Eleazar, One of David's Mighty Men

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: II Samuel 23:9,10
Psalters: 27, 359, 152, 317
Confession of Faith
  1. His fighting.
    1. Eleazar fought by himself when the men of Israel fled.
    2. Each individual has a personal obligation before God, emphasized at confession of faith.
      1. We individually vow ourselves to be united to Christ and responsible for our own religious actions.
      2. Eleazar took the sword and fought, not wasting time admonishing those who ran.
    3. Having God with him (“Eleazar” = “God is help”), he had all the allies he needed.
  2. Eleazar did not keep fighting for “his hand was weary” so he could do no more.
    1. Why weary?
      1. Because his enemies were great in number and fierce in nature.
      2. Because no one was helping him.
      3. Because Eleazar is only a man and can do no more.
    2. It was of God’s mercy that he became weary when the battle was finished.
  3. We are to learn some lessons.
    1. Eleazar’s zeal is found in that “his hand clave unto the sword;” had to pry open his grip after the battle.
      1. This demonstrates the energy with which he gripped his weapon in battle.
      2. We must hold fast to the sword of the Spirit (God’s word) intelligently and intensely.
    2. Jehovah, not Eleazar, “wrought a great victory that day.”
      1. While the victory was not won without Eleazar, it was not won by him, but by Jehovah.
      2. We must be humbly God-reliant and personally resolute.
    3. The feeble gathered courage from this display of bravery.