Bible Characters – Part 14

Series – May 2024 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Bible Characters
Gleanings From The Old Testament
Part 13

David And His Mighty Men
So he became captain over them. —1 Samuel 22:2 NKJV

The Rejected King
After having been anointed by Samuel, David had to wait a long time before he could assume his royal power. In this respect, he is a type of Christ who, in spite of His royal dignity, does not yet wield His power publicly. He is still the rejected One here on earth. The world has cast Him out: it lifted Him up on the cross. His own people rejected Him and did not want Him to be their King. But, meanwhile, God has exalted Him to sit “at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named” (Eph. 1:20-21). He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords even now, although the public power that is linked with His exalted position will only be seen at His second coming (Rev. 19:11-16).

When David had to flee because the time for his reign had not yet come, he became the center and captain of a number of faithful followers. Similarly, Christ, although still being rejected by the world, has a company of followers: His disciples, who are very closely linked with Him. He is the Center of His own, whom He has chosen and drawn toward Himself.

This is, in a typical way, presented in the life of David in 1 Samuel 22. His brothers went to him in the cave of Adullam, but then also “everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him” (v.2). The first group offers us a picture of those who already know the Lord and realize that He calls them “My brethren” after His finished work on Calvary’s cross (Ps. 22:22; Jn. 20:17). The second group was formed by men who came to David compelled by various needs. They would represent all those who hear the Lord’s call and accept His gentle invitation: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt. 11:28).

It is very remarkable in this connection that Matthew’s gospel not only depicts Christ as the rejected King but also as the Center of all those who take refuge with Him. He tells them to come to Him. Therefore, He is not without faithful followers, and to them He declares the precious name of His Father. At present He does not maintain His rights with regard to Israel and to the world publicly, but He gathers His own out of Israel and the world. Why does He do so? The grand object in this dispensation, or time period, is to take out of all the nations a people for His name and to reveal to them the name of His Father. As the Lord announced, “No one knows … the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him” (Mt. 11:27; see Jn. 17:6,26).

Such is the work of His grace in this present day by the Holy Spirit’s action. The Spirit shows us the glories of the Son and gathers us as God’s dear children around Christ the Lord. In Matthew 18:20 we are told that Christ is the Center of His own who are gathered together in His name. They form a people set apart from the world, a heavenly company of priests who draw near to God and to the Lamb for worship.

His Leadership
However, just as David was not only the center but also the leader and captain of his followers, Christ is not only the Center but also the Author, or Chief Leader, of all His own (see Heb. 12:2). From the place where we dwell in His presence we go out into the world for His name’s sake. Our being with Him is the preparation needed for our mission as His ambassadors. We read of the disciples that the Lord called them to “be with Him and that He might send them out to preach” (Mk. 3:14).

David became the leader of his followers – the captain of all those who took refuge with him. Similarly, Christ is not only the Savior but also the Lord and Master of all those who come to Him in order to find rest for their souls. He has authority over them and wants to lead them in the battle they have to wage in this world for His name’s sake. After His resurrection from the dead, the disciples who had been with Him became mighty men of valor and very brave witnesses, so that even their enemies had to acknowledge that “they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). Living in the presence of the Lord had very much changed them and made them fit for battle. The followers of David learned from him and they changed from downhearted people into mighty men of valor.

The same thing happens to all those who labor and are heavy-laden when they take refuge with Christ. They are transformed into His image. In their battles with the enemy they go from strength to strength. Under the leadership of the risen and glorified Lord who vanquished Satan and defeated him with his own sword, they form God’s army here on earth. As we fight in His strength we gain victories to the honor and glory of Him who has slain His ten thousands. “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37).

His Army
We also read that mighty men “came to David day by day to help him, until it was a great army, like the army of God” (1 Chr. 12:22). They were courageous like lions and were as swift as gazelles on the mountains. These men recognized David’s authority over them and they helped “to make him king, according to the word of the Lord” (11:10). They were the first to subject themselves to David’s authority, although he did not yet reign over Israel. Applying this to ourselves, it would mean that we belong to the number of Christ’s mighty men when we bow to His authority and fight for the honor of His name in the day of His rejection. Although His public reign has not yet materialized, He is able and willing to lead us by His Word and by His Spirit. Do we follow our heavenly Lord?

The victories of David’s mighty men are mentioned in detail in 1 Chronicles 11. It is striking to see that the battles of David’s men are often directed against the Philistines, who are a type of nominal Christians – bearing the name only. They lived in the Promised Land but had not entered it in the way God had appointed for His people. Unlike the Israelites, they had not crossed Jordan. Therefore these uncircumcised men are typical of natural men who neither died with Christ nor are raised with Him.

In 1 Chronicles 11:12-14 one of the major feats of David’s men is mentioned, namely the defense of a field full of barley against the Philistines. Barley speaks of the resurrection life which is the fruit of Christ’s death and resurrection (consider Jn. 6). Nominal Christians do not know this blessing, and their claims to it should be challenged by the servants of the Lord.

This chapter also offers us a detailed report of an action of three heads of David’s mighty men who broke through the camp of the Philistines in Bethlehem in order to draw water from the well of Bethlehem, which was by the gate. In Scripture, water from a well speaks of the refreshing and quickening, or enlivening, work of the Spirit of God through His Word (see Jn. 4:1-42, 7:37-39). Its enjoyment is often hampered or rendered impossible by the influence of Philistines – nominal believers, unbelieving theologians. Even in the days of the patriarchs, the Philistines stopped up the wells Abraham had dug (Gen. 26:15). Therefore, it is a special valiant deed – at least in God’s eyes – to overcome these enemies and make the living water available again. Our Lord, great David’s greater Son, takes delight in these things.

All the brave men who recognized David as their captain are mentioned by name in 1 Chronicles 11–12. The same thing goes for those who follow Christ as their Lord in the day of His rejection: “The Lord knows those who are His” (2 Tim. 2:19); their heroic deeds are recorded in heaven!

By Hugo Bouter (adapted)

Look for Part 15 of this Series next month.