Persevering Against All Odds (2 Samuel 22-23)

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.  The Lord brought about a great victory that day.  The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead. (2 Samuel 23:9-10)

Perseverance is a characteristic of godliness.  Perseverance says, against all odds, against my present feeling, against my weariness, I am going to press on because I believe there is something worth pressing on for.

David’s soldiers understood that they were fighting for a purpose – that their efforts weren’t in vain or simply out of loyalty to their king, David, but for the Lord.  They understood that what they were doing was for the sake of God’s kingdom and God’s glory.  So they didn’t give up.

Perseverance has been the mark of many great, spiritual leaders through the ages.  It marked Moses’ life, David’s life, Daniel’s life, and Paul’s life – just to name a few!

If you are in the service of the Lord, then you must be committed to persevering for the sake of God’s kingdom.

Perseverance is a characteristic of love, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:7.  When people show their love by persevering, others reap the benefits.  In the United States, many men and women have persevered because they loved their country and believed that their efforts were worth it.  We owe them a debt of gratitude for their service and their persistence because we have reaped the benefits of living in a nation of freedom.

Let’s strive to be ones who persevere because we believe the thing for which we’re persevering is worth it.

Father, many great men and women have gone before me as ones who didn’t give up in the face of adversity.  I want to be like them.  I want to press on, even though circumstances may be tough and the temptation to throw in the towel may be strong.  Let perseverance be a mark of my character, and let that point others to You.