David’s Mighty Men (1)—Stand Firm and Don’t Give Up! - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2025

Eleazar was with David at Pasdammim. Now there the Philistines were gathered for battle, and there was a piece of ground full of barley. So the people fled from the Philistines.
1 Chronicles 11:12-13

David's Mighty Men (1)—Stand Firm and Don't Give Up!
Eleazar was one of David's warriors. His name means "God has helped." Even though many were fleeing for fear of the Philistines, this man stayed put and kept defending a field full of barley. Why? Good food must be kept away from the enemy and preserved for God's people. Also, Eleazar had learned from David and stayed with him even when others did not.

The people fled, but not Eleazar! He defended that parcel against the Philistines who had mobilized for battle. This warrior was "with David" and kept standing firm. He encouraged others to do so as well, as verse 14 shows. The Lord Jesus is absent from this present scene, but we still can be "with Him" and identify with His interests as His faithful companions, just as David's mighty men did. How? "They stationed themselves in the middle of that field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory" (11:14), or "salvation," while Eleazar's hand "stuck to the sword" (2 Sam. 23:10).

The term "mighty men" occurs in Chronicles more often than in the other Books of the Bible. God's salvation was the reward of their commitment. As others were fleeing for fear of the Philistines, these men strengthened themselves in the Lord, just as David did at Ziklag, in his dire need (1 Sam. 30:6). The strength the Lord gave was the secret of their victory.

We are all in God's school and privileged to learn from our great David, the Lord Jesus Himself. May we strengthen ourselves in the grace which is in Christ Jesus (2 Tim. 2:1) and keep standing firm!

Alfred E. Bouter