God's Grip

October 24th, 2010

The Reverend Michael J. Garber

"So Eleazar rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand grew weary, and his hand clove to his sword; and the Lord won a great victory that day."  II Samuel 23:8-10 (Matthew 25 & Philippians 4)

     In the Book of Second Samuel there is listed a roster of men who are commonly recognized as "King David's Mighty Men of Valor" - which is about the same thing in our time as someone being presented the Congressional Medal of Honor.  These were men of extraordinary bravery, courage, and strength, but they were also men possessed of acute administration and management skills for they were those David chose to oversee the nations and peoples he conquered.

     Among those listed is a man by the name of Eleazar.  Certainly, to be on this roster he must have distinguished himself in many ways and places.  But only one of his heroic deeds made its way into the scriptural record - here in Second Samuel and in the middle section of the Book of Chronicles. 

     This incident took place when a company of Philistine soldiers attacked a patrol of David's men.  During the skirmish, the Philistines pressed their numerical advantage and David's men were forced to flee - everyone, that is, except Eleazor who stayed behind, backed into a barley field, and attempted to set up a rear-guard action.  He drew his sword and struck out at the swarming Philistines until, we are told, "His hand grew weary."  Then we are told, "His hand clove to his sword.,"  This circumstance, of course, severely limited his options as a person can hardly surrender unless he can drop his weapon!  Thus, Eleazar was forced to fight on even after his recourses and resolve were gone.  But then, the Biblical author tacks on a surprise.  He writes, "And the Lord won a great victory that day!"

     Herein is couched the implied assumption that if it were not for the curious cramp in his hand, this man of valor might have surrendered or cut and run.  After all, why should he continue with all his comrades either dead of fled?  But, by the simple expedient of "Cleaving his hand to the sword," the Lord kept him fighting long enough to secure the victory.  Thus, "The victory was the Lord's!"

     Now this ancient story, probably embellished and somewhat exaggerated, appears more like folklore than actual history.  But, we must not dismiss it out of hand because woven into the fabric of this old yarn are threads of biblical insight into both the nature of humanity and the way God works in the world.

     This is to say that ever since the first Saver-Toothed-Tiger was fought to a standstill, human beings have been impressed by acts of bravery and courage.  However, do we really dare believe that such deeds always arise by themselves or out of nowhere - or is it possible that there is some kind of paralyzing force lurking in the background which allows us to continue past the point of exhaustion and does not allow us to easily abandon the goals we pursue?

     Consider church membership, for example.  It is no secret that church membership is a nuisance.  There are demands on our energy, our time, and our wallets and purses.  And, beyond even that, the Bible unabashedly tells us that our responsibilities and obligations are even greater.  We are to "Clothe the naked, feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, visit the sick, love our neighbors, and forgive our enemies!  Whew - and Eleazar thought he was "tired!"

     Certainly, in all of this there will be frustrations, set-backs and sorrows.  But this nothing new in our religion.  Remember, the Apostle St. Paul became disillusioned, weary and wanted to quit.  yet he wrote, "But the love of Christ constrains me!"  Remember the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus, spent and weary, uttered, "Father, if it by Thy will, take this cup from Me!"  Evidently both Paul and Jesus (along with a host of others numbered among the faithful) appeared to be afflicted with the same strange paralysis which the soldier of old encountered;  that is, they could not simply drop, set down, or put aside the high purposes to which they had pledged themselves - those ideals and values which St. Paul one described as "Lovely, noble and of good report."

     And so, if you find yourself discouraged, disillusioned, disenchanted, frustrated, weary and wanting a way out and yet you cannot quite turn loose, then at least consider the possibility that God had His grip on you!

Amen