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 23.15-17]
Although there are no known ties between Alexander Dumas's Three Musketeers and David's Three, there are similarities, namely, both groups were fearless warriors and fiercely loyal.
It might also be noted (from yesterday's One Year Chronological Bible reading) what might be the origin of the famous "One for all, and all for one" saying from Dumas's characters:
Then David returned to the brook Besor and met up with the 200 men who had been left behind because they were too exhausted to go with him. They went out to meet David and his men, and David greeted them joyfully. But some evil troublemakers among David’s men said, “They didn’t go with us, so they can’t have any of the plunder we recovered. Give them their wives and children, and tell them to be gone.” But David said, “No, my brothers! Don’t be selfish with what the LORD has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the band of raiders that attacked us. Who will listen when you talk like this? We share and share alike—those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment.” From then on David made this a decree and regulation for Israel, and it is still followed today. [1 Samuel 30.21-25]
No doubt, David and his Three were the stuff of legends.
In today's civilized society, we are mostly devoid of such fearless warriors with fierce loyalty except in the most specialized military branches. I believe they do indeed exist however. At least, I want to believe they exist.
While David and his Three are an undeniable inspiration for their fearlessness and loyalty, there is a greater Timeless Warrior Who, not only possessed the cunningness to accomplish remarkable physical victories, but also transcended that realm to personally accomplish an unprecedented spiritual feat that then enabled His followers to do the same. That Warrior's name is Jesus.
Jesus' ultimate victory was not accomplished with conventional physical weapons of warfare, but in practical, if not complete, nakedness (representative of the full armor of God that requires nothing of man's effort but faith). On the Cross, Jesus opened the Way of Salvation to mankind through death and then resurrection.
Jesus' most faithful followers embrace their own crosses similarly with nothing to fear and nothing to lose, fiercely jumping from the physical realm into the spiritual through their own death to wage warfare that no enemy can resist! Their nakedness in the world's eyes as they down lay their lives, is the very elaborate (however often misunderstood) adornment of the Armor of God. The boldness of their testimony is unmatched - even other-worldly - in its power and effectiveness. They work not for their own good, but in complete loyalty for the good of others - even at the price of their own lives, as their King of Kings and Lord of Lords so aptly demonstrated. They are Christians - not in label, but in lifestyle they are "like Christ" - death is of no consequence to them.
Today is Easter Sunday. Today is the day we celebrate our Leader Jesus Christ's victory - that is our victory! We share and share alike. One for all, and all for One - Jesus Christ!
Father, thank You for Jesus, our Hero, our Leader, our Savior. May we be found "in Him" through faith as we celebrate His victory today. So be it.
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