When David Livingstone was working in Africa, some friends wrote to him saying, “we would like to send other men to you. Have you found a good road into your area yet?“ Livingstone wrote back, “If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don’t want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all.”

As great as David was, he did not stand alone. Surrounding him was a group of mighty men who did some incredible exploits. They were committed to David and his kingdom. We read of them in 2 Samuel 23:8-39. So what characterised these men? This passage tells us that there were two important marks of these mighty men: They were called to David, and they were committed to his cause. As followers of Christ we are called to Christ and His cause.

David’s men were not captured slaves who grimly fulfilled their duty. They were willing warriors who served out of devotion to David. The love these men had for David can be seen in the incident described in 23:13‑17. David was hiding from Saul in the cave of Adullam. The Philistines were in Bethlehem, David’s home town. David thought back to the cool, clear water of the well at Bethlehem from which he had used to drink as a boy. So, perhaps without thinking, he exclaimed, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!” (23:15).

It was certainly not a command. Probably David would not even have shared his desire if he had known that these men would risk their lives to fulfil it. Nevertheless he mentioned his craving and, like lovers who listen for a hint of a gift to give to their beloved, three men slipped away and brought the precious gift to David.

David was so touched that he could not drink the water, but rather he poured it out to the Lord (23:16‑17). He thus acknowledged the depth of the devotion of these men and his own deep appreciation for their love. David knew that these rugged warriors loved him enough to die for him.

It’s how it works, they were there for David’s success.

They were men from difficult backgrounds and hardened by life’s experiences. These men were not your ‘nice guys’ down the road, but hardened by life. They were men who had been oppressed under the reign of Saul. They were in debt. They were discontented. It was a motley crew which gathered to David in the cave. They were men with problems, with things in their pasts to overcome, but they came to David and he accepted them and trained them into his loyal, fighting troops.

It’s so true to say that today that many don’t want to lay down their lives at the feet of another, to be discipled or trained, but rather they feel that they have something to say. Here is a wonderful humble lesson to being mighty.

I love their commitment which overcame the odds by faith in God. So 23:8, 9‑10, 11‑12, 18, 21 (a 7 1/2 foot giant, according to Chronicles). In every case these mighty men faced insurmountable odds but note 23:10, 12: “the Lord brought about a great victory.” These men weren’t considering the odds for a victory, they were looking to God for a victory.

Let’s face it, the so called odds are against us when we serve Christ. The world tells us we are weak and outnumbered. We face situations which seem overwhelmingly against us. There are always enough people sitting on the side lines pointing out the size of the giants in the land and what we can’t do. We need some mighty men whose commitment to the advancement of the Kingdom of God overcomes the so called odds by demonstrating faith in the living God.

A commitment which endures exhaustion. See 23:10. Eleazar was so tired he couldn’t open his hand after the battle was over. I don’t know how long it took Adino the Eznite to knock off 800 men on one occasion or how he did it (23:8), but you can be certain that he was exhausted when it was over. You can count on being tired if you commit yourself to serve Christ, not tired of serving, but tired in serving, but it is a great feeling to go to bed at night exhausted from advancing the Kingdom of God.

A commitment which spurns the attitude of the crowd. In 23:9-12 the Israelite warriors had fled. The people of God were in retreat. If you had taken a vote, it would have been a landslide in favour of surrender, however these mighty men ignored the majority and stood alone for God. The cowards returned to gather the spoils (23:10). They benefited from the courage of these men of whom they would have called fools a few hours earlier. If the church is going to go forward and conquer for Christ, it can’t be operated as a democracy. The majority will often capitulate to the world but God is looking for mighty men of commitment who will spurn the attitude of the crowd, who will take a stand for Christ and win great victories for Him.

It will mean a commitment when it comes to taking the initiative. These mighty men were not passive. They were not just on the defensive, they were on the offensive as well. In 23:20‑21, it’s impressive enough to kill a lion in a pit, but to do it on a snowy day! Wow! Most of us would have been glad enough to leave it alone had we happened upon a lion in a pit on a snowy day, but this guy, Benaiah, went after the lion and killed it! He also went after the 7 1/2 foot Egyptian who had a spear: “May I borrow that please? Thank you.” Bam!

Do you know what is one of the greatest blights in the church today? Passive men! Chuck Swindoll once asked a Christian counsellor what was the number one problem he faced in counselling Christian families. Without hesitation the counsellor replied, “Passive males.”

Men, why is it, that with many of you, your wife must take the initiative in spiritual things? Why is it, that if the children are going to receive any spiritual training in the home, your wife must be the one to do it? We need mighty men in the church who will take the initiative in spiritual leadership. That does not mean barking commands at your family! It means setting the example in love for Christ and in serving your family and others.

Will it be a commitment which risks life itself? If need be, yes. These mighty men all risked their lives because of their commitment to David and his Kingdom. As a comfortable Christian it’s hard to relate to that kind of dedication. I don’t know whether you or I will ever have to face the possibility of risking our lives for the cause of Christ, but  I do know this, if you have been a convenience Christian, one who attends church when it’s convenient, who supports the cause of Christ financially when it’s convenient, who is willing to serve Christ when it’s convenient, then you won’t risk your life for the cause of Christ if it ever comes to that.

Here’s a scary prayer. Lord make me like one of David’s mighty men.