Once during the harvest, when David was at the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty—an elite group among David’s fighting men) went down to meet him there. David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem. David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord. “The LORD forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three. [2 Samuel 23.13-17]
The "Three" were evidently quite the warriors. Likewise the "Three" were quite devoted to their king.
I don't know if Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Shammah actually realized their exploit as a sacrifice for David their king or not, but that is what David recognized it as.
Why did David not accept their sacrifice? Because David recognized it was a sacrifice of their lives - their blood - and considered that sacrifice as something for God and God alone.
There is much to consider in this lesson!
It could be that the Three had inadvertently fallen into worship of David, their exemplary leader. Perhaps David's response was one to remind them that their lives were God's and not David's. This is an interesting thought because, as king, their lives really were David's! But, David's actions revealed only further what an incredible leader he actually was - he refused to allow his men to put him above God. The lessons here are plentiful!
As I, like David, recognized today that this water-getting mission by the Three was a sacrifice, I immediately considered the sacrifice of prayer...
As warriors of prayer for others, it is important that our sacrifice of prayer does not become a sacrifice TO those we pray for! We must remember that God is our Lord, and, it is to Him we bring our sacrifice of prayer - albeit for the benefit of others.
I am thinking just now of Jesus' prayer in John 17. In that prayer, Jesus revealed that He was on mission for God, not people:
“I have revealed You to the ones You gave me from this world. They were always Yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept Your word. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from You, for I have passed on to them the message You gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from You, and they believe You sent me. [John 17.6-8]
Yes, there is much to learn here today...
Father, I am so grateful for the revelation of Your Word today. Help me remember that my sacrifice of prayer is ultimately not for people, but for You.
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