THE WATERS DAVID CRAVED
1 Chr. 11:9-10, 15-19
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: ALL CHANGE
1. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was visiting New York City. During one of his walks, in full costume and beard, he passed a small snack bar called “Benjy’s Hot Dogs.”
2. As he wanted to try everything, he went into the shop and said, "Make me one with everything."
3. Benjy went to work and soon put together a loaded hot dog. He handed it to the spiritual master who paid him with a $20 bill, which Benjy quickly put into his pocket.
4. "So," asked Maharishi Yogi, "where's my change?"
Benjy folded his arms, closed his eyes, and said in a monotone, "Change must come from within!"
5. He was right! Change must come from within by a recreative work of God. We’re looking at that tonight.
B. TEXT
9 So David waxed greater and greater: for the Lord of hosts was with him. 10 These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel. KJV
15 Three of the thirty chiefs came down to David to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 16 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 17 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 18 So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the Lord. 19 “God forbid that I should do this!” he said. “Should I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?” Because they risked their lives to bring it back, David would not drink it. NIV
C. THESIS
1. Tonight we’re going to look at David’s desire for some special well water, who got it for David, their motive, and the symbology of the water & David’s wish.
2. The title of tonight’s message is “The Water David Craved.”
I. DAVID’S 3 FEARLESS DISCIPLES
A. YOU CAN’T OUTGIVE GOD
1. We have here an account of David’s worthies, the great men of his time. There were probably “mighty men” throughout the world, but the only ones that will be honored in eternity are those who worked in the Master’s service!
2. In strengthening God’s man, they strengthened themselves. What we do for the kingdom of God will cause God’s favor and blessing to come upon us; we’ll personally gain by it.
3. The local Church is God’s vehicle for reaching the world. If you serve and work to prosper the church, God will bless YOU for doing so!
B. CASUAL COMMENT OVERHEARD
1. It was harvest-time (2 Sam. 23:13); the weather was hot; David was thirsty; perhaps good water was scarce.
2. David began dreaming of the cold well-waters of Bethlehem, that slaked his thirst as a young man.
3. He casually mentioned how he wished he could have a drink of those waters, and his men overheard him.
C. THE 3 VALIANT MEN
1. Three of them, identified as “THE THREE” -- Eleazar(vs. 12), Abishai (vs. 20), and Benaiah (vs. 24) [identity of the 3: see NIVSB text note on 2 Sam. 23:39] discussing among themselves getting this water.
2. Possibly, since David often spoke prophetically, this was a challenge that those with faith could accomplish, like Peter stepping out to walk on the water.
3. IDENTITY & FEATS
*ELEAZAR SON OF DODAI the Ahohite. Name -- "God is my helper." Feats? The Israelites retreated during a battle; he stood his ground. He fought until his hand "froze to the sword." The Israelites returned only to strip the dead (all dead).
*ABISHAI, BRO. OF JOAB, Son of Zeruiah Name -- "Father of a Gift." 1. He opposed the Army of the Ammonites before the gates of Rabbah and drove them headlong into the city (2 Sam. 10:10,14).
2. When David's life was imperiled by Ishbi-benob the giant, Abishai came to his help and slew the giant (2 Sam. 21:15-17).
3. He withstood 300 men and slew them with his spear (2 Sam. 23:18).
* BENAIAH, Son of Jehoida, Chief Priest. Name: "Built by Jehovah. Feats? "He “struck down two of Moab’s best fighters; he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion; and he struck down a huge Egyptian” 2 Sam. 23:20-21.
D. GREATNESS HAS A PRICE TAG
1. The mindset of these men was one of total devotion to their king. This water was going to cost these men something! This is the way that it is with the King; the things He values will cost you something.
2. There are price tags that will always be attached to greatness. Greatness doesn’t come by credit, nor can one take out a loan to buy it. The price tag for greatness comes only through blood, sweat, tears, pain, and soul-elevating desire.
3. When they were ready, the Three departed. The cave of Adullam was about 17 miles SW of Jerusalem and about 10 miles SE of Gath. So these men would have to travel north through all sorts of dangerous passes and stretches of land to get to Bethlehem.
4. They broke through the Philistine encirclement of Bethlehem and fought their way to the well beside the gate, holding off the troops inside until one of their number retrieved the water from the well of Bethlehem. Then they fought their way back out and escaped to bring that special drought to David.
II. THREE MOTIVES FOR THEIR ACTION
A. MOTIVE 1: LOVE
1. We should be moved at how much they valued their King, and with what pleasure they ran the greatest risks to accomplish his smallest wish.
2. David, though anointed to be the next King, was still in exile and could confer no honors or positions on them, or give any rewards for their valor and sacrificial service.
3. They did it simply out of love for David. What an example of how we should selflessly serve our Lord Jesus; we should consider his slightest wish, whatever risk it might be to ourselves, to be our certain command to be eagerly and boldly obeyed!
4. What the King desires ought to be our whole focus.
B. MOTIVE 2: GRATITUDE
1. Their second motivation was derived from where they had come from: “And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.” 1Sam. 22:2.
