Fellowship Past the Boundaries • 2 Samuel 23

59:10 Teaching begins

Notes

We looked at how David found Mephibosheth son of Jonathan and invited him to his table, where he dined with the king like he was one of his sons. What an amazing opportunity to see a man of God up close, to see the grace of God in his life in the smallest of details.

What if you take that relationship with God and multiply it many times? Then you have a group of people who experience a deep, vital, and satisfying fellowship. There aren’t many of these guys, but that’s not significant. Because of their fellowship with God and with each other they are incredibly significant far beyond their number.

We’re looking at the basis of this fellowship, which is humility and the fear of God, and the result of that fellowship, which is the Lord working mightily though people who depend upon Him. Then we see the guy who wasn’t part of that fellowship, and why he wasn’t part of it.

If you think this is cool, imagine, you could be a part of a fellowship like this. This is not an exclusive membership, like the Avengers. First they invite you, and you’re required to have a super-power and maybe be a little conflicted. This membership is open and even unlimited, but it is dependent on one thing, that you pursue your relationship with Jesus Christ.

It’s a fellowship past the normal boundaries.

I’m reading in 2 Samuel 23 (to verse 7).

1. David did what God told him to do: rule His people in the fear of God, vv. 1-7.

A. These are David’s last words. Probably they are his last prophecy that he wrote in the form of a song.

1. You would expect last words to be significant. You’re about to step out of this world and go to God.

2. How much more significant is it when these are the last words that God speaks through you?

B. David identifies himself in three ways.

1. David son of Jesse. That’s how he started life, not as a shepherd, soldier, musician, or king. Before God we are just people.

2. God took David son of Jesse and exalted him. He raised him on high from a boy shepherd, to rule as king over God’s people. He also exalted David to do this by giving him the Holy Spirit to lead him and empower him.

3. He also calls himself the sweet psalmist of Israel.

a. Moses wrote five books of prophecy, history, law, instruction, construction, and songs. There’s just a trickle of Scripture after him for about 500 years. Then with David there is a huge outpouring of Scripture in the form of songs and history. Other writers prophesied in song form, including Asaph, Heman, Ethan, and the sons of Korah.

b. What David wrote is sweet, pleasant and satisfying to your soul. When you want to draw near to God you don’t go to Moses, you go to David. You find the heights of worship and the depths of suffering in the Psalms. You find prophecy about Jesus, interlaced with pursuing a vital relationship with God.

C. This last word of David is what God told him, how He wanted David to rule as king: rule over men in the fear of God.

1. When you rule in the fear of God you are aware that you are under God. Being king is not for your benefit. It’s for God’s benefit, for His people’s benefit. You steward God’s people for Him, you are His shepherd to tend and care for His people. You must give account of your stewardship to God. When you stand before Him what possible benefit could you have from being unfaithful?

2. This makes you as king humble. It makes you think of God and others. Your goal is to keep your eyes on God and preserve men’s rights. No man should get away with oppressing, with cheating, with defrauding others. Preserve rights, make sure things are fair and just. Enforce the laws so everyone knows wickedness will not be tolerated. No bribes, no special favours, no corruption in government.

D. Ruling in the fear of God makes an environment where people can flourish in peace.

1. David compares it to a sunny, clear morning after a rain storm. It was blowing and lightning and thunder and pounding rain all night. This morning, no clouds, calm, peaceful. The air is washed clean. Everything is watered. The plants are going to grow like crazy.

2. When no one’s rights are violated, especially by the government, people flourish. They are productive, because they’re not worried that someone is going to take all they’ve worked for away from them or that they’ll be taxed to death. Their hard work is going to prosper for themselves and for others.

3. God wants His people to live in peace and flourish. You work hard, but it pays off! Life is good!

E. At the end of his life David marvels that God has worked in his life to make him that man who rules in the fear of God.

1. He marvels that God has made an everlasting covenant with him and his descendants that will result in perfect government in the fear of God forever. That’s salvation, that’s all my heart’s desire.

2. That is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Son of David. He will reign on David’s throne forever. The government will be upon His shoulder, and of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end. That’s not a static salvation, that’s dynamic, one that becomes better and better. Hell is static. It won’t get less and it can’t be more, forever. Salvation is dynamic.

