seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 Chronicles 11:15 Three of the thirty chiefs came down to David to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 16 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 17 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 18 So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the Lord. 19 “God forbid that I should do this!” he said. “Should I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?” Because they risked their lives to bring it back, David would not drink it.
Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.
Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.
Now the average guy or gal would say.... "Oh you did that for me?? Oh thank you so much!" Nope.... not David.... "God forbid" is what he said....
I'm retired.... after working for 50 years.... I'm on a little fixed income.... happy. Here come the holidays. My daughter and her hubby are spending a ton of money. Now I found out... they're spending it on me! "Because they want too!" Hubby and I aren't supposed to argue about it.... I just don't need anything so bad that she should need to work hours and hours away from her family to pay it off. On the other hand.... if I took it without complaint.... she might just have to pay a therapist to complain about me... what's a mom to do????
David wanted to be back home. There had to be a lot of flocks in the fields near Bethlehem. I bet he was really homesick for the simple shepherd's life. Here was David, fighting those giant hairy Philistines once again! I think his men knew that.... I don't think there was any hard feelings about David's reluctance to have his men risk their lives over homesickness.
The commentary this morning is from enduringword.com.
Into the cave of Adullam: David spent time in this cave when those who would become his mighty men first came to him in 1 Samuel 22:1-2. This passage describes something that happened either during that time or a later time of battle against the Philistines when David went back to the cave of Adullam.
The garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem: This shows how extensive the Philistines had invaded Israel in the days of Saul.
And David said with longing: Hiding in Adullam Cave, David nostalgically remembered the taste of the water from his boyhood village. He probably longed for it all the more because it seemed that he couldn’t have it.
We can be caught in the trap of these wistful longings. “Sometimes longings like his take possession of us. We desire to drink again the waters of comparative innocence, of childlike trust and joy; to drink again of the fountains of human love; to have the bright, fresh rapture in God, and nature, and home. But it is a mistake to look back. Here and now, within us, Jesus is waiting to open the well of living water which springs up to eternal life, of which if we drink we never thirst.”
So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines: In response to David’s longing – which wasn’t a command or even a request, just a vocalized longing – three of David’s mighty men decided to give him what he was longing for. They had to break through the garrison of the Philistines to do it, and to bring the water all the way back to Adullam Cave. It was a dangerous and difficult mission, but the courage and persistence of the mighty men made it happen.
Nevertheless David would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD: David was so honored by the self-sacrifice of these three mighty men he felt that the water was too good for him – and worthy to be poured out in sacrifice to the LORD. He believed that the great sacrifice of these men could only be honored by giving the water to the LORD.
The garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem: This shows how extensive the Philistines had invaded Israel in the days of Saul.
And David said with longing: Hiding in Adullam Cave, David nostalgically remembered the taste of the water from his boyhood village. He probably longed for it all the more because it seemed that he couldn’t have it.
We can be caught in the trap of these wistful longings. “Sometimes longings like his take possession of us. We desire to drink again the waters of comparative innocence, of childlike trust and joy; to drink again of the fountains of human love; to have the bright, fresh rapture in God, and nature, and home. But it is a mistake to look back. Here and now, within us, Jesus is waiting to open the well of living water which springs up to eternal life, of which if we drink we never thirst.”
So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines: In response to David’s longing – which wasn’t a command or even a request, just a vocalized longing – three of David’s mighty men decided to give him what he was longing for. They had to break through the garrison of the Philistines to do it, and to bring the water all the way back to Adullam Cave. It was a dangerous and difficult mission, but the courage and persistence of the mighty men made it happen.
Nevertheless David would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD: David was so honored by the self-sacrifice of these three mighty men he felt that the water was too good for him – and worthy to be poured out in sacrifice to the LORD. He believed that the great sacrifice of these men could only be honored by giving the water to the LORD.
“The point of David’s pouring Bethlehem’s precious water on the ground is threefold. It highlights a great act of Israelite bravery, it exalts David’s ability to inspire extraordinary loyalty, and it was recognized as an act of worship.” (Selman)
David's men would do anything for him. That's wonderful.... a Leader should know his soldiers have his back. The soldiers should know that their leader won't send them into battle on a wish or a whim. David had a whim.... his loyal troops would act on that whim.... but David did not want to put their lives in jeopardy.
I have heard it preached that David's mighty men worshiped him. IMHO....His men weren't worshiping him when they broke into the garrison and took the water. They were showing respect for their leader. If David had said he wanted his old sword that he won from Goliath.... they would have broken speed records to bring it to him. They liked him.... and on top of that.... they were in hiding... so this is pretty significant. They're in the cave.... remember what happened in one of those caves???? They were hiding in a cave and Saul came in to get a little solitude while he relived himself. That's when David snipped a piece of his robe... to prove he could have killed him but spared his life. I bet being around David was at least exciting.
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