Back when I was a young staff officer in the Pentagon, there was a saying that, “A general’s offhand remark often turns into a captain’s weekend project.” More than once, I experienced something like that, and I wished the project only lasted for a weekend. 

The Bible has a story that sounds, at first reading, a lot like that. King David was leading the Israelite army in battle, and he made an offhand remark: “Oh that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” Three of David’s best soldiers overheard. On their own, they fought through enemy lines, got some water from that well, and brought it back to David.

What would David do?

Would he drink the water? That’s what his men intended.

Would he let them drink first? That’s what a good commander would do?

Would he reprimand them for risking their lives, and maybe even the entire operation, for such a foolish stunt?

None of the above. David poured out the water as an offering to God.

I used to think this was a story about David. I would try to imagine what type of commander would inspire such loyalty among his men.

But this isn’t about David. It’s about David’s God. As great a king as David was, David was there to point us to the true and best King, Jesus Christ, who fought through enemy lines, and then poured himself out as an offering for us.