2 Samuel 23:15-17
15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! 16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD. 17 And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
Today's chapter gives the list of the mighty men of David that made David a mighty man. Were it not for these Men David would not have risen to the throne, in a practical sense. We know that it was God that set David on the throne, but it was these men that God used to do so. Men who came with a "perfect heart" to make David King over all of Israel. It was by these men that David's throne was kept. Today Christ sits on the throne but in this world it has been by the hand of mighty men of valor that his truth has marched on, in the first few centuries men laid down their lives for the advancement of the Kingdom, and neither has that trail of sacrifice stopped, even in this present day men hazard their lives for the sake of their King, to make him King in all the earth and to every tongue and tribe. God has a plan that will be accomplished but it will be by the hand of mighty men that his will is accomplished, and so what type of man accomplishes the eternal will of God? That is what our verses teach us today.
God's Mighty Men are first of all sensitive. It was not a demand that stirred these men in our verses to such valor, not even a request but the longing of their king's heart was enough for them to risk life and limb. The agonizing cry of their king pierced their heart with greater force than an actual sword could. How can we hide in the cave when our Lord longs for a drink from the well of Bethlehem? Does he not deserve the desires of his heart? Was it not in this very cave that he took us in when we were rebels, discontented, and in debt? What if it did cost us our life? Do we not owe him that? Is it not our reasonable service? Dear reader, Won't you look at Jesus weep over the multitudes? Can't you see him on the cross crying Father forgives them? Haven't you read "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature? Don't you know that there is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that repenteth? How shall they hear without a preacher? What if fulfilling his desires cost you your life? Wouldn't that be our reasonable service? O, if we will be mighty men then we must be sensitive to our Lord's desires and if need be hazard our lives for the sake of the gospel.
Secondly, Mighty Men must be soldiers. These men "Brake through the host of the Philistines." This was no task for the weak of heart, but they had seen their lionhearted King defeat giants, fight valiantly, and risk it all for them and so now they do the same. They broke past everything that stood between them and what was required of them. So it is with the Christian, we are not in a play-match we are in a war and if our Lord has slain death and defeated the enemy, if he gave it all then we should follow in his example and brave the world, the flesh, and Satan as "good soldiers of Jesus Christ." What's standing between you and what is required of you? Why haven't you gone forth bearing precious seed? Why do you sit empty-handed when your Lord deserves sheaves by the armload as often as we can bring them? Is it a personal sin? Then by the power that now worketh within us, fight it! Run head-long, by faith, and if it cuts and bruises you so be it, I would rather fight with a man who injured me than be ruled by a man who will eventually kill me. Is it fear and doubt? Do you cast in your mind how the enemy will destroy you and your life will be lost? Then fight it immediately, instead cast in your mind the day you bow before your King with sheaves to lay at his feet and run on in faith to the battle ahead. Whatever it may be, it will require you to endure hardness and, by faith, fight the flesh, the world, and the devil. So, "Only be thou strong and very courageous" and if you will be a mighty man then you must be a soldier.
Lastly, Mighty Men must be sacrificial. Upon receiving such a gift David could not accept it, for it was not simply a cup of water but "Is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives?" David saw this cup for what it had cost them the men that brought it. Let me say, our Lord not only looks at what we have brought but what it cost us to bring it. It was almost a worthless thing, just a cup of water, on any other day it would have been something any man could have brought with almost nothing invested. On this day it was so valuable that David thought himself not worthy to partake in it. You may look at the little that you have been able to give to the Lord and be tempted to think that because it is so little it is of little value, but our heavenly King weighs all things considered and sees the great price you have paid to lay such a small offering at his feet and he counts is as greatness because of the cost, not the value. Then we are taught another lesson, that not even a king is worthy of the life of a man. Not even the greatest man alive thought himself worthy of such sacrifice and he wasn't, that is why he pours this out to the Lord. There is only one King that is worthy of our lives poured out, even unto death. The King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ the righteous, he is worthy. So don't pour out your life serving self, don't pour out your life serving some man, even if he be a king, he isn't worthy of our lives. Pour out your life serving Jesus, he is worthy, it is our reasonable service, present your bodies as a living sacrifice. If you will be a mighty man for The King of kings then your life will have to be poured out unto him, every hazardous moment, every drop of blood, every battle, every tear, every heartache, and still he is worth more than we could ever give, so give it all, let not one drop be reserved for self, pour it all out unto him, then we can be mighty men.
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