The Boundary of Blood

"...they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle." (2 Samuel 23:9)

The place was called Pas-Dammim; it’s where giants are slain by men of faith. It is mentioned only two times in the Bible. Once, when David slew Goliath, and then here, some twenty years later, when Eleazar, the son of Dodo, stood alone with David in the same field and the two of them defied and defeated an entire army.

The word means, “the boundary of blood.” In our vernacular we might say it is the cutting edge. It quite literally is the place where opposing kingdoms meet in decisive battle -- and sooner or later your presence is required there.

I cannot help but wonder if the thing that inspired Eleazar most in this particular battle, was the fact that he was standing with David at the very site where David had slain Goliath. Surely that had to stir his heart with a higher level of courage.

And, in the same manner, can we not derive even greater inspiration for our own battles – knowing that we stand with the Lord Jesus, who Himself has slain the greatest giant of them all on a hill far away?

Just as David the Giant Slayer was a fellow soldier with Eleazar the son of Dodo, Jesus is with us in the challenges we face. The inevitable outcome of His involvement in our affairs will be certain victory. Paul the apostle, when brought before Caesar in the trial of his life, later wrote, "But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!" (2Ti 4:17-18)

The same will be true for you and me -- once the Lord stands by our side, we will be able to tell the story to one and all of how we stood at the boundary of blood, living our lives on the cutting edge.