Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker
Mightiest Warriors
Without fail, I am in awe and moved to inexpressible admiration when I read about King David’s mightiest warriors in the Old Testament. The heroic achievements of “The Three” were beyond astonishing and quite deserving of a bronze star. The Bible makes it clear that their impressive accomplishments were made possible only through God who provided the strength to be successful in battle. David said, “In Your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall” (2 Samuel 22:30 NLT). The battles that were continuously won under King David’s rule will live in infamy just like the attack of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
King David’s “Elite Three” were briefly described in the Bible as follows: Jashobeam was the leader of the three and he once used his spear to kill 800 enemy warriors in a single battle. Next in rank was Eleazar who stood with valiant courage against the Philistines when the entire Israelite army fled. “but he stood his ground and fought the Philistines until his hand was so cramped that he could not let go of his sword. The Lord won a great victory that day“ (2 Samuel 23:10 GNT). Next in rank was Shammah and, once again, the Israelite army fled, “but Shammah held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory” (2 Samuel 23:12 NLT). In each recorded incident, God worked through one willing and brave man to bring an astounding victory.
Obviously, one person can make a world of difference when God is providing His supernatural strength to him/her. On Memorial Day, let’s remember with honor and reverence all the military who stood for their Country and ultimately gave his/her all. “No one has greater love than a person who lays down his life for his friends” (John 15:13 CJB). Jesus proved His love for us when He willingly gave His all on the cross. TPT reads, “For the greatest love of all is a love that sacrifices all. And this great love is demonstrated when a person sacrifices his life for his friends.”
When prompted, my father would talk about his 1944-46 tour of duty on the frontline in Germany during World War II. With clarity, he stated that he was drafted; he did not volunteer as some young men did. He was a newlywed and leaving the USA was not on his personal agenda. Nevertheless, Dad was willing to leave every thing and everyone he loved to fight for the freedom of people he didn‘t know.
We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all those who willingly gave their lives in military service for their Country. We can’t personally thank the deceased, but we can honor them in our hearts and attitudes. We can take the time to visit the hallowed grounds where their bodies have been laid to rest. We can also shake the hands of living veterans and thank them for their service, commitment, and sacrifice.
We give honor to all veterans who served and died in uniform while endeavoring to bring freedom and democracy. Without them, our lives in this Nation and our world would be a dark and frightening place to live.
The Key: May this one Nation, under God, never forget the elite men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.