2 Samuel 23:8-17
8 These are the names of David's mighty men: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.
9 Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated,
10 but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.
11 Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel's troops fled from them.
12 But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory.
13 During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.
15 David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!"
16 So the three mighty men 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 before the LORD.
17 "Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this!" he said. "Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?" And David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.

REFLECT

Today's passage records an incident that took place when David was repelling an attack by his old enemies the Philistines. David looks across the valley towards Bethlehem, the town where he grew up. He was thirsty and thought of the well at which he had often drunk. Verse 15 he loudly expressed his desire to drink from the well.

Without much thought three mighty men risked their lives drew water from the well and returned safely to David's side. Stunned and amazed by their devotion, David accepts their costly gift and then pours it out on the ground in thanksgiving to God. I wonder how the three men must have reacted to this! I think David's action was not due to a lack of appreciation but of a deep desire to give something that was so precious to him back to God.

ACT

Give up something that you really likes an act of devotion to God.