1 Chronicles 11:15-19: a reflection

15Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim. 16David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was in Bethlehem at that time. 17David longed, and said, “Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” 18The three broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, took it, and brought it to David; but David would not drink any of it, but poured it out to the LORD, 19and said, “My God forbid me, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy?” For they risked their lives to bring it. Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.

When three of David's warriors risk their lives to break through enemy lines and bring him water from the well he longed for, David is so moved by the cost of it that he will not drink it, but pours it out to the LORD as too precious to treat lightly. My God forbid me that I should do this, David says; shall I drink the blood of these men who put their lives in jeopardy? For they risked their lives to bring it. David would not treat lightly what had been gained at such cost, at the risk of these men's lives; instead, he treated it as too precious, too sacred, to drink for his own refreshment, and poured it out as an offering to God. This shows the reverence of not treating lightly what is gained at great cost or sacrifice. Do not treat lightly what is gained at great cost. David poured out as an offering what was won at such risk. What is gained by sacrifice deserves reverence, not casual use. Honor the costly sacrifice behind what you receive.

Notice David's reverence for what had cost so much. He had longed for water from the well of Bethlehem, and three of his mighty men, hearing his wish, risked their lives to break through the enemy lines and bring it to him. When they brought it, David was so moved by the cost of it, the danger these men had faced, that he could not bring himself to drink it for his own refreshment; it seemed to him too precious, too much like drinking the very lifeblood these men had risked. So he poured it out to the LORD, treating it as a sacred offering rather than a casual drink. This reveals a reverence worth learning: not to treat lightly, casually, or carelessly what has been gained at great cost or sacrifice. Many good things we enjoy have come at real cost, the sacrifice of others: freedoms won by those who suffered, blessings secured by others' labor and risk, and above all our salvation, won at the cost of Christ's own blood. To treat such things lightly, casually, as our due, is to fail to honor the sacrifice behind them. David's reverence calls us to honor what has cost much, not to treat it carelessly, but to receive it with reverence and gratitude for the sacrifice it represents. Honor what has been gained at great cost; do not treat it lightly. Receive with reverence and gratitude what sacrifice has won. Above all, honor our salvation, won at the cost of Christ's blood. Do not treat casually what cost others dearly.

That is worth taking to heart, for we do well to reverence, and not treat lightly, what has been gained at great cost or sacrifice, as David poured out to God the water won at the risk of his men's lives. We can treat casually and as our due what has cost others dearly, freedoms and blessings won by others' sacrifice, and above all our salvation won by Christ's blood; but David would not lightly drink what had been won at such risk, treating it as too precious. Reverence honors the sacrifice behind what we receive. Do not treat lightly what was gained at great cost; receive it with reverence and gratitude, above all your salvation won by Christ. Reverence, and do not treat lightly, what has been gained at great cost or sacrifice, receiving it with gratitude for the sacrifice it represents, as David, when three of his warriors risked their lives to break through enemy lines and bring him the water he longed for, would not drink it for his own refreshment but, so moved by the cost, poured it out to the LORD, saying, shall I drink the blood of these men who put their lives in jeopardy; for David would not treat lightly what had been gained at the risk of these men's lives but treated it as too precious and sacred to drink casually, which reveals a reverence worth learning, not to treat lightly or carelessly what has been gained at great cost or sacrifice, since many good things we enjoy have come at real cost, the sacrifice of others, freedoms won by those who suffered, blessings secured by others' labor and risk, and above all our salvation won at the cost of Christ's own blood, so that to treat such things lightly, casually, as our due, is to fail to honor the sacrifice behind them, and David's reverence calls us to honor what has cost much, receiving it with reverence and gratitude rather than treating it carelessly.

Lord, when three of David's warriors risk their lives to break through enemy lines and bring him water from the well he longed for, David is so moved by the cost of it that he will not drink it, but pours it out to you as too precious to treat lightly. My God forbid me that I should do this, David says; shall I drink the blood of these men who put their lives in jeopardy? For they risked their lives to bring it. David would not treat lightly what had been gained at such cost, at the risk of these men's lives; instead, he treated it as too precious to drink for his own refreshment, and poured it out as an offering to you. This shows the reverence of not treating lightly what is gained at great cost or sacrifice. Show me David's reverence for what had cost so much. He had longed for water from the well of Bethlehem, and three of his men risked their lives to bring it. When they brought it, David was so moved by the cost, the danger these men had faced, that he could not drink it for his own refreshment; it seemed too precious, too much like drinking the very lifeblood these men had risked. So he poured it out to you, treating it as a sacred offering. This reveals a reverence worth learning: not to treat lightly, casually, or carelessly what has been gained at great cost or sacrifice. Many good things I enjoy have come at real cost, the sacrifice of others, and above all my salvation, won at the cost of Christ's own blood. To treat such things lightly, as my due, is to fail to honor the sacrifice behind them. Take that to my heart, for I do well to reverence, and not treat lightly, what has been gained at great cost. Keep me from treating casually and as my due what has cost others dearly; help me receive with reverence and gratitude what sacrifice has won, Lord, above all honoring my salvation, won at the cost of Christ's blood, rather than treating lightly what cost so much.