ONE SEEN AS BETTER THAN TEN THOUSAND

"But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city."   (2 Samuel 18:3)

The times were difficult. Absalom, David's renegade son, was trying to wrench the kingdom from his father. It appeared as though he was was gaining momentum, mustering an impressive army, and putting his father on the run. But God was not with him. God with David. At the time of our text, David was in the wilderness. They had just been refreshed by three considerate men (17:27-29). David had numbered the people who were with him, appointing captains of thousands and captains of hundreds. He then divided the people into thirds, appointing Joab, Abishai, and Ittai over each third. Then David told the people he would go with them, accompanying them in their defense of his good cause.
The people would not consent to this arrangement. They were as determined that he should not go with them as he was that he should. They reasoned that the enemy (Absalom and his army) would care nothing if they put all of David's army to flight. Even if they killed half of David's army, it would matter little to them. Absalom was after David, not his army. His soldiers would not be looking for a group of David's soldiers, for for David himself.  Thus, the soldiers reasoned, "you are worth ten thousand of us."NIV Absalom's army would consider the capture and death of David of greater value than ten thousand dead soldiers among his army. Knowing they were dependent upon David as their leader, they reasoned it was better for him to send orders and help to them "from the city," rather than journey with them at personal peril. It is further understood that David's prayers and counsel would be the primary means of helping them, not additional military forces.
Here we have a vivid picture of the manner in which the Lord Jesus sustains us in battle. While there is a definite sense in which He is with us, there is also one in which He has remained "in the city," heaven itself. He is "chiefest of ten thousand" (Song of Sol 5:10), and all the focus is upon Him. As we do battle with His enemies, He sends us help from the heavenly realms. He fulfills the prayer of the Psalmist, "The LORD . . . Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion" (Psa 20:1-2). Fight on, faithful soldier! The Lord, who is worth more than all of us, is leading us to certain victory succoring us from the city of our God!