Gospel Reflections #966: When we give God the best we have

1 Chronicles 11:17 ‘David longed for the water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, saying, “If only someone would bring me a drink from that well near the gate of Bethlehem!”’

This passage depicts a scene in which King David, feeling thirsty, longed for water from the well in Bethlehem, which was under the control of the enemy (the Philistines).

 It illustrates the deep bond of trust between David and the ‘three mighty men’ who supported him, as well as their reverence for God.

At that time, Bethlehem, David’s hometown, was occupied by the Philistines.

David was in a fortress when he suddenly expressed a longing to drink the water of his homeland.

Upon hearing this, the three mighty men, though not commanded by David, voluntarily broke through enemy lines to fetch water.

This story symbolises the depth of affection and loyalty David’s men held for him.

For them, fulfilling the king’s wish was the highest priority, even if it meant risking their lives.

However, when David received the water they had brought, he did not drink it.

David considered the water his men had risked their lives to bring to be as precious as ‘their own blood’, and so he poured it out onto the ground as an offering to God (a libation).

This was because, as king, he felt a sense of responsibility and reverence for God, knowing that he could not simply enjoy something obtained by putting human lives at risk. 

We too should seek from God the attitude to act for the sake of others, or for God’s sake, without regard for personal gain or loss.

Furthermore, we should emulate David’s humility in not taking his men’s sacrifice for granted, but honouring their labour and attributing it to the highest value (God).

And we should seek from God the faith that, no matter how valuable something may be, it should ultimately be offered to Him.

Our God is one who surely answers our prayers.

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.