“These are the names of David’s mighty warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter. Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, but Eleazar 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. 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. 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. During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, ‘Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!’ So the three mighty warriors 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. ‘Far be it from me, 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 warriors.”—2 Samuel 23:8–17 (NIV)

In today’s passage, we read about King David and his mighty men. While hiding in a stronghold, David longed aloud, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” Three of his warriors broke through enemy lines, drew water from that well, and brought it back to him. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out before the Lord, saying, “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this! Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?”

David understood the water was not just water—it represented the lives of those who risked everything out of loyalty and love for him to get it. To drink it casually would have been dishonorable. So, he offered it to the Lord as a sacrifice.

Centuries later, by another well in Samaria, Jesus spoke with a woman who came to draw water. He told her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water” (John 4:10 NIV). He explained that earthly water quenches thirst only for a time, but the living water He gives becomes a spring welling up to eternal life. She replied, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water” (John 4:15 NIV).

David’s longing for water from the well in Bethlehem echoes the Samaritan woman’s deeper longing for the living water Jesus offered her. On the cross, Jesus poured out His life so we might receive the gift of the Holy Spirit—the living water within us. What David wouldn’t take for himself because it came at so great a cost, and what the Samaritan woman didn’t yet know to ask for but sought in other ways, Jesus now freely gives to us.

Just as David couldn’t drink the water lightly, we should not take for granted the salvation we’ve received. Our forgiveness, our eternal life, and the Spirit within us came at the highest price—Jesus’ life.

Earthly wells, like the one in Bethlehem, can never quench our deepest thirst. Only Jesus can. No achievement, possession, or relationship can satisfy the longing of the human heart. Only the living water He provides brings peace, joy, and eternal hope.

Whether you feel unworthy of such great sacrifice, like David, or weighed down by deep pain and brokenness, like the Samaritan woman, remember this: Jesus’ love and sacrifice are more than sufficient to cover every sin and every shame. The living water He offers is enough to satisfy the deepest longings of your soul. So, drink deeply and reverently, always mindful of the immeasurable cost at which it was given.

Pause: Does your soul have a longing or thirst for water that only God can provide?

Practice: Take communion and thank Jesus for the shedding of His blood so our souls can drink the water of a well which never runs dry and completely satisfies our thirst forevermore.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for shedding Your blood so I might receive the living water of Your Spirit. Help me never to take this gift lightly, but to treasure it daily and find my satisfaction in You alone. Amen.