1 Chronicles 11:16

He lay in the stronghold. The armies of the Philistines were camped in Bethlehem, the place where he was born and brought up, every bit of it known and loved by him. As he lay in the stronghold, tired and thirsty, these three devoted men heard David say, "Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!"

The garrison of the Philistines had taken possession of Bethlehem while David was in exile in the cave of Adullam. Saul did not have the energy to drive the Philistines out of Bethlehem, the house of bread. And David expressed a longing for a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem.

Bethlehem, meaning "house of bread," is a very fitting name for the place from which the Saviour should come as a man — He who was the living bread that came down from heaven.

The choice lay between Saul and David — Saul a picture of the man of the flesh, and David a type of Christ. Saul is in the palace. He sits on the throne. The kingdom is at his feet. David is in the cave of Adullam with a band of men gathered round him, drawn by affection, and devoted to his cause.

These three mighty men "came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam." It seems as if they left the world in the day of its plenty. They chose to identify themselves with David in the day of his poverty and disgrace.

David was in the stronghold, while a garrison of the Philistines occupied the place of David's early home. David thinks of the well by the gate of Bethlehem. He had no doubt often drawn water there in his youth. Now he expresses his longing for a refreshing drink from that well… It is not a command that needs obedience. It is not a call to service. It is only the expression of his longing desire. And yet this expressed desire calls out this devoted act of love in a way that no command would have done.

No command was spoken, duty was not appealed to. A need expressed like that could never have found its way to the cold heart of duty. And if it had, there were plenty of reasons ready to keep it quiet. The Philistines had a garrison in Bethlehem and the well was inside the guarded gate, and the way there was very risky. David's thirst could not be quenched without great danger — and why quench it? It would please him, but it would not advance his people or his kingdom. … "David has not told us to attack Bethlehem. It is only his personal need, so why should we risk our lives to meet it?" Is that not the language of duty? But is it the language of love? … Does our Lord have no need now? Is He not thirsting now for what can only be gained by the self-sacrifice of His people?

If the victories we have considered had the blessing of the people in view, this touching act of service was entirely for the benefit of the King.

David's heart was deeply moved by this simple act. The men had won that water at the risk of their lives. So he poured it out to the Lord as a drink offering, because it showed how devoted these dear men were. It was the motive behind the action that turned that simple act into one which placed those three men at the very top of the roll of honour of the kingdom. That was when the fighting was all done, when power was established, and the day of rewards had come.