The Missing Aspect of Leadership Is...

 

 Sun Aug 17th 2025  

 What is the context of 2 Sam 23:8-17? This is the last major positive in David’s life that teaches us something new and different. But first, a quick recap of the amazing ability David has shown to be uniquely different in the incidents we have covered.

1.      The ability to reinterpret how we should behave in the face of dominant traditions, religious and otherwise, as with eating the sacred bread, referred to by Jesus in the incident of the disciples picking grain to eat on a Sabbath!

2.      The ability to be detached from one’s feelings – be it of revenge or otherwise, in several incidents where David is able to kill Saul easily but does not do so, despite the fact that Saul is trying hard to kill him! See the almost humorous story where Saul, in search of David, goes into a cave to relieve himself, and David and his men happen to be hiding at the back of the cave; David gets up close to Saul but does not kill him, except to cut off just a piece of his cloak!

2a. a parallel story occurs when Absalom first rebels and David ends up fleeing Jerusalem; as he passes Bahurim, Shimei, relative of Saul, comes out on the other side of the hill as David and his men pass, and curses David, and throws stones and dirt at him; Abishai, one of the King’s warriors, wishes to go cut off Shimei’s head, but David says no. Leave him be. What if God told him to curse me? I wouldn’t know, would I? So, let it go.

3.      The story today, in which David displays the ability to bring out unlimited commitment to him, from his men.

David had a lot of wives and concubines and children, as worldly Kings were wont to do, and this was not right road to follow.  And as is usual, greed and ambition soon surfaced amongst the ‘royalty’.  His son Absalom, rightful heir, began an uprising to claim the throne. (why wait?) But in the ensuing battle and fracas between son’s supporters verses the Kings men, Absalom is killed in a freak accident, caught betwixt and hung by the neck  - of a tree branch.

There has also been a three year famine in the land, and now, there is battle once again with Philistine forces, who have taken Bethlehem and have garrisoned their soldiers there.

 One day, as the story is told, David remembers and desires the taste of water from the home well, at the gate of Bethlehem. The King shares this desire with his men.  He says ‘O, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate.’  A rhetorical statement of longing for home. Those of us who have ever enjoyed fresh spring water will probably understand this, because it is different from the bottled norm, and has a different taste and feel to it. We lived in Lamberts Cove on the Vineyard for a little while, and our water came from a well on the property. It was the best we’d ever tasted! Depends on the aquifer, I guess.  Here, three of David’s ‘mighty warriors’-  an elite force, each one a true hero in his own right, each with a history of awesome victories -  Josheb, Eleazar, and Shammah (see 2 Sam 23:8-13 for a description of them) volunteer to go get the water, despite it being guarded by the Philistine garrison stationed at Bethlehem.

Remember the critical value of water in those days in such areas; it was never left unguarded. But David does not dissuade the mission and his great warriors go forth. They may not return. And there is no indication of what went through David’s mind, other than his expressed longing for water from the well at home. Despite the odds, the three pull it off, getting through the Philistine lines to get in, get the water, and then incredibly getting out, safely! Upon their return, they bring the water to David. Mission accomplished. It is quite the story of a valiant, selfless deed.

And does the King drink this greatly desired water, with joy and thankfulness and relish and satisfaction? No, he doesn’t. He denies himself. How? He pours it out instead as a drink offering before the Lord God. This is a strange action to take, since his desire for this water drove him to allow his men to risk their lives to get it.

David is an intensely charismatic leader, and he engenders great loyalty. He does not ask, request, or command. He has merely expressed a wish, and the best amongst his men have come forward with a ‘your wish is our command’ response! Amazing loyalty and devotion. This is a leader they look up to and love, more than their own lives even! And his response, in a marvelous way, validates their convictions.

What has happened here? While they were gone, perhaps David considered what could happen. The men could get killed. He would have sent them to their deaths because of a wish for water. What if they succeeded? Would he drink the water then? He has decided that if this were to happen, he would not drink the water. It would be too precious to drink, obtained at the risk of their lives! How to respond?

And he hits upon the drink offering response – offer the water to God in thankfulness.³⁵ Is there a better response? No, there isn’t. Is there a truer demonstration of devotion to God? Nope. The 3 return victorious, the mission a great success. They have tales to tell of a great adventure! A great feat of courage and unselfishness on their part! And they are rewarded in unique fashion when their King will not drink the water gained at such a price! Instead, he offers it humbly and thankfully to God, in recognition of this great risk taken out of love for him.

He has succeeded in elevating the mission, which now becomes a binding event of mutuality. To demonstrate the value he places on his men, David denies himself the water, which then becomes priceless. Is this not an emotional and affirmative high point? It is indeed. They have been selfless for his sake. He is equally selfless for theirs. This is impressive. It points to high standards for all leadership to aspire to! Perhaps it is what we should expect of our leadership today!  

The way ahead for this world is not an easy one. Find comforting peace and enabling strength in Jesus, it will suffice. But go carefully. Always, G.

Please note there will be no JL post next Sunday, as I turn 75 and will have family and children and grandchildren on my hands and am already in a different time zone, hence the odd timing of this one! We will continue on Aug 31^st!

As noted before, Jacob’s Ladder is neither church nor mission nor fund raiser; Just the shared reflections of a single one on a journey into the kingdom.  The Blog history is at dreliatjacobsladder.blogspot.com.