F. Those worthless sons of Belial do not have the fear of God, they are not humble, they will be fruitless.

1. When you rule over men without the fear of God you rule for yourself. Yours is the highest will to please. It won’t be righteous. The government will provide for themselves at the public expense. They will give special favours, they will not make things safe so that people’s hard work prospers. Why work that hard if you’re going to get ripped off? Look at the governments today that do not rule in the fear of God. They are not righteous. They don’t think they are accountable to God or man. So they indulge in outrageous wickedness. What are the countries they govern like? Chaos, inflation, economically ready to fall apart and bankrupt everyone.

2. Thorns are the very symbol of sin. All you can do with them is burn them. All the kingdoms of the world ruling without the fear of God will be burned.

2. David obeyed God and created a fabulous environment for growth. We’re shown five men who flourished because of their fear of God and its result, humility, vv. 8-23.

A. First is Josheb-basshebeth. He was known for killing 800 men at one time.

1. This reminds us of when Samson killed 1000 Philistines with a donkey’s jawbone. Why did he kill that many men? Because he had to. Josheb probably had to face overwhelming odds, and he undoubtedly saved Israel that day.

2. How did he do that? Because God obviously strengthened him. That’s what it says concerning Eleazar and Shammah: the Lord brought about a great victory. This is in the covenant of Moses. Leviticus 26:7-8 But you will chase your enemies and they will fall before you by the sword; five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall before you by the sword. Evidently Josheb believed that and trusted God to help him.

3. The fear of God results in humility, thinking about others, not yourself. Here one man’s trust and dependence on God becomes a blessing to others. Everyone benefits when one person is devoted to God.

B. Eleazar shows the same humility.

1. The Philistines outnumber Israel. Most of Israel is looking out for themselves: “I’m going to die if I stay here, I’m running.”

2. David stays and so Eleazar stays. In the fear of God he is thinking not of himself but David. “I can’t let him die.”

3. Eleazar severely overuses his hand to where he has a muscle spasm and can’t let go. If he loosens his grip to give his hand relief he won’t be able to grab it again. He’ll die if he lets go. So rather than think about relief he deliberately injures himself to save David, and himself.

4. This benefits all Israel. David is still alive. Israel comes back to strip the slain of armour and valuables and it humbles them. I did not have to run. I don’t deserve this. C’mon, man, know the Lord!

C. Shammah stood his ground in a plot of lentils.

1. The Philistines want that plot, they will kill for it, and Shammah says, “No you don’t.” He protects that field for Israel, not for himself, it’s not his field.

2. Shammah is alone, but he is not alone; the Lord is with him. “You can save me, and this land, and all of us.”

3. Because of Shammah’s fear of God and humility God hears him. God is with him. That benefits all Israel.

D. The three together risk their lives for David’s desire.

1. Getting David a drink from the well at Bethlehem is not a military objective that he commands them to do. Just now the Philistines control David’s village where he grew up. He’s going to fix that, but for now he’s thinking and wishing.

2. What makes these guys break through enemy lines and get David a drink of water from that well? Love and devotion for David that comes from the fear of God and humility.

3. David responds with humility and the fear of God. This water is not ordinary common water that you run through your body so you can urinate it out. This is sacred, pure, holy to the Lord because they are holy to the Lord. He pours it out as worship acceptable to God.

4. I hope you see that these men respect and love one another in the fear of God, and everyone is lifted on high and blessed.

E. Abishai shows us the fear of the Lord and humility.

1. He is the chief of the thirty. His skill is organisation, management, and strategy. He’s an all-rounder that makes the team much more effective through his management.

2. In some people’s eyes that’s not as impressive as killing 800 men at one time but you notice he’s no slouch. The Lord strengthened him to use his spear against 300 men at one time. It was another situation that demanded him to trust in God and fight for Israel.

3. Humility means there is no comparisons going on, not competing for the one highest slot. He has a name as well as the three. He’s not lost in their shadow, but he’s not numbered with them. They have their own thing and he’s not compared with them. “Well, 800 is the current record, and you’re not even close. You’re nothing.” He’s not trying to take them down so he can be the top guy. He likes them being the three! It’s okay to be the person God made him to be, which is, unique. He’s okay in his own skin.

F. That’s even more apparent with Benaiah, a truly one-of-a-kind person who fears God and is humble.

1. Evidently he is not impressive in his appearance, and I think he even cultivates this and uses it for advantage. He is cool-headed, daring, and resourceful as he faces overwhelming odds.

2. So he faces these two lion-like heroes from Moab. They are impressive-looking, and there are two of them. That’s like Goliath—he was impressive and that alone won battles for him. These two impressive guys see this one unimpressive guy coming towards them and they think, “This guys doesn’t know what he’s doing!” They go by appearances and don’t see his attack until it’s too late. He knows exactly what he’s doing.

