Sunday May 15, 2022
I Wanna Be a DoDo
Let me introduce you to an amazing unsung hero and open your eyes to a powerful truth. His name is Eleazar, son of Dodo.
These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-Basshebeth the Tachmonite, chief among the captains. He was called Adino the Eznite, because he had killed eight hundred men at one time. And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder. (2 Sam.23:8-10)
Did you catch that truth? His hand was stuck to the sword.
The Sword
The phrase “sword of the Spirit” is found only once in Scripture, in Ephesians 6:17. The sword is one of the pieces of spiritual armor Paul tells the Ephesian Christians to put on as part of the “full armor of God” that will enable us to stand our ground against evil (Eph.6:13).
The sword is both an offensive and defensive weapon used by soldiers or warriors. In this case it is a weapon belonging to the Holy Spirit. The sword that Paul refers to here is God’s holy Word. We know from 2 Timothy 3:16–17 that the word of God is from the Holy Spirit and written by men.
God refers to His Word as a sword in Hebrews 4:12.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb.4:12)
Here the Word is described as living and active and sharper than a double-edged sword. The Roman sword was commonly made in this manner. The fact that it had two edges made it easier to penetrate, as well as to cut in every way. The idea is that of piercing, or penetrating. The Word of God reaches the “heart,” the very center of action, and lays open the motives and feelings of those it touches.
The purpose of the sword of the Spirit, the Word, is to make us strong and able to withstand the evil onslaughts of Satan, our enemy. The Holy Spirit uses the power of the Word to save souls and then to give them spiritual strength to be mature soldiers for the Lord in fighting this corrupt and evil world we live in. The more we know and understand the Word of God, the more useful we will be in doing the will of God and the more effective we will be in standing against the enemy of our souls.
God’s Word has power to change us through conviction. His Word also has power to defeat the enemy today and forever. When Christ comes in final judgment, He will speak words of power disarming our adversary once and for all. (See WORD WISDOM for a deeper study of judgment)
In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. (Rev.1:16 NIV)
The Grasp
The enemy, knowing the power of the sword, will seek to wrest it from one’s grasp. If the grasp be weak, a sly thrust may break the grasp, and then we are helpless.
It requires true heroism to hold on to principle when our enemies are arrayed against us. A true soldier will die rather than lose his sword. Eleazar’s grasp was made firmer by the conflict. We cannot stop to count the enemy nor to consider a compromise, nor to hide himself through fear of ridicule or of other evil weapons. We must put our strength into our sword for victory.
Whatever we cling to shapes the grasp and will, in proportion to the strength of the grasp, cleave unto the hand. When the sword cleaves unto the hand and the hand grows weary, we can still fight on. The sword of the Spirit has adhered so firmly to the hand of many believers that even death could not break the grasp.
His hand froze to the sword! Even in his weariness, when the battle must have seemed hopeless, Eleazar’s hand instinctively clung to his sword and would not let go! Therefore, the account says, “The Lord brought about a great victory that day.” We will never have our victory over sin and the evil one until the sword is grasped firmly in our hands and we bravely stand our ground!
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. (2 Cor.10:3-6)
I want to be a Dodo!!!
