Mighty Men Who Take Their Stand

I am reading the biography of Alexei Anatolyevich Navalny who was a Russian lawyer, opposition leader, anti-corruption activist and political prisoner. He founded the Anti-Corruption Foundation in 2011. He was recognised by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience and was awarded the Sakharov Prize for his work on human rights. In 2020 Navalny was poisoned with the Novichok nerve agent, and when he returned to Russia he was immediately arrested and given a long term prison sentence.  There he died. Although a video of him at a court hearing the day before his death showed he was fit and joking he died the next day.  His body has not been released and there is now evidence that he was again poisoned.  He was a mighty man who stood firmly for what he believed in.  He claimed his strength came from his Christian faith.

In the Bible, ‘mighty man’ often describes figures known for strength, leadership, or valour, with prominent examples such as:

Nimrod: A legendary hunter and builder of cities, recognised as the first powerful ruler after the flood (Genesis 10:8-12).

Gideon: A reluctant judge chosen by God, called a "mighty man of valour" before his great deeds, highlighting God using ordinary people.

Boaz: A wealthy landowner known for his kindness, generosity, and strong character, earning the title "mighty man of wealth".

David: A future king, already recognised for his bravery and warrior spirit (killing lions/bears, defeating Goliath) as a "mighty man of valour" (1 Samuel 16:18).

Samson: Though not always called "mighty man," he embodied immense physical strength, making him a legendary figure of power (Judges 13-16). 

These individuals demonstrate that "mighty man" can refer to physical strength (Samson), wealth and character (Boaz), or divinely appointed leadership and courage (Gideon, David). These men all ‘took their stand’ a being God’s people

In the Bible, the specific phrasing ‘took their stand’ or ‘took his stand’ is most famously used to describe both courageous acts of faith by God's servants. 

Moses told the Israelites at the Red Sea when they were being chased by Pharaoh’s forces, 

“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today”.  Exodus 14:13

This must mean ‘stand firm’ in their faith, and not physically, as they were then to move across the divided Red Sea.

Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite.  He was one of David’s three mighty warriors: 

“. . . he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, but Eleazar 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.” 2 Samuel 23:9-10

A parallel account in 1 Chronicles 11:14 describes how it was both David and Eleazar who ‘took their stand’ in the middle of a field of barley to defend it against the Philistines when other troops had retreated.

Shammah was also one of David's Three Mighty Warriors singled out for his bravery:

“When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them.  But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.” 2 Samuel 23:11-12

Gideon’s men quietly surrounded the Midianite camp:

“While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.” Judges 7:21

This strategic positioning, combined with blowing trumpets and breaking jars, caused the entire enemy army to flee in a panic. 

The phrase is also used to describe powerful worldly forces uniting against the Lord.  In Psalm 2 the rulers of the earth oppose the rule of the Lord and Son:

“The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, ‘Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.’” Psalm 2:2-3

The Kings and Rulers of the Earth: Psalm 2:2 and its New Testament quotation in Acts 4:26 state that "the kings of the earth took their stand" and the rulers gathered together against the Lord and His Anointed (the Messiah). The early church saw this as a prophecy fulfilled by leaders like Herod and Pontius Pilate who conspired against Jesus (Acts 4:26).   

If those opposed to God’s rule can ‘band together’ or ‘stand together’, how much more does the church need to do this today.  We need to ‘stand our ground’ on the Word of God uncompromisingly.  The Bible frequently commands believers to ‘stand firm’ or ‘take a stand’ in a spiritual sense: 

“Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,  and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:13-17

Christians are in a spiritual battle, Satan’s opposition is strong and organised. We are told to put on the full armour of God so they may be able to ’stand your ground’ against the devil’s schemes and to ‘stand firm’ after having done everything else.

Indeed our very salvation depends on our ‘standing our ground’. We must continue in the faith and not be seduced away from relying on Christ:. We encourage new Christians to learn the following passage by heart - not that we must continue in the faith:

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical bodythrough death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—  if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.” Colossians 1:19-23

All Christians should be mighty men and women who take their stand for Christ.

BVP