09.19.2010 David's 'Drink Offering'

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We are almost finishing up 2 Samuel – we are in chapter 23.
Last week in Chapter 11, we looked at the fall of David – his corruption and fall with Bathsheba. In the meantime, his son Absalom makes a sort of a coup – and runs his dad out of Jerusalem – David has trouble for about 10 chapters. David is restored, Absalom is killed – what the writer does here – David, as the story starts is seen as a hero – then he is corrupted and falls in a number of ways – and then, at the end, the writer shows David coming back – as a hero. He wants us to understand, that in our lives, God wants to bring together all the aspects of our lives. God is not done with your story. He won't be finished until it is over. Wherever you are – God is not finished with you – and God wants to bring a glorious ending to our lives – when we are in heaven and look back, and see its completion, we'll be able to see God's plan and have an understanding of all God brought into our lives.
That is what He does with David.
Chapter 23 – we have a number of stories – The writer goes back to David's early days – the Mighty Men.
The famous theologian, Woody Hayes, wrote a book called “You Win with People”
David had loyal friends. As you go through a story – there are key times where someone comes into the story to give David a reproof or to get David on the right track – to help David to keep going and to accomplish that which he accomplished.
There is a list of the Mighty Men – I want to point out one story from this passage – you can read it yourself and see the exploits they accomplished under David's command. This story is found in both Samuel and Chronicles.
2 Sam. 23:13 Then three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam, while the troop of the Philistines was camping in the valley of Rephaim. 14 And David was then in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And David had a craving and said, "Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!" 16 So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which 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; 17 and he said, "Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this. [Shall I drink] the blood of the men who went in [jeopardy] of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

These are the chief three of the Thirty. This story is a little odd. David wants a drink of water out of a certain well – I'm sure there were other wells – but it was near where David grew up and the Philistines are there – and they break through and get it and he just pours it out. “How insensitive!” we think today. But you will see how this was a way to honor these three.
13 Then three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam, while the troop of the Philistines was camping in the valley of Rephaim. 1
David is hiding – in a cave – and this is harvest time – we don't know what they did for a living – but it was a tough time to be away.
True friends show up when you are in trouble.
This is an example of loyalty. For these guys – it was coming at the most difficult time. They knew there was trouble and they knew there was a need. It is easy to avoid people when there is trouble. Everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon of a hero – it is easy to do with sports teams – maybe we can do that in Cleveland some day...
We see loyalty with Jonathan – and his armor bearer - “Whatever you say!” - that is an honored character, to have that kind of attitude – someone who is concerned about serving others – making someone else successful. Then Jonathan – he was next in line to be king – but he recognized that God had chosen David – and instead of becoming a competitor, Jonathan became a loyal supporter. David learned the same thing – but he didn't get it at home. Remember when Samuel came to anoint the king? His dad didn't even include him in the list of brothers to be considered. Then the brothers accused David when he came down to see the battle.
David was even loyal to Saul. I think this tells us that loyalty is something that is developed when people go through difficulty and conflict and struggle together. For us today, it is the spiritual struggle of accomplishing God's purposes in this world.
True relationships develop when you struggle together to accomplish God's will on this earth.
I remember seeing a story on 60 minutes of a group of American businessmen taken captive in South America. I wondered about the scars – the men were better with each other than most men tend to be. They let the others express what he was best at expressing... There was a love that went beyond brotherly love... They were bound by conflict...
God has placed us here to engage in a great conflict – a great battle – Jesus – Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. God has called us to bring heaven to earth – that is what you have been called to do – it begins by bringing the message of Christ so that people might be changed that their lives – that they might come into relationship with Christ – then it moves to changing the lives of those around us through service and sacrifice and giving. As long as we stay out of that conflict, we can't experience this life as God intended it!

14 And David was then in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And David had a craving and said, "Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!" 16 So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took [it] and brought [it] to David.

