OBJECTS: A Small Sword with the Name of "Benaiah"
Written on the Blade=
I hold in my hand a small sword. It belongs to a great soldier whose
name is mentioned in the Old Testament in 2 Samuel 23. I find his
name on this sword. I don't think you have ever pronounced it. If you
have, you have forgotten it, yet the soldier whose name is written
here was great and brave and full of kindly deeds. It is too bad his
name has been forgotten. I will tell you about his deeds, and then, I
hope, after I have told you his name you will never forget him.
There once lived a priest in a little country town. Its streets were
lined with beautiful palm trees, and its well of water was deep,
cool, and sweet. This priest had a son who was so strong and brave
that he was greatly beloved by his father. Often when he talked with
his father, he said, as many other boys have said, that some day when
he was older he wanted to be a soldier. He often looked from the door
of his home upon the passing army of soldiers, with their glittering
armor and shining spears, and then, sometimes, boylike, he would
follow the procession to the city gates and wave his hand to them, as
he saw the flying banners disappear in the distance. When he grew up,
he was of the same mind, and one day never to be forgotten he said
good-by to his father and all his old friends and went a long journey
to join the king's army.
His bravery soon made him famous, so much so that he was soon
promoted to the position of captain.
Once he was met by two robbers of another nation, who thought they
could easily kill him, and so rid their nation of a troublesome and
powerful enemy, but they did not find this to be so easy a task,
because he was so strong, and his sword was so powerful, and he
fought so desperately that he not only made his escape, but left his
two persecutors dead by the roadside. He was a good soldier and
fought well with his sword of defence.
One winter's day there came a man, in great haste, crying out, "There
is a lion prowling about just outside the city gate." All the
children were greatly frightened and ran into their houses and shut
the door to keep the mad lion from entering their homes to destroy
them. It was a cold, long winter, and the lion was hungry. He had
been unable to find his food in the wild woods, and had come to the
walls of the town in search of food. Wolves and other wild animals do
the same thing. All the people were alarmed, so they sent their
messenger in haste to the brave soldier with the mighty sword. He was
urged by this messenger to make haste and come out and kill this lion
before its hunger should drive it to enter into the town and carry
off some man or woman, or perhaps some little boy or girl. When the
brave man heard this he quickly took his sword and followed the guide
to the place where he had seen the lion. Some of the people informed
him that it had fallen into a pit and was struggling to get out and
roaring with madness. When the brave man saw this, he sprang into the
pit with the lion, and after a terrible struggle killed it with his
sword. He was so handy with his sword, that I think, just as the lion
was about to make a mad rush upon him, he gave him such a mighty
sword-thrust that the lion fell back dead into the pit. So we see he
was not afraid of man or beast. He knew how to give a fatal
sword-thrust that gave him victory at last.
What was his name? Such a brave man should have his name written in
letters of iron in the temple of the mighty swordsmen of the world.
Just hear me again, and then I will tell you his name.
One day the king, his master, who was now getting old, was in the
camp. It was a hot day, and the great king felt thirsty and was eager
for a drink of water. The king thought of the clear cold spring of
water in his old home town, to which he had often gone on a hot
summer day to drink of its cool refreshing water. He had often bathed
his hands and face with it. He could even now see its waters dancing
in the sunlight before him, But alas, that old home town was in the
hands of the enemy. How could he ever get that water to his lips.
Half unconsciously he cried out, "Oh that some one would get me a
drink from that spring near to the gates of the old home town!" Our
brave soldier boy overheard this wish expressed by the king, and so
called two of his companions and said to them: "I heard the king say
just now, that he longed for a drink from the water of the well near
the gate in his old home town, where he was born. The enemy is in
possession of that town, and it may cost us our lives, but the king
is old, and it would greatly please him. Shall we try?" His friends
said, "Yes, we will, and let us start at once." So they started off
with quick steps and brave hearts. So quickly did they move that
before very long they were in sight of the little town. They could
see the soldiers moving about the spring, but, like good soldiers,
they secretly drew nearer and nearer without being seen. When the
enemy was not looking these brave soldiers slipped down, and before
the enemy knew what was happening, they thrust the flask into the
waters of the spring and let it fill itself with the good water for
the king. A shower of darts from the enemy flew about them, but they
made their escape and safely reached their camp and king. Tears
filled the eyes of the old king when he saw the flask and remembered
the perils his faithful men had passed through. He did not drink of
the water. It had cost too much. It was too precious for the lips of
man. So he poured it out on the ground, which was the way this
ancient people had of giving it to God. So you see our brave
swordsman had something more than a strong arm, that would give a
sword-thrust with mighty effect; he also had a big strong heart.
He loved the king. He served him with his heart and hand. His name is
written on this sword. What was the name of this forgotten hero? I
will read it for you, I have it written on this sword. Benaiah was
his name. David was the name of the king. The well was just outside
the little town of Bethlehem.
Let us speak his name again. Let us all repeat it together, and
often, when we think of Bethlehem at Christmastime let us repeat the
name of the brave hero, the swordsman of King David, and tell the
story of the fight for water just outside the gates of Bethlehem, and
then tell the story of the Child Jesus who came to bring us the Water
of Life from heaven, for did he not say, "Whosoever drinketh of the
water that I shall give him, shall never thirst, but the water that I
shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto
eternal life"?
In delivering this lesson hold the sword in your hand and refer to it
whenever you use the name of Benaiah the swordsman.
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