There is a recurring fantasy that captures me – I want to be Superman! No, it’s not about flying around in a cape and a form-fitting suit. (Yes, that’s an image to forget!) What I dream about is being able to set things right, to work fast, to be unstoppable, and to kick evil in the face! Now you know a bit more about the kind of stuff that hides behind my eyes, but I’m sure you have your dreams too.

Knowing that the Superman thing is silly I’ll choose another hero for my inspiration today. His name is Eleazar, son of Dodai, and his story is briefly in the Bible. Never heard of him? Come meet him in a couple of lines in the Bible that are truly memorable.

In the book of 2 Samuel, there is a review of the ‘mighty men’ that stood with David, Israel’s warrior king. One of the men of renown is the previously mentioned Eleazar. His big moment in life is included in the list. “Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated, but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines ‘till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword.” (2 Samuel 23:9-10, NIV) The memory of that hero was captured in four words – “froze to the sword!”

In a battle with Israel’s perpetual enemy, the Philistines, most of the warriors of Israel retreated but Eleazar stood his ground, unwilling to give an inch, swinging his sword in deadly arcs that continued, over and over. As the din of battle subsided when the Philistines finally broke and ran, the others crept back to see their friend standing there exhausted and bloody.

Most remarkably, he was unable to release his grip on his sword!
He had fought with such ferocity that his tendons were locked. I imagine that they gathered around him and pried open his fingers, one by one, until the sword fell to the ground and Eleazar finally knew it was over! His tenacity inspires me. He just wouldn’t give up.

It’s silly to dream about being Superman, but I can aspire to be an Eleazar. Even if those who stand alongside of me retreat from the battle of life, the struggle for that which is of God, it is my aspiration to keep swinging the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17, NIV) I want to hang on to God’s Truth without being overcome by fear, doubt, or evil. I want to be known as a guy whose hand held onto the Sword of the Spirit!

How about you?
An engaged life will be a life that meets with battles. We do not have to go looking for trouble. Evil will come to us. A godless society will demand that we stand for truth. The challenges will keep coming. From within ourselves there will be ongoing battles with temptation. When we beat back one temptation, another arises. The nature of life is such that we have only a brief respite to savor the victories before the next wave rolls toward us.

There is a promise for would-be Eleazar’s. God, the Spirit, never leaves us on our own. We need not try to stand in our strength. The Word says that He will “strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19, NIV)

I’ll set aside my Superman fantasy and pray that I’ll be faithful, sustained by the Spirit’s strength, thanking Him that HE will not let me fall, that He will prepare a place where I can stand, grounded and with steady endurance.

If you’re weary, let me encourage you to do the same. Thank Him, renew your appreciation of His grace, breathe in the life and love of Christ, then stand ‘til your hand freezes to the sword!

The word from the Word today is a promise and challenge. “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.” (Hebrews 10:35-39, NIV)

Amen

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Video at https://www.youtube.com/@JerScott55