Then the Spirit came on Amasai, who was chief of the thirty, [and he said], "We are yours, David, and on your side, you son of Jesse: peace, peace be to you, and peace be to your helpers; for your God helps you." Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.
Next, these men, no doubt many of them, followed David because of  his personal excellencies . They had heard of him--of what he was in his youth, what he had been at home, and at court, and in the army, and in the day of battle. He had behaved admirably everywhere, and these warriors had heard of it. I should not wonder if some of them remembered that, when he was a youth and ruddy, he came forth with his sling and stone and smote the giant foe of Israel on the forehead. Perhaps they had heard of all his mighty acts that he did when, as Saul's captain, he went in and out before the host and did valiantly in the name of the Most High. And when they heard of his gentleness, and of his courtesy, and of all the many virtues which adorned him, making him so greatly different from those leaders of freebooting bands who were so common in that land, I do not wonder if they enthusiastically gave themselves up to be the loyal followers of this David the son of Jesse. A good soldier should have a good captain: a good captain deserves good soldiers. These men of war argued well when they enlisted under David. But how shall I commend the Lord Jesus Christ to you that are of a noble spirit? Was there ever any like unto Him? Who among the good, the great, the brave, the beautiful, can be likened unto Him? He left the courts of heaven that He might save men. Love brought Him from glory to be the Redeemer of His enemies! Being found in fashion as a man, He gave Himself up to death, even the death of the cross for love of men. All His life long He did valiantly for the Lord His God, in all holiness and righteousness, defeating every temptation and overcoming all evil, and He ended His labor by going up to the cross to enter into personal duel with death and hell, therein overthrowing all the powers of evil on the behalf of His people. Oh, could I paint His face, and could you see it as it is beheld by the eyes of God, you would all be enamored of Him! Oh, Could all men know how good He is, how gracious He is, as some of us do know; even if they only went to that partial extent, surely no men would stand out, but the Prince Immanuel would win all hearts! All these young men and all the vast multitude who gather to this Tabernacle would gladly take up their cross, and follow after Jesus at once, if they had any idea of His surpassing excellence. O my soul, how wouldst thou rejoice if men would come at once to Jesus! Oh to hear you all say, “We also will be with Jesus in the day of His derision and His scorn; for we see what He is, and there is none like Him. He shall be our King and our Captain, for He is the Chief among ten thousand, and the altogether lovely.” He, being such a One, and so worthy of the anointing which He has received of God, I do as His recruiting sergeant commend Him to every one here. Oh, that you would all become His true followers at once; for He deserves the love and loyalty of every one of you. If ye would be safe and happy, come to my Lord, and be henceforth His servants. If ye would fight a good fight, enlist beneath this glorious “Captain of our salvation.”
