2 Samuel 23:8-17 This is the listing of David’s top men. Josheb-Basshebeth, the Tahkemonite. He was chief of the Three. He once put his spear to work against eight hundred—killed them all in a day.
9-10 Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite was the next of the elite Three. He was with David when the Philistines poked fun at them at Pas Dammim. When the Philistines drew up for battle, Israel retreated. But Eleazar stood his ground and killed Philistines right and left until he was exhausted—but he never let go of his sword! A big win for God that day. The army then rejoined Eleazar, but all there was left to do was the cleanup.
11-12 Shammah son of Agee the Hararite was the third of the Three. The Philistines had mustered for battle at Lehi, where there was a field full of lentils. Israel fled before the Philistines, but Shammah took his stand at the center of the field, successfully defended it, and routed the Philistines. Another great victory for God!
One day during harvest, the Three parted from the Thirty and joined David at the Cave of Adullam. A squad of Philistines had set up camp in the Valley of Rephaim. While David was holed up in the Cave, the Philistines had their base camp in Bethlehem. David had a sudden craving and said, “Would I ever like a drink of water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem!” So the Three penetrated the Philistine lines, drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But David wouldn’t drink it; he poured it out as an offering to God, saying, “There is no way, God, that I’ll drink this! This isn’t mere water, it’s their life-blood—they risked their very lives to bring it!” So David refused to drink it.
This story comes towards the end of David’s life when the writer of 2 Samuel is reflecting on David’s life and describing David’s mighty men. David’s top three soldiers are battle-hardened, as tough as the rocks, and ready for any challenge. These men also passionately love David as their fearless commander-in-chief and will do anything to protect or please him. Countless times, David has risked his life for the lives of his followers, and these men want to return the favor.
David is holed up in the Cave of Adullam, about 13 miles, or 25 kilometers southwest of his home town of Bethlehem. But the Philistines are headquartered in Bethlehem. After years of running, fighting, and hiding to fight again, David is sad, frustrated, and homesick. When are things going to get better? Will there ever be a time when David will not be fighting for his life? One of David’s top three hears David murmuring to himself about how much he would like a drink of water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem. Without waiting or debating, these three soldiers walk and run for three hours to reach Bethlehem. Then these men penetrate the Philistine lines, draw water from the well at the city gate, pouring it into a goat skin container, and run back to the Cave of Adullam.
When the three commanders present David with the water they have secured, David is both astounded and humbled. Never in David’s wildest dreams has he expected anyone to risk their lives in this fashion. Looking at the bright faces of his friends and brothers in battle, David begins to weep silently. This water is a gift beyond price, for these men have risked their lives to get it.
“Well, David,” one of the soldiers says, “go ahead! We’ve gotten this just for you. Is it true that this water tastes unusually good?” David looks at his friends through his tears. “Truly, I have always thought so. But this water is too precious to drink.”
“What do you mean?” the soldier asks.
“This water represents your life-blood,” David replies. “You’ve risked your very lives to bring it. For me to drink it would be sacrilege.” David embraces each of the three men and then returns to the water container. Opening the goatskin, David tips it so that the water begins to flow onto the ground. “The only fitting thing to do with this water is to pour it out as a drink offering,” David says. “For you have risked your lives to bring this water.”
When we consider the life of King David, we might think of his later failing with Bathsheba. But long before the Bathsheba incident, David was a leader who sincerely loved those serving with him, engendering deep loyalty. This story illustrates one of the reasons for that loyalty. At this point in David’s life, he possesses little apart from his weapons, his harp, and the clothes he is wearing. Sometimes feeding and watering an army presents severe challenges; yet, David doesn’t hesitate when offered the chance to satisfy a craving. Pouring that water out onto the ground is just as valid a sacrifice as if David had built an altar, slaughtered prime beasts, and had made a burnt offering.
This Christmas, are we giving ourselves or simply handing out meaningless tokens? Are we giving our time and our love? Most people are far more interested in time spent with them than they are fancy presents. And what are we giving God for Christmas? It’s easy to become so focused on getting things that we fail to understand what God wants from us. God wants our hearts, our minds, our total devotion to Him. God isn’t concerned about our financial status, our level of education, or any of the trappings of our lives.
When David poured out that water from the well at Bethlehem’s gate, he was sacrificing the most precious thing he owned. Are we so in love with God that we will willingly offer our most precious possessions? May God help us to realize that when we give Him something, we will receive far more than we have ever given. We cannot out-give God.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, here are our hearts. Please take our hearts and our lives and use us for Your glory. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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