Love For A Leader

A. 2 Sam. 23:8, tells of an event in David's life. David did not make it to the top by himself. He was a
great king, but the Bible tells us he did not achieve that greatness by himself. David's success was
not the result of his own efforts. 2 Sam. 23, points out that David had many people who helped him
and one special group were the soldiers know as David's "Mighty Men." Of those soldiers there was a
group of extra valiant and heroic men known as "The 30." And out of that group there were three who
were extra special. They were Adino, Eliazar, Shimah. Astonishing feats of valor beyond the normal.
Adino killed 800 enemy soldiers in one day. Eliazar slew an entire army single handedly. Shimah by
himself killed an entire company of Philistines.
1. One day David and these three men were hiding in the cave of Adullam when David makes rash statement. VS. 15, "Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!" That's David's hometown and at that time the city was occupied by Philistines. These three men sneak down and get David a large pail of water water from that well, and bring water to David. When David discovers what they did, he put the pail of water aside and said in VS.17, "Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this!" Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?" And David would not drink it. And it says, " Such were th exploits of the three mighty men." He's not being rude. He's expressing his genuine gratitude for these men. It's David's way of saying, "Your are more important to me than a drink of water from that well. And I will not drink of that for which you almost gave your life." These are the men who made David successful.
a. Back in 1 Sam. 22:1-2 is a statement about the beginning days of David when King Saul was
trying to kill David. Fleeing. Done nothing wrong. Been God's man doing Gods will. VS. 1-2,
says, "David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers And his father's
household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt
or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were
with him." That number later grows to 600.
(A) During Saul's reign things had not gone well for many. These mighty men came from those
who were distressed and outcast for whom life had not been good. They went from the
bottom of life's debre pile to become so mighty they could crush 800 of God's enemies. How? The answer is found in 1 Sam. 22:2, "David became their leader." They had fallen in love with a leader blessed by God. They loved God and made the commitment to follow God's chosen, even to their own death. They had a cause, purpose, commitment. They became mighty soldiers because they loved and followed David. They were committed to David, David was committed to God and God made them mighty and invincible.
(1) David and his men are hiding in a cave in the desert of En-Gedi when Saul and 3,000 soldiers appear. Saul is hunting David. They stop outside this cave and Saul goes into the cave to relieve himself. Takes off his royal robe and sword and while he is squatted down in the cave David's men say to David, "Kill him." Instead David reaches over and cuts off a tassel from the robe. = After Saul leaves the cave they ask David, "Why didn't you kill Saul?" In 1 Sam. 24:6, David tells them why, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the Jehovah." David's respect for God teaches an important lesson about loyalty.
(2) They travel to the Desert of Ziph and Saul pursues them there in his maniacal desire to kill David. That night David and Abishai go down into Saul's camp. Abishi once downtrodden is now a man of great courage who killed 300 in one day and is the leader of "The 30." They find Saul asleep and in 1 SAM 26:8-9, Abishai said, "Let me strike him just once, it will not take a second blow." David's answer is, "Do not destroy him! For no one can lay a hand on LORD's anointed and be guiltless?" David could killed Saul, snuck out of the camp and been King of Israel the next day. They had to be impressed with David's integrity, trust and love for God.

(B) These men were impressed with David's courage. As a boy he killed the Philistine giant
Goliath with a sling and a stone. He had been a great, heroic leader in King Saul's army.
They loved David because of his integrity, commitment, courage. When they brought David
water from Bethlehem and he refused to drink it, that's when they really knew how much he
loved them. Only a selfish, loveless leader would have drank that water and then asked for
more.
(1) We have a horrible problem in our nation today. Leaders in the Senate and Congress who are selfish, arrogant and have no integrity. No concern for you or me. Place heavy taxes, rules and regulations, burdens without batting an eye. Their only concern is sel findulgince, featherbedding, lining their own pockets, raising own salaries. Live a life of luxury and ease at your expense. Dare you to do anything about it. They scorn, disdain, mock your belief in God, the integrity and Morality of the Bible. They do every thing possible to take away your religious beliefs, rights and freedoms. They discourage you because they don't want you to require the same stands of them.
(2) But in David they not only found a man of Integrity who loved them, but they found something greater. They found in David a man of hope. They came to David downtrodden, abused and hopeless. And he inspired and enabled them to rise from despair to become mighty warriors.
b. Now, I've said all that to say this. I hope you will listen close and be encouraged. We have people here today with great potential, ability to rise up and be mighty in God's Kingdom. You may be tired, discouraged, because of strife caused by evil men who hurt this congregation. But you can go from being tired and discouraged to victory over sin and circumstance. And you do it the same way those people we've been talking about in the Bible. They fell in love with a great leader, and they became totally committed to that leader.
(A) You too can fall in love with Jesus, the greatest leader and make the same total
commitment to Him. A commitment of all you have and all that you are and become the
mightiest army your neighbors have ever seen. But there are no short cuts. No quick fixes.
No broad easy roads to travel. It comes only by commitment to Jesus and no other way. It
will require, on your part, a life changing, redirecting commitment of all you have, all you are.
(1) Jesus is easy to love. He has more integrity in His little finger than David had in his entire body. David was never flogged because of his love for you. David was never nailed to the cross for you. Not one time did Jesus ever sin or violate His integrity with God. Not Once!
(2) In the wilderness Jesus fought Satan 40 days and 40 nights and won. Satan is far
larger, stronger than Goliath could have ever been. Yes David cared. But, Jesus
cared more. In Jno. 15:13, Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that he
lay down his life for his friends." That wasn't just talk, because He really went to the
cross and did it!
(B) He cares for you more than anyone else, and in Matt. 11:28-30, He speaks these words to you: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
(1) He offers you hope beyond your wildest dreams. Victory in both this life and the life to come. He came to give you hope, esteem and dignity. To make you a child of God. Here is a Leader you can love, trust, depend on, and He will give you the greatest gift of all. His love, His devotion and eternal life.
(2) Acts 20:32.

Spur - 09/21/03, am