This is an account of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam, a Hachmonite, was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against 300 whom he killed at one time. 1 Chronicles 11:11
Though the superhero movie heyday seems to have come and gone at our house, we still occasionally ask the superhero question. If you could have one superpower, what would it be? I usually pick super strength or flight, because that’s what I think a superhero should be like. I don’t pick super intelligence or invisibility, because that’s just not my idea of a superhero. Maybe this stems from what I think is manly or masculine. I go to the gym and lift weights, trying to grow stronger, and so, I value muscle. Therefore, if I could be known for one superpower, it would be to have superhuman strength.
Today’s passages address the superheroes of David’s day. In the story, we’re told of David’s mighty men – those brave, and loyal warriors who helped David take and maintain the throne of Israel. The first is Jashobeam, who killed 300 enemies at one time. The passage goes on to describe the feats of the others, who all behaved fearlessly and heroically. These were manly men, known for their masculine, valiant behavior.
There’s a part of me that admires those men, but I’m never going to have superpowers, and I have no desire to behave as they did. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to be known for having done great things though. It just means that my understanding of great is different. If you asked me what I truly wanted to be known for, it would be this – I’d like to be known for having struggled and having recovered, turning my life over to God, and for pointing others to him. That’s the legacy I’d like to one day leave behind. Maybe that’s not necessarily manly or heroic, but it’s what I want to be.