Who Are Your Mighty Men? 1 Chronicles 10-14

1 Chronicles 11:26-47 (ESV)

The mighty men were Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, Shammoth of Harod, Helez the Pelonite, Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, Abiezer of Anathoth, Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah, Heled the son of Baanah of Netophah, Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the people of Benjamin, Benaiah of Pirathon, Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, Azmaveth of Baharum, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur, Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, Hezro of Carmel, Naarai the son of Ezbai, Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a leader of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, Hanan the son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

To appreciate these list of names we have to recall two other passages of Scripture:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.,

We may not realize it but all of God’s word is written to give us profit for living for God.   We might read this list of names and wonder how this list profits us.    This list contains the names of David’s mighty men.  These were men who fought with him.  These were men who fought for him.  These were men who were valiant and courageous and extremely loyal to David, Israel and therefore to God.   That is profitable in our lives.  Why? We also might want to look at the following verses to understand this long list of just names:

Romans 1:8 (ESV)

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.

1 Corinthians 1:4-5 (ESV)

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—

Philippians 1:3-4 (ESV)

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,

Each of these verses are words Paul wrote about his mighty men who served along side him in the faith.    Faith in Christ this not a solo sport.  It is a group of people, coming together to serve Him.  We ought to give thanks for those who serve with us, along side us.  David’s mighty men were is inter circle support structure.    Take a minute today and write down the might men in your life.  Who supports you?  Who is on your list?  It might seem like just a list of names but in reality it is people God has weaved into your life to lift you up and make you the David you are.