Note that these men were in debt and in bitterness of soul.  Yet, through David’s leadership and by God’s grace, they became David’s Mighty Men.   Benaiah is probably one of these.  The writer goes out of the way to tell us that Benaiah was NOT like the top three of David’s Mighty Men, but he was still one of the best.   Since these men were warriors it must have been a little tough to hear you “almost” attained the elite status.  Yet, note where Benaiah came from.  He was not the best but he was better than the most.  He came from debt and bitterness to power and might.  This is what God can do for those who submit to him and who follow His ways.  David taught these men how to be warriors and how to follow God.  They were not just David’s Mighty Men, they were men who demonstrate God’s grace in their lives.   A man, once on the run, is now a powerful warrior for God and King and Country.   That is the power of God’s grace in the life of someone who will but trust God.