2. Look at who these folks were:
a. The Distressed -- under pressure & stress.
b. The Bankrupt – couldn’t pay their bills, creditors pursued them.
c. The Discontented – Those in ‘bitterness of heart;’ had been wronged and mistreated and were more than willing to share their colossal injustices with anyone who would listen.
3. What a crowd that David had surrounded himself with, but he helped turned them around. They became respectable folks who could make a contribution.
4. Sort of sounds like the Church….Distressed, Misfits, Bankrupt, Outlaws, and Rogues. Listen to what Paul had to say about it:
5. “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked…3 in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Eph. 2:1-7.
6. Sometimes when people first come into a real Pentecostal church, they start to think, “Is all this emotion, all this noise, all this worship really necessary? The problem is that they haven’t seen what we looked like before God found us. That’s the reason for our shout!
C. MOTIVE 3: DISHONOR THE DEVIL
1. Many commentators have noticed “How little they feared the Philistines. They were glad of an occasion to defy them” (Matthew Henry, Vol. 2, p. 569).
2. Even if it’s a random wish of our Lord for a drink of water from a certain well, that’s good enough cause for us to take on the whole Philistine army!
3. It ought to be every Christian’s desire to take the devil ‘down-a-notch’ every time we get the opportunity.
4. That means opposing immoral causes swaying our society; justice for the helpless, equal rights for Christians & free speech for Christians. Christians may now be the most persecuted group in America.
5. Let’s dishonor the devil every time we get the chance!
III. SYMBOLOGY OF DAVID’S WISH & WATER
A. WATER OF BETHLEHEM
1. Bethlehem was where Jacob’s wife Rachel was buried; it was the origin of the Judge Ibzan of Bethlehem (Judges 12:8); Boaz and Ruth lived there and David was born there. Micah 5:2 prophesies that the Messiah would be born there.
2. David’s yearning for that water was more than physical thirst, for when he got the water, he wouldn’t drink it. It was a spiritual thirst.
3. David longed for the spiritual refreshment that would someday come through the true Fountain of Living Waters who would be born at Bethlehem. That well was prophetically significant.
4. Once you get the flavor of Christ in your mouth, you’ll never be satisfied with anything short of Him. Drink water from the well of Bethlehem, and you, like David will say, “Oh, that one would give me to drink of the water of that well!”
B. THEIR BURNING ZEAL
1. When the Three Mighties heard David utter this desire for a drink of the waters of Bethlehem, the Holy Spirit quickened in them that these waters MUST BE OBTAINED!
2. Whatever the cost or the risks, the waters (representing the Holy Spirit) must be drunk by the believer. The enemy will try to keep us from those waters, but fight we must until we obtain them!
3. Jesus makes them available to us; "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." (John 4:10, NKJV).
4. The term "gift" is "dorean," and refers to a free gift or an act done undeservedly. The gift is by nature a grace endowment, i.e., it is freely given to the recipient whether the recipient deserves it or not.
5. A lady who heard Jesus offer this water said, "Sir, give me this water! That I thirst not, neither have to come here to draw." John 4:15.
6. The Holy Spirit offers it to everyone, “Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” Rev. 22:17.
C. WANTING THE PUREST WATER
1. While in Iceland, I discovered pure drinking water. Wow! Why is it so pure? Because it has percolated underground for a long time, making it exceptionally pure for drinking.
2. We, too, can drink such pure spiritual water, by spending time with our Maker, the King of Kings of the universe. (Rob Chaffart)
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. "It's like a motorboat and a sailboat.
a. A person can operate a motorboat without assistance, given the right equipment and effort.
b. Operating a sailboat is different--it is dependent on the wind. The operator of a sailboat does whatever enables him to catch the wind.
c. It’s the only way you’re going to get anywhere! We will be ineffective without the wind. So let’s determine now to capture the wind.
2. CHARLES FINNEY,
a. “As I shut the door of the office after me, it seemed as if I met the Lord Jesus Christ face to face. It seemed to me that I saw Him as I would see any other man. He said nothing, but looked at me in such a manner as to break me right down at His feet.
b. I fell down at His feet, wept aloud like a child, and made such confessions as I could with my choked utterance. It seemed to me that I bathed His feet in tears. I must have continued in this state for a good while.
c. I returned to the front office, but as I turned and was about to take a seat by the fire, I received a mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost.
d. Without any recollection that I had ever heard the subject mentioned by any person in the world, the Holy Spirit descended upon me in a manner that seemed to come in waves of liquid love; it seemed like the very breath of God. I wept aloud with joy and love.”
B. THE CALL
1. Ephesians 5:18, “Be filled with the Spirit.” Why we lack power? We need to be refilled! [God believes in ‘refills.’]
2. "Fill My Cup, Lord!"
3. Jesus said, "'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.' By this he meant the Spirit." (John 7:37-39 NIV)
C. SOMETHING GOD WANTS YOU TO HAVE
1. All you have to do to get it is ask for it. In Acts 5:32 Peter said, “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” The Lord Jesus echoes this promise in Luke 11:13, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” All we have to do is ask!
2. Are you dry? No joy? Going through the motions? Or spiritual things seem dim? God is waiting to quench your thirst.
[Some thoughts were garnered from Matthew Henry & Philip Harrelson for this message.]
