EXTREME LOVE / RECKLESS LOYALTY -- Devotional for July 23, from "Good Seeds"

David had a craving and said, “O that someone would give me a drink from the well by Bethlehem’s gate.” Hearing that, his three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew a cup of water from the well, and brought it to their king. When David saw it, and realized what they had done, he would not drink it, but poured it out upon the ground in worship, saying, “Far be it from me, Lord, that I should drink the blood of the men who jeopardized their lives for the sake of my simple desires.” (II Samuel 23:15-17)

David, the shepherd boy turned mighty warrior, was holed up one day in a stalemate against the constant bane of Israel, the Philistines. At this particular time they had control of David’s hometown, which must really have galled him. As he gazed longingly toward his beloved Bethlehem, he spotted the water spring next to the city gate. No doubt his mind wandered back to the time when as a small boy he had played around that well – and now he could almost taste its cool, refreshing water. Have you ever been just talking to yourself when someone nearby overheard you and responded? That’s what happened to David when in his reverie he mumbled under his breath something about wishing he could have a sip of that sweet Bethlehem water once again. But here’s where a guy who’s surrounded by friends so loyal they would die for him has to be careful. The bulk of the Israeli army had withdrawn (verse 9), but David and his three closest friends had stayed behind to see what inroads they could make into the Philistine camp. God seems to have wanted us to understand the value of such friends, for quite a bit of Scripture space is taken up describing the character and conquests of “The Three Mighty Men,” especially as seen in this particular anecdote. With not a word to their captain (who never would have permitted such a foolish risk), these three musketeers gave each other knowing looks, and then, without hesitation, crept out into no man’s land, and sneaking past the Philistine guards managed to gather a draught of that precious water for their king. When they returned and gave it to David, he was overcome with the strongest of emotions – and remember, this was a man who could really emot! But we must not be confused or offended by what he did next, for instead of showing his gratitude by drinking the water, he showed love for his best friends, and worship of his God, by pouring the water out onto the ground. To David, it was no longer water, but the very blood of his buddies whose love and loyalty took them way beyond the constraints of common sense. By the way, when was the last time you or I loved our friend – or worshiped our God – with such an extreme love and reckless loyalty as that?