Day 118 - 1 Chronicles 11

ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 118 - 1 Chronicles 11 (Loyalty Reserved for God Alone)
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"And David said with longing, "Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!"  So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless David would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD.  And he said, "Far be it from me, O my God, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? For at the risk of their lives they brought it." Therefore he would not drink it."  (1 Chronicles 11:17-19)

The above incident occurred while Saul was still alive and king and shows the extent of the Philistines control of the land based on the fact that they had a garrison in Bethlehem where David was from.  It was also most likely during the time when David was hiding from Saul in the cave of Adullam (verse 15) who sought to kill him.

As people sometimes wish for the familiar comforts during hard times, David, perhaps due to the thirst he was experiencing, verbally wished for a drink from the well of Bethlehem.   We are told that three of the thirty mighty men or bodyguards of David decided that it was worth risking their lives to satisfy the longing of their leader.

Before we look at David's response to the incredible act of the three soldiers, I want to make a quick comment on remarkable loyalty of the three men.  That kind of loyalty only is earned by a leader who has proven his love and devotion as well to his followers.  David was that kind of a leader.

Now, why did David pour out the water that his three men took from the well of Bethlehem at the risk of their own lives?  David himself acknowledged that these men put their lives in jeopardy by breaking through the camp of the Philistines, thus killing everyone that was on their way.  The answer is given by David himself:

     "Far be it from me, O my God, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood        of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? For at the risk of their          lives they brought it."  (1 Chronicles 11:19)

David did not just pour out the water on the ground; we are told that he poured it out to the Lord.  It was an act of sacrifice and worship.  David knew that such devotion as his three soldiers showed him should only be given to God. 

Have you ever had a great blessing which you felt you did not deserve to enjoy for yourself but that you needed to offer it to God?  This is how Amber and I felt and still feel about the home which God has blessed us with.  We believe that God has given us our home not just for us to enjoy but for Him to be glorified through it -  and we have seen over and over again how God has been glorified through the many people whom we have had the honor to minister to in our home.

David is one of my heroes of the faith not only because of his bravery and faith in God, but also because he was truly a great leader who inspired his men to unreserved loyalty and pointed them to God who alone deserved such devotion.