2 Samuel 23:18

2 Samuel 23:18 says, And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three.  David then spoke of Abishai, Joab’s brother, being the chief of the three.  He had slain three hundred Philistines at one time.  Verse nineteen adds, Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.  David said for this reason Abishai was the captain over the forces, but not of the first three.  Though he ruled over most, some were still equal to him in position or rank.  Some people are still placed by God in positions of power over others, but none will ever be equal to God.  Verse twenty states, And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:  Next, David referred to the actions of Benaiah who killed two lionlike men of Moab and a lion in the time of snow.  These acts were not noted because of the number of people or even animals that Benaiah killed, but because of how powerful they were.  Sometimes, it is not how many enemies of God we defeat but how powerful they are in the world that sets us aside from others.  Verse twenty-one adds, And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear.  We are told of another time when Benaiah took a sword away from an Egyptian and killed him with his own sword.  As long as we remain faithful to God, we don't have to have superior weapons to defeat our enemies.  Verse twenty-two continues, These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.  Though he was not a part of the three mighty men, he was noted by them.  Matthew Henry says for these acts that David preferred Benaiah as captain of his life-guard or standing forces.  As we engage in war against Satan and his forces today, some of us may need to guard the home front more than going out to meet them on the battleground.  Verse twenty-three concludes, He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.  David said Benaiah was more honorable than the thirty, the next group in order of power but he was not equal to the three.  No matter where we rank in God's army, we need to boldly face the enemy.  We should never seek self-glorification for serving God.