KILLING OUR LIONS
1 Chronicles 11:22–25 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was the son of a brave man from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. Benaiah killed two lion-like champions of Moab, and he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 23 He also killed an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall. Even though the Egyptian had a spear in his hand like a weaver’s beam, Benaiah went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and then killed him with his own spear. 24 These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who had a reputation among the three warriors. 25 He was the most honored of the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
In the days of King David, there are two groups of men mentioned -- the thirty, and the three.
These three mighty men were the leaders of all the military of Israel, proven warriors and champions.
The band of thirty men who were the commanders of various divisions within the military.
The first was that he killed two powerful champion warriors of Moab.
The second was that he went down and killed a lion in a pit on a day when snow had covered the ground.
A lion is a very powerful adversary.
The third great deed for which he was known was that he met and killed an Egyptian, a man 71/2 feet tall.
Romans 15:3 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
These three enemies are all used in Scripture as types, or symbols, of enemies of the believer today:
The Moabites were closely related to the Israelites and grew up beside them. But they were always enemies of Israel.
We have an enemy within us, to which we are related. In the New Testament it is called "the flesh."
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other.
The flesh is part of us that desires to satisfy sinful desires.
Egypt is a picture of the superficial impressiveness, the empty glory of the world and its ways.
When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, he was taken up on a high mountain and shown all the kingdoms of the earth, with all their power and glory. That is what is symbolized by Egypt.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.
These enemies are the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Lions can run up to thirty-five miles per hour and leap thirty feet in a single bound. A lion is able, with one blow of his paw, to smash the human skull just as you would break an egg.
The worst possible foe, the thing you have dreaded more than anything else -- that is the lion in your life.
Benaiah met the worst possible foe in the worst possible place, under the worst possible circumstances.
Proverbs 25:2"The glory of God is to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search it out,".
In the Bible, when you want to know what a man is like, look at his name, because biblical names are deliberately designed to give you a clue to the character of the individual.
Jehoiada means "God knows," and Benaiah means "God builds." Those twin truths are the secret of how to meet a lion, the worst possible foe, in the worst possible place, under the worst possible circumstances, and win.
Remember to rest upon the facts that God knows, and God builds.
Romans 8:28 "We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose,"
Hebrews 4:15a "We have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,"
He builds. He has a purpose in mind. He knows what is happening and he is using it to work toward an end.
2 Corinthians 4:17"This light affliction is but for a moment, and is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory".
Romans 8:18"I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us,".
God in Christ through the Holy Spirit in us is building -- that is the whole point. This is the secret of survival: God knows, God builds.
In time of trouble, say, "First, He brought me here. It is by His will I am in this strait place; in that I will rest." Next, "He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child." Then say, "He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow." And last, say, "In His good time He can bring me out again. How, and when, He knows." Therefore say, "I am here (1) by God's appointment, (2) in His keeping, (3) under His training, (4) for His time." Andrew Murray
God is in the business of strategically positioning us in the right place at the right time. A sense of destiny is our birthright as followers of Christ.
The right place often seems like the wrong place, and the right time often seems like the wrong time.
2 Samuel 23:23 says: “And David put [Benaiah] in charge of his bodyguard.”
God is in the résumé-building business. He is always using past experiences to prepare us for future opportunities.
But those God-given opportunities often come disguised as man-eating lions. And how we react when we encounter those lions will determine our destiny.
The size of the lion isn’t really the issue. The issue is this: How big is your God? You in Christ and Christ in you—You win!
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