What loyalty! What a sacrifice to make! For a simple glass of water! They understood that David was God's anointed (just like David understood that of Saul) – and their loyalty to David was FIRST a loyalty to the Lord. There cannot be relationships in a church community – unless first you have that relationship and loyalty and commitment to Christ. He needs to be first! But how often was he not first?
“He who loves father, mother, son, daughter, spouse, house, all those things that we live for – more than Me is not worthy of Me...”
When it gets to the reality of it with those we love – it is difficult to make that break and separation – that God comes before my spouse, my job, my friends, my house – but that is the loyalty that God calls us to... He is to be first (and yes, He calls us to make our families a priority – but He calls us to put Him first.)
I think these men understood their position – and their submission to God.
It reminds me of the widow with her two pennies – what is interesting – it is at the temple – and it is corrupt – and Jesus is going to throw them out – they are becoming rich and robbing widows to live a luxurious life. But she wasn't giving it to them, she was giving it to God.
Our service needs to be for God. Never give loyalty easily or lightly – When it comes to your motivation in loyalty, never let your motivation be – how do I say this – your motivation for loyalty and giving should never be first to a person, but to God. As it is to God, it will be used for people.
David, in one sense, earned their loyalty – he killed Goliath and was very courageous – but another reason is because he was one of them. In chapter 11 – he is in the castle – now, in chapter 23, he is in the cave, sacrificing like one of them – he was the kind of commander that people wanted to follow.
Mel Gibson played a commander who led his soldiers into combat in Vietnam. “I cannot guarantee you success – but I will be the first to lead you – and I will not leave you”
That is how David was before the Bathsheba incident – and we need to have the same mentality ourselves. When you are in need – we need to be there for you and when others are in need – you need to be there for them.
I'll never forget – on Easter morning- 6 years ago – it was a couple weeks before Dennis died – Linda called to say Dennis was sorry that he would not be there with you this morning.
That kind of loyalty I will never forget.
Many say this type of loyalty is crazy – you need to look out for yourself! What these three men did could be considered to be a little crazy

Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord; 17 and he said, "Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this. [Shall I drink] the blood of the men who went in [jeopardy] of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

David pours it out on the ground. “He pours it out to the Lord” - a drink offering was a way of worshiping God. A drink offering – usually wine – poured on the ground where no one will benefit from it – where it is wasted – except for God. When that water is poured out on the ground - “This is something I do for God and God alone – something that only He can enjoy – there is no earthly benefit for what I am doing – but it pleases God.” The type of loyalty and sacrifice that these men showed me should only be shown to God – I am not worthy of what you have done – he took their sacrifice and turned it into worship. He took the risking of their lives and honored them by giving it to God – only God is worthy of such extravagant sacrifice – only God is worthy. Sometimes in life we will be asked to do things that make no sense, that cost dearly – simply to please God. We won't be able to see the reasons – it is just something that God wishes for us to do for Him – you may never use it – you may never see the benefit – but it is pleasing to God.
Remember – Matt 26 – the woman anoints Jesus' feet with costly perfume – WHAT A WASTE! When David poured out the water? What a waste? When someone gives up a career – for Christ – it is never a waste! If it is done for Him.

Never make an extravagant sacrifice for the church or for a leader or for the poor – if that is your motivation – and the church changes – people get bitter. You make a sacrifice for someone who is poor – and they do something foolish with it – you get angry! Your motivation has to be God. How do you sacrifice for God? By doing it for others – for the church – for the poor. If you make a sacrifice and the recipients abuse it – you are okay – because you are doing it for Jesus. Sometimes He asks you to give to someone in need who will waste it -but He wants to see if you will give for Him. Maybe they don't send you a thank you note – you are not doing it for a thank you note – you are doing it for Him. You are not doing it to receive a thank you note. It is an act of worship.
It is the truest definition of worship – making the sacrifice – complete loyalty that is extravagant. At some point in your life. You'll have a perfume jar that is costly – and God will say – I have a use for that – and it might not be a use that you get any benefit from.