The Explanation

All the tribes of Israel came walking to a town called Hebron. They stood before a shepherd boy who had grown into a strong man: David. "We are your own bone and flesh," they said. They remembered something too. Even when Saul was still king, David was the one who led them into battle. God himself had said, "You shall be shepherd of my people Israel." So the elders made a promise with David before God, and they poured oil on his head. David was king now.

But David did not just want a throne. He wanted a city. He marched with his men to Jerusalem, also called Jebus. The people who lived there laughed at him. "You will not come in here," they said, sure that their walls were too strong. David did not turn back. He said, "Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain." A man named Joab ran forward first, fought hard, and won that honor. David took the city and lived there. It became known as David's city.

Then the story slows down to tell about David's strongest fighters, men who were not afraid of anything. Jashobeam once lifted his spear against three hundred enemies at once, and he won. Eleazar stood in a barley field when everyone else ran away, and he and David fought until God gave them victory. Three of David's mightiest men once heard him say, "Oh, that someone would bring me water from the well of Bethlehem." That well was behind enemy lines. The three men broke straight through the Philistine army just to get David a drink of water. When they brought it to him, David did not drink it. He poured it out to God instead, because he said it was like drinking their blood, since they had risked their lives for it.

There was also Benaiah, who climbed down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. He also fought a huge Egyptian warrior armed only with a stick, took the man's own spear, and killed him with it.

What Does This Mean?

This chapter is bursting with courage. But look closely: none of these victories happened because the men were simply strong. Verse 9 says it plainly, "David grew greater and greater, for Yahweh of Armies was with him." The strength of David and his men came from God standing behind them. Even David understood this. That is why he refused to drink the water his friends had risked their lives for. He treated it as too precious for himself, only fit to be given back to God.

The Common Thread

Long before David was born, God had promised his people a shepherd king. In this chapter, we hear that promise spoken out loud: "You shall be shepherd of my people Israel." David was that shepherd for a while. But he was not the final one. Many years later, another king would come from David's own family, one who would call himself the Good Shepherd. Jesus did not just risk his life for water. He gave his whole life for his people. David's brave men were willing to die for their king. Jesus is the King who was willing to die for us.

For You

You might not fight lions or armies. But you can still be brave like David's men, brave enough to help someone even when it costs you something. You can also be like David, who did not keep the best thing for himself but gave it back to God. Next time someone does something kind for you, do not just take it for granted. Say thank you, out loud, to them and to God.

Talk About It

Why do you think David poured out the water instead of drinking it? What is one brave thing you could do this week to help someone else?

Praying Together

Dear God, thank you for David and his brave friends. Thank you most of all for Jesus, our true King and Shepherd, who gave his life for us. Make us brave and thankful too. Amen.