Men of Valor: Shammah

by David Chadiwck

Did you know that in Ezekiel 48:35, God encourages Ezekiel, as Jerusalem is in ruins and God’s people await the rebuilding of the temple, that the name of the city would be Jehovah Shammah? It means “the Lord is there.”

Shammah. It is a powerful name! A name that is mentioned several times in the Bible. In the face of desolation, this name should remind each of us of God’s ever present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). But it also reminds us of friends who are always there for us, as Shammah was for David.

In Shammah’s story, he is also called “a man of valor.” Isn’t it incredible how many times this phrase shows up in Scripture? Shammah, along with Jashobeam and Eleazar, was another one of David’s three mighty men.

As the Philistines attacked the Israelites, the Jews were overwhelmed by the battle and retreated. Has that ever happened to you? Sometimes, the fight can feel so intense and overwhelming. Victory seems elusive. The enemy tempts us to retreat and back down! But Shammah was not one of those people. He did not take Satan’s bait.

Instead, Shammah courageously resisted the temptation to back down in the face of his enemies. He stood alone against the troop of Philistines and defeated them himself in a field full of lentils! He single-handedly defeated his opponents.

Many scholars feel that Shammah was motivated to fight with such ferocity because the lentil field was a reminder of what sustained his wife and family. Some think Shammah owned a home on a lentil field. As he stood in the midst of the very sustenance he needed to care daily for those he loved most, many believe he felt a supernatural motivation to fight for his king and for his family.

Men of valor fight for their families. They are protectors. They create safety and security for those around them. They live with the future in mind and seek to establish hope in the midst of hopelessness. May all men be like Shammah!

This world certainly needs more men of valor. For you men reading this today, step up and become one of them!

Men of Valor: Eleazar

by David Chadwick

Eleazar, the son of Dodo, is our next man of valor. As a side note, Dodo is not a name I would recommend naming your next child!

2 Samuel 23 gives the account of his story.

Also called “a man of valor,” Eleazar was another one of the three mighty men in King David’s inner circle. He, too, was a Benjamite, from the tribe of King Saul. Like Jashobeam, I wonder if he had to decide where his loyalties would lie, either with David or Saul and take a stand.

Eleazar was most known for fighting against the Philistines, along with Jashobeam and Shammah, the other two of David’s three mighty men. While fighting for so long with such intensity against the Philistines, he “stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword” (2 Samuel 23:10). This brought about their victory!

I love the fact that Paul refers to the Word of God as a sword (Ephesians 6:17). In Eleazar’s story, even in the midst of his fatigue, it was almost as if his hand became a part of the sword to win the battle. Because of that, Eleazar went on to be the key for that victory! I pray that all of us, and with the work of our hands, will become one with the sword, the Word of God, obeying its every command, so that we too may reign victorious in the battles of our lives.

Eleazer was also among the three who broke through the Philistine lines in Bethlehem to get a drink of Bethlehem’s clear, clean water for King David when David was camped in the caves of Abdullam.

David was so moved by their efforts that he, in humility, poured out the water as a drink offering to God. He said, “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” He refused to enjoy the water while his friends risked their lives for him. David was showing true servant leadership, not desiring to use his men for his glory but to serve them for God’s glory.

A loyal, good, and competent friend is more valuable than gold! Eleazar was that kind of friend to David.

The world needs more men of valor like Eleazar who fight for one another, protect one another, and seek to honor one another and the Lord!

My prayer for you men, today is this: may the God of all hope inspire you to develop hearts of loyalty. May your valor be displayed through your willingness to stand up for those around you.

May you always be a man who chooses to stand with conviction for God’s truth over popular opinion. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, amen!

Men of Valor: Jashobeam

by David Chadwick

Jashobeam. Also known in 2 Samuel 23 as Josheb-Basshebeth, his name means “the people return” or “dweller among the people.” He is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 27. He is today’s man of valor.

Jashobeam was one of King David’s three mighty men. A close friend and bodyguard to the king, he truly was one of the friends David could trust and return to again and again during times of joy and sorrow. He was also in charge of the first division of 24,000 men.

As Jesus had an inner circle of three (Peter, James, and John), so did King David. Could it be that this is a model for us all when it comes to friendship and relationships? To look at three very close friends whom we can trust explicitly with our hearts? I certainly think there’s a lot of wisdom in considering who these people are in your life and recognizing the faithful few who you can go to and trust for wise advice, encouragement, counsel, and wisdom.

I would also go on to argue that if you’re married, your spouse should be one of these three! Men, nothing can replace the closeness and intimacy you will find with a godly wife who you are able to turn to in good times and in bad times.

Let’s get back to Jashobeam. He was from the tribe of Benjamin, which was the smallest tribe of all the 12 tribes. But did you know this is the tribe from which King Saul came? Most assuredly, he made his loyalty known when he chose David to be the next king over the man who came from his same tribe.

Jashobeam’s father was a descendant of Korah, one of the chief architects of the rebellion against Moses in Numbers 16. Jashobeam’s father and patriarchy in his family heritage must have clearly decided to reverse the curse and not follow in the rebellious ways of his father and produced a proud son who was extremely loyal to his leader, the king.

David likely loved his loyalty to him as king and depended upon him greatly in his inner circle for wisdom, advice, and counsel. He is described in the Bible as a “man of valor.”

The world needs more men of valor like him!