You may be referring to what we read in 1 Chronicles 11:17, “And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem, that is at the gate!”  2 Samuel 23:15 also repeats these words.

  • In verses 1-3 of 1 Chronicles 11, we see David being crowned as King of Israel. 
  • In verses 4-9, we see Jerusalem established as David’s capital city.  Verse 9 tells us, “So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him.” 
  • In verses 10-47, we have “the number of the mighty men whom David had.”  Verse 10 tells us, “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.”

Now let’s read verses 13-16.  “He (Eleazar) was with David at Pas-dammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines. And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a GREAT DELIVERANCE. Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim. And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines’ garrison was then at Beth-lehem.”

These mighty men had given up their all to be with David.  They abandoned their allegiance to Saul to join with David and his battles to gain and keep his kingdom.  They loved David and were loyal to him.  In verse 17, David uttered these words, “Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem, that is at the gate!”  He was expressing the desire of his heart as he longed for the water which came from his own city which had been captured by his enemies, the Philistines.  Notice, as king, he did not command, or even ask, any of his men to get water for him.  He simply expressed what was on his heart. 

Verse 18 tells us, “And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD.”  These three mighty men were so touched by the desire of their beloved king, they risked their very lives to break through the army of the Philistines and drew water from that well that could quench the thirst of their king. What love!  What faithfulness!  Even the simple longing of their king could move them to action.  Oh, dear reader, may that be said of each of us…that we would risk all, that we would sacrifice all to please our blessed savior.  The words of the Lord as found in Psalm 40:8 express His heart towards His Father.  “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.”  May we find our delight in doing that which pleases our Lord.

As much as David’s men loved him, it was a mutual love.  David refused to drink the water his men had endangered their lives to bring him.  That water which he thought was too precious for his own drinking, he poured out to the Lord for a drink-offering, or a libation.  David’s heart was moved so much by the peril his men went through for his sake.  He said, “My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.” (Verse 19). 

These men had not counted their lives as dear.  They sacrificed their all to please the wishes of the king they loved so much.  Dear reader, may we all judge our own hearts.  How appreciative, how loyal are we to our blessed savior?  Do we consider ourselves first, or is it our desire to please Him in all things?  Let our prayer be as David’s in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  (CC)  (699.6)