HIS HAND STUCK TO HIS SWORD

"He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him  only to plunder." (2 Samuel 23:10)

When David gathered fighting men together, he had no regard for mere appearance. At one time, when he escaped from Achish king of Gath, and king Saul as well, he went to the cave of Adullam. There men gathered themselves to him. They were described as "every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented" (2 Sam 22:2). They were four hundred in number, and proved to be a powerful army. Also, among the army of David, were some "mighty men" that excelled in battle. The top three men were Adino the Eznite, Eleazar the Ahohite, and Shammah the Hararite. Their exploits were impressive. Adino, the first in rank, "killed eight hundred men at one time" (v 8). Shammah, ranked third, defended a field of lentiles single-handedly against a troop of Philistines, killing them all while he stood in the middle of the field (v 11-12). The second man, Eleazar also was a great warrior. On one occasion, the Philistines defied Israel, and gathered for an epochal battle against them. The occasion was especially critical, for all the men of Israel had "gone away." But at this point, Eleazar stood up. He did not sound a trumpet to rally the armies of Israel, but stood against the enemy all alone. He pressed the battle against the Philistines, attacking them with his sword. He fought so long and hard that "his hand grew tired and froze to the sword" (NIV). But that day, the Lord wrought a great victory over the enemy through a single man, while all the others were "gone away." The other men finally returned, but there was no battle to fight when they came back. All they could do was take the "spoil," or, as the NASB reads, "strip the slain." There remain battles that will have to be fought alone – battles where brethren are not present, and the fearful run away. But in such times, God is looking for a person through whom He can bring the victory. It may be a mighty warrior like Eleazar, or Shammah. It may be a judge like Samson, with only the jawbone of an ass in his hand. It may be a young boy named David facing a ferocious giant who was a seasoned warrior. It may even be an Apostle like Paul who has the entire world as his field. But rest assured, the person who launches out against the forces of darkness in the power of the Lord will not be disappointed. God is still working great victories through solitary people of faith.