Weary Hands
2 Samuel 23:9-10
This passage is a favorite of most young men. They read of the men in this passage and admire the heroics and great deeds that are being retold. But we must remember that it was God working in the lives of these individuals and not just their physical abilities that accomplished these great deeds.
In this sermon we will look at Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite who slew the Philistines until his hand was weary. From his example we will make some spiritual applications regarding the dangers of a weary hand, the solution for weary hands, and the benefits of weary hands.
1) The Danger of weary hands
- In the passage we see someone who smote the Philistines until his hands were so weary that they clave unto the sword. This speaks to us of physical exhaustion.
- The danger is that there is another kind of exhaustion we see this in a couple of passages (Genesis 27:46 ; Job 10:1)
- The danger in this is that you can fall out by the way of doing right (Genesis 45:24). This is why we are told to not be weary in well doing (Galatians 6:9 ; 2 Thessalonians 3:13)
2) The Solution for weary hands
- Eleazar’s hands held on to the sword so tight that I don’t think he could have let go of it if he had wanted to. The solution is to have your hand cleave to the sword. For us the sword is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17)
- Cleave – To stick to adhere to hold to. To unite or be united closely in interest or affection; to adhere with strong attachment.
- The word cleave is first used in regard to a husband and wife Genesis 2:24 and Israel was told to cleave unto the Lord (Joshua 23:8). It is interesting that in the book of Ruth marriage was supposed to be a rest (Ruth 3:1).
- The word of God is the solution but we must have a relationship like that of a husband and wife (Ephesians 5:25-30).
3) The Benefits of a weary hand
- Note in the passage that the people who followed Eleazar were only there to spoil. What a thought that if we stay faithful and cleave to the word. Someone may spoil after us.
- Let us look back to our command to not be weary in well doing because the latter end of Galatians 6:9 is we shall reap in due season if we faint not.