READ: 2 SAMUEL 23:1-12 TEXT: v9-10 ELEAZAR 

The writer introduces us to the second of David's mighty men
He is the second name in the first/highest group of 3 (v8-12)
As such he is admired by all those: the second group/3  (v18-23) and also by those in the lesser group/30 (v24-39)
Of course, he is mentioned here that we might admire him also, although (important) it is not so much Eleazar  we admire, but the grace/God that made him what he was.
The Spirit/God is very careful to emphasise this:
The Lord wrought a great victory that day
We don't elevate these men, but we recognise that they were the ones God used.
They and the particular details are mentioned so that we might draw encouragement for ourselves:

[i] God takes mere men and uses them to do exploits for him
[ii] The Bible requirements  e.g. faith etc., are all attainable
[iii] No matter how dark our hour might be…victory can be ours

5 lessons/draw from Eleazar as recorded here

1) ELEAZAR FOUGHT DEFIANTLY:

A/ Who did he defy? A real enemy!
He was no armchair general - no paper Reformer - fighting imaginary battles with imaginary enemies! Many like that!
Head knowledge of Reformation history, admirers of CHS and his stand in the great Downgrade Controversy etc., … but they never strike a solid blow for evangelical truth.
If we are fundamentalists - then we are to fight defiantly the real, here and now enemies/God

B/ This doesn't sound very nice. Doesn't fit in with words like "peace/harmony" Not being sarcastic here because Christians do have a duty to make every last effort to live peaceably with all men, as much as we can (Romans 12:18)

The emphasise here is on the Philistines and their desire to battle with Israel (v9) They were the aggressors and Eleazar was among those who had gathered to fight back. BIG DIFFERENCE

C/ As God's people (a peculiar people: Titus 2:14) there are things we must maintain for ourselves:
[i] The right to worship God with our families and with the saints according to our consciences as dictated to by the word/God. This right has been fought for by the COI in Egypt (Exodus) and ever since especially in the Reformation/Covenanting days
No state interference!
[ii] The right to preach the gospel without let/hindrance
Both positive/negative i.e. proclaim truth and denounce error/sin
Where these basic God given rights are being encroached upon… then we must set ourselves, as Eleazar did, in defiance of any who would stop us. Must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29)

D/ Trouble can start when we begin turning our guns (figurative) on ourselves. Not to fight with everybody on every issue
 But refusing to defy the marauding Philistine (in whatever shape) they come whether religious, secular, state sponsored etc., is not an option

2) ELEAZAR FOUGHT SINGLEHANDEDLY:
The men of Israel were gone away (v9)

A/ Very easy to fight in a crowd. A great groundswell of opinion rising up and being part of it. Nodding when others articulate your position. Not the hardest.

B/ Worse even than if the men/Israel hadn't turned up at all.
Why the men/Israel went away could be a study in itself:
Scared? Fooled? Half hearted? Careless?
All led to making it harder for Eleazar to stay on and fight
But he did

C/ What is it that'll help us to stand single handed if needs be?
Two things. In lesser order:

[i] A sense/duty and sight of the Judgement seat/Christ when we will be judged as individuals (Romans 14:12) As much as we try to bring people with us in what we do for God (Fellowship) yet this strong sense/individual duty will keep us going if others quit
[ii] Stronger encouragement again: Our Lord Jesus kept going when others quit…esp. to the Cross/Calvary
They all forsook him and fled (Mark 14:50)
Yet, He did not turn back: For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. (John 6:38)
This will encourage us more than the mere sense/duty
It was the love/Christ which constrained Paul to stand
More than that…it was the very presence/Christ:
At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me… Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me… (2Timothy 4:16) Paul was the Eleazar of the NT!

3) ELEAZAR FOUGHT CONSISTENTLY:
Until his hand was weary and his hand clave unto the sword

A/He fought until so wearied, he could fight not more and only then did he retire/battle. More strength = more fighting.
[i] He did not retire because he wearied of his reason: fighting
[ii] Nor because he listened to the ecumenical crowd
[iii] Nor because he took the weak kneed evangelical position i.e. the Philistines can be "won over" to our position
(Differentiate between people as individual sinners and false teachers. You welcome one on gospel terms. You fight the other)

B/ He fought until he could fight no more and when he retired, he retired victorious. Suggests; God gives us the grace/strength simply when we need it. No stocked up supplies/grace as if the barrel could ever run done. He giveth more grace… (James 4:6) But usually when it is needed.
This keeps us returning to the store as dependent as ever. 

C/ Unique phrase: until his hand clave unto the sword
Several interpretations:
[i] Blood outside/hand congealed round the handle (Josephus)
[ii] His grip was so strong/intensity etc., took effort to let go
[iii] Graphic way of saying he finished the job

Whatever interpretation…indicates a good job well done.
The sword typifies the word/God (Hebrews 4:12)
This is our weapon - weapons of our warfare are not carnal
(real swords/guns etc.,) but spiritual. We conquer with the Bible.
D/ Not for us to put down the Bible until our fight is over
Surrender/Bible or put it down too early and we are defenceless
Do not need anything else to fight God's battles
Can forget about secular psychology (Christian veneer variety)
If the problem is spiritual… so is the answer i.e. Bible based

4) ELEAZAR FOUGHT VICTORIOUSLY:
The LORD wrought a great victory that day

A/ God was the author/the victory…but Eleazar was His willing, courageous, faithful, stick-at-it-until-you-drop instrument

B/ Had Eleazar fought in his own strength, he would not have won such a great victory. Might have taken a few down with him at best…but down he would have gone. Died a heroic fool.

C/ Any one who is a willing instrument/hands of a Sovereign God will emerge victoriously. God cannot fail. Always wins His battles
Don't always see the overall victory immediately
Might not even see the overall victory in this life at all…
…but the overall victory will be enjoyed either sooner or later

5) ELEAZAR FOUGHT ENCOURAGINGLY:

A/ Here's human nature in one of its off days :-) Once Eleazar had done all the hard work - took all the risks etc., the very folk who had effectively abandoned him came back for the spoils.

B/ Maybe (Probably) Eleazar didn't mind. Maybe it is this that puts him up there with the mighties. His attitude and his skills
Certainly it encouraged the people
Even if you have failed in the past - come back!
People who do for Christ, do it also unto His least/his brethren

C/ In this particular aspect, Eleazar is a picture/Christ.
 As already observed, He stood alone when the others fled
We enter into the spoils of His great victory
He sees the travail/His soul and is satisfied (Isaiah 53:11)
Out of His lonely stand - where He died/rose again - we can take the spoils of forgiveness/sins and a free justification
Eleazar = God has helped Christ is our present help in time/need