1 Chronicles 11:20-47 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 11:20-47. Let’s go!
1 Chronicles 11:22-25 (NIV)
22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab’s best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.
23 And he struck down an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall. Although the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s rod in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.
24 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men.
25 He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
On verses 21-25: Continuing his description of David’s mighty men, the Chronicler turns his attention to Abishai and Benaiah. Benaiah was the son of a priest and a valiant fighter, whose exploits in verses 22-23 could be made into a movie. Benaiah was so trustworthy and loyal to David that when David’s son Solomon became king, Solomon made Benaiah his own commander-in-chief over Israel’s army (1 Kings 4:4). It’s appropriate that Benaiah’s name means “edified” for he certainly edified King David and King Solomon.
What can we learn from this? Just as David had a valiant fighter at his side in Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who performed great exploits and defeated powerful enemies on David’s behalf, likewise, you and I have a valiant fighter in our corner, Jesus the Son of God, who has defeated powerful enemies on our behalf and to this day continues to fight for us (Hebrews 7:25).
Just as Benaiah killed a giant Egyptian with the Egyptian’s own spear (v23), Jesus did something similar against Satan: the very instrument that Satan used to try to destroy Jesus – the cross – is the same instrument by which Jesus triumphed over Satan.
1 Chronicles 11:26-47 (NIV)
26 The mighty men were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,
27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
28 Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, Abiezer from Anathoth,
29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
30 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,
31 Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,
32 Hurai from the ravines of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,
33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite,
35 Ahiam son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur,
36 Hepher the Mekerathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
37 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai,
38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri,
39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,
40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Ahlai,
42 Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, who was chief of the Reubenites, and the thirty with him,
43 Hanan son of Maacah, Joshaphat the Mithnite,
44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,
45 Jediael son of Shimri, his brother Joha the Tizite,
46 Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite,
47 Eliel, Obed and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.
On verses 26-47: Here the Chronicler lists the rest of David’s mighty men. What can we learn from this? Here are three lessons I learned:
1.One of the big themes of 1 Chronicles is that it takes a team to get to where God wants us to go. Just as God did not create a people for Himself using just one generation but many generations, just as King Cyrus of Persia sent a large team to make worship possible again in Jerusalem, just as David needed a team to help him establish His kingdom,we all need a team to belong to and to help us step into our God-given destiny. God has such a team for you to be a part of: it’s called the church, the body of Christ. The more committed a team member you are in God’s church, the more you will find that God surrounds you with mighty men and women with whom you can step into your collective destiny.
2.Now don’t be fooled into thinking that God exists for your purposes and to establish your kingdom. It’s the other way around. When Jesus looks at you, He sees you as being part of His team of mighty men and women who will fight alongside Him to do great exploits for Him and to establish His kingdom in this world. In other words, you were made to be on Jesus the Son of David’s team mighty men and women.
3.By the way, notice in verse 41 who is included among David’s mighty men, and deservingly so: Uriah the Hittite. Uriah was one of David’s most loyal and capable soldiers. He was also the first husband of Bathsheba with whom David had an affair. David later had Uriah killed to cover up the affair. No one gave up more for David’s sake than Uriah. Uriah’s life shows us thatGod honours, blesses and uses unselfish, loyal and outstanding servants to build His kingdom.
Heavenly Father, thank You that You have placed on my side the greatest fighter of all, Your Son Jesus Christ. In addition, thank You for the team that You have placed in my life: my church. May I be committed member of this team and may we serve together valiantly, doing great exploits for You and watching You establish Your kingdom through us. In so doing, we will step into our God-given destinies as well. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
