Day 30: I Chronicles 10:1 – 23:32

Today we re-read the story of King David—from when Saul dies and he is made king all the way through to his death. Since I've already commented on a lot of David's life. Today I'm going to focus on one small incident that happened with his mighty men in I Chronicles 11:15-19.

15 Three of the thirty chiefs came down to David to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 16 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 17 David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!" 18 So the Three 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 to the LORD. 19 "God forbid that I should do this!" he said. "Should I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?" Because they risked their lives to bring it back, David would not drink it.

I highlight this story because I found it fascinating the first time, and this second time reading it a thought occurred to me. The first time I read it, I thought how annoyed I'd be if I were one of the three, I'd just risked my life to bring David this water, and then he didn't drink it! But this time through I looked at it more from David's side. What sort of evil despot would he be to command his men to fight through the opposing army just to bring him a drink of water from his favorite well? What would it say about his opinion of himself if he were to drink that water? He poured the water out before the Lord to show both the men and the Lord that he valued the lives of his men more than his own comfort. He refused to consume something that could have cost his men their lives.

So here's the thought I had while reading this passage: what do I consume that could have cost someone their life? Or, what do I consume that shows how little I value someones else compared to my own comfort? Think about it. Aren't we doing the same thing as David would have done had he drunk the water when we purchase clothes that were made in sweatshops? When we eat chocolate from coco that was picked by child slave labor? When we eat vegetables picked by migrant slaves in the South?

There are so many unjust systems that we support everyday whether willingly, begrudgingly, or unknowingly. How would things be different if, before purchasing something or consuming something, we thought, what was the cost to the person who provided this? Are we willing to affirm that whatever that person went through is justified because of our desire for it?

Thinking of it that way really challenges me anew to rethink the way that I spend my money and the systems I buy into. Because when I think about it, a lot of times I do value my own comfort over someone else's life. Lord, have mercy and help me to value others above myself.

What do you think? Am I a little off base hermeneutically? Or is this a valid application?

Peace.