3. Think cool-headed and daring: he jumps into a pit with a lion on a snowy day. You don’t have room to move, you don’t have a lot of time to mix it up with a lion, you don’t have the strength. It doesn’t look good, but don’t go by appearances. He moves quickly, and the lion is dead.

4. This Egyptian is spectacular. He’s handsome, impressive, looks dangerous. He has a spear, here comes Benaiah with a club. Where’d he get a club? It’s blunt! Not a sharp, finely crafted instrument! What’s the Egyptian thinking? “For crying out loud, this guy’s loopy! He’s not dangerous!” But then Benaiah takes the guy’s spear out of his hand and kills him with his own weapon. How do you lose your grip on your weapon? He was overconfident, obviously didn’t expect Benaiah to have the audacity to grab it! That’s cool-headed and resourceful.

5. Benaiah has honour among the thirty but did not attain to the three. He didn’t have to—He is unique at being himself with his particular skill set. He improvises well, he’s fast, he’s daring, he sizes up a person quickly, he’s deliberately modest in appearance so that people regularly underestimate him. The other guys know this: you don’t mess with Benaiah, don’t let him fool you.  You want a cool-headed, resourceful under pressure kind of guy guarding your life. David appoints him over his guard.

3. Now we’re given a list of the rest of the group known as the Thirty, vv. 24-39.

A. There are 37 in the group, but if you add all the names up there’s only 36. Isn’t that interesting? Who is the thirty-seventh guy?

B. There’s one name mentioned three times here, who is not counted in the group: Joab. He’s a different guy than the thirty. He’s out for himself.

1. David said the first guy who goes up the water shaft to get the Jebusites is going to be the army commander. Joab goes for it. He’s the top guy.

2. When David is negotiating to be king of Israel Joab kills the top man in Israel, Abner, because he had a grudge against him.

3. When David appoints Amasa commander of the army in Joab’s place, Joab kills him and keeps on being commander of the army.

4. These things really hurt David and messed up things for him. Doesn’t matter to Joab. Joab did a lot of good things, in fact, he’s a mostly good guy, but, he is out for himself, first and foremost.

C. That’s the main difference between Joab and the thirty: the fear of God and the humility just isn’t there. Joab is only for Joab.

4. So what?

A. When each person in a group pursues the fear of God and humility they can work together and really contribute, to make that group significant beyond their numbers. The size is not important, their relationship with God is important.

B. We’ve just described how the church works.

1. Each member of the church pursues their relationship with Jesus. Each member grows and becomes what God wants them to be, with a unique skill set. They can be themselves in humility and not compare themselves with one another. If you turn out like someone else and not yourself there’s something wrong. God wants to do something with you that is unique and not like anyone else. Let Him do that in you as you press on to know the Lord.

2. Each member brings their skill set to the group and looks to fit in and support one another. Jesus said, “Love one another, as I have loved you.” That love creates an environment where people can grow and flourish.

C. These men knew an exalted fellowship of love and devotion that others even in the army didn’t share. Remember Eleazar and David shared fellowship and fought together, while the rest of Israel were scared and ran away.

D. A church has the potential to be a significant force for good in the world, but only as much as each member knows and fears God in humility.

1. That means you pursue your relationship with Jesus as much as you can. David’s mighty men were first mighty in God. Then you bring yourself to the rest of the church and contribute. That’s fellowship, each part of the body of Christ building itself up in love. It’s a fabulous experience to stir one another up to grow and know God better.

2. You might be tempted to say, “How do you get in the elite group in this church, the inside group?” The only elite group is the same as David’s mighty men—the ones who serve others to their own detriment. Till you get so tired you can’t let go of your hoover, you stay long after everyone else has fled. That is the only elite group here. That is a group that has great fellowship with God and with each other.

3. Are you seeking what God wants you to be, and then doing what God wants you to do? Not, is anyone reaching out to you, but, are you reaching out to anyone? You focus on what you bring to the body and do that. There’s a list in Romans 12 of what you can do. There’s another in Ephesians 4 and 5. Read those and ask, “Lord, what are You making me to be in the body of Christ? How do I contribute to the building up of the body?”

E. To the extent that you don’t pursue your relationship with God and do your own thing you let down the group. You even betray others, like Joab, and like David did when he stopped pursuing God.

F. Fear the Lord. That is the beginning of wisdom. Seek the filling of His Spirit. Let the Lord teach you humility.

Let’s pray.