Day 75: 2 Samuel 23:8–17

David was extremely thirsty and said, “If only someone would bring me water to drink from the well at the city gate of Bethlehem!” So three of the warriors broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well (vv. 15–16).

God led David to victory through all four of the battles mentioned in 2 Samuel 21:15–22, but He brought the victory to David through someone else. Just like us, I’m sure David’s preference would have been for God to make him the hero and leave others in awe over his great strength. But God had other plans. He saved David, all right, but He purposely made him dependent on someone else.

Several wonderful reasons might exist for the method God used, which we can pick up by reading through the list of David’s mighty men in 2 Samuel 23. Consider a few of these rationales:

1. For the sake of the people. Israel did not need David to be like a god to them. He could not deal with being put on that kind of pedestal or subjected to that kind of pressure. He was bound to disappoint them. When it comes to hero worship, the line between love and hate is very fine! How many close followers have turned against their leaders? God will never allow any of us to be the only one through whom He appears to be working mightily.

2. For the sake of King David. Do you remember what happened when David was so highly exalted on his throne that he became disconnected from his people? Remember how lonely he was for his friend? Remember how isolated he became? Remember what happened when he thought he had risen above the normal duties of a king and stayed behind in the spring when other kings went off to war? That’s when the nightmare began! David believed his own press. He came to believe he could not be overtaken. He was wrong. God protected David by not always letting him be the hero. He gave David a few heroes instead—men who commanded his respect. He humbled David and made him depend on them for his life. None of us will escape this important life lesson. God will force us to need help.

3. For the sake of the men he empowered. People can easily be discouraged if they perceive that God works mightily through others but never works through them. God does not play favorites. Anyone who cries out to Him, He answers. Anyone who surrenders to His call, He uses.