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!’” (2 Samuel 23:15, NKJV)
We are not told in the Scriptures exactly when this event took place during David’s time as the King of Israel, but it does tell us that He and his army had come down from the stronghold of Abdullam and that a troop of Philistines had a garrison in Bethlehem (his home town). As he looked down from the high ground nearby he made this statement of desire out loud and the men around him heard it. Perhaps you have made statements like this in the past also; You longed to be married, to have a particular job, to write a book, to have a child, to move to a new neighborhood or town, or maybe even, to do something “for the Lord.” These are not bad things, these are good things that you desire. But here is what happened in David’s situation:
“So the three mighty men 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 he would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD. And he said, ‘Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?’ Therefore he would not drink it….”(2 Samuel 23:16-17)
I have read this Scripture passage, and its mirror image in 1 Chronicles 11:17-19, numeroius times in the last 25 years. I confess, I have never really understood why David would not honor the bravery of his men by drinking the water, while at the same time, admonishing them not to be so foolish as to risk their lives for a drink of water ever again.
Of course, every time I read these verses I also had the commentary of Oswald Chambers next to it to help me understand better, but I never saw it clearly, until today! Mr Chambers says this:
“I can never sanctify to God that with which I long to satisfy myself. If I am going to satisfy myself with the blessings of God, they will corrupt me. I have to sacrifice them, pour them out, do with them what any common sense man would say is an absurd waste. Take it in the case of friendship, or of blessing, or of spiritual experiences; as soon as I long to hold any of these for myself I cannot sanctify them to the Lord. David had the right idea when he poured out the water before the Lord.
What has been like the water from the well of Bethlehem to you recently? Love, friendship, spiritual blessing? Then at the peril of your soul, you take it to satisfy yourself. If you do, you cannot pour out before the Lord. How am I to pour out spiritual gifts, or natural friendship, or love? In one way only—-in the determination of my mind, and that takes about two seconds. If if I hold spiritual blessings or friendship for myself they will corrupt me, no matter how beautiful they are. I have to pour them out before the Lord, give them to Him in my mind, though it looks as if I am wasting them; even as when David poured out the water on the sand to be instantly sucked up.” (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost Devotional Bible, Reading 146)
Have you been blessed by God? If you are a born again believer you have to answer with a loud resounding YES! If you have a family that you love dearly and that loves you then you must again say YES! If the Lord has given you a ministry or a desire in your heart to do something to help proclaim the gospel to a lost and dying world then you must answer YES AND YES again! So If you have said yes to any of these things then take heed to words from this passage of Scripture and the admonition of Mr. Chambers, Give them back to the Lord for His glory and for your sanctification!
PRAY
Thank you Lord Jesus for the many blessings You have brought into my life. I know that all of them came from You because You tell us in the book of James that “Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, and comes from the Father of lights,” (James 1:17a)
Help me today to look back over my life and to see the many times You have been so good to me and to dedicate today all my relationships and abilities to You and for Your glory.
Fill me with Your Spirit and guide me today to look closely around me to see where You are working and to join You as a willing and able servant.
