“Just a Cup of Water”
2 Samuel 23:1-5; 8; 13-17
by
Dr. Steven G. Cook
I. Introduction
A. There are few characters in the Word of God who attract our attention as much as the man, David.
B. He is mentioned more than any other character in the Bible, except the Lord Jesus Christ.
C. He is the only man in Word of God which is said about him, “He is a man after God’s own heart.”
D. The Lord desires us to examine the man – David.
E. Read – 2 Samuel 23:1-8a.
F. Right in the middle of listing some 37 mighty men of David (vs. 39), God reveals to us a very important story.
G. Let me read you that story – Read 2 Samuel 23:13-17
II. Mighty Men of David (2 Sam. 23:13-17)
A. Context of Mighty Men of David – Right after David recalls God’s everlasting covenant with him, God chooses to reveal to us the “Mighty Men of David”.
B. Why? In the Work of God there are 2 Things Always Evident:
1. The Unfailing Faithfulness of God
2. The Devotion of Mighty Men
C. Whenever God raises up a man, He always raises up “mighty men” to help him do that work.
D. Any where you find the “work of God” being done, you will always find this principle to be true – It was true in David’s life, and it is still true today!
E. Expound David’s 3 Anointings – David is brought before brothers, though the youngest of Jesse’s sons, Samuel anoints David (1st of 3 anointings). Of course, David is later anointed to be King over just 2 tribes, whom he rules for 7 years, and then later, David is anointed King over all of Israel, whom he rules a total of 40 years.
F. As God, by inspirational Spirit, gives us the mighty men of David, He pauses for a few verses to give us just ONE EVENT in 2 Samuel to relate to us.
G. Tonight, let us think about “A Cup of Water for the King”.
H. What distinguished these particular 37 men? They were not just mighty in Valor, they were mighty in FAITH!
I. Not all men that followed David were “Mighty Men” – Why? They were not mighty in FAITH!
J. Three Things Which Constitute a Mighty Man:
1. Mighty Men Must Love the Lord
a. If you are ever going to be a “Mighty Man” – You MUST be LOVE the Lord!
b. Any person who has ever been used of God was a person who had a “Passion for God; Who Loved the Lord Supremely in Their Life!”
c. The greatest question in the Believer’s Life is simply – “Do YOU Love the Lord?” Everything else in our lives will be settled IF we answer correctly.
d. Paul was NOT motivated by a LOST world; by millions who were dying in their sins – He said, “I am constrained by the LOVE of Christ!” We serve – NOT for THEM, but for HIM!
2. Mighty Men Must Lead Their Families
a. I’ve never met a man who could serve the Lord properly IF he did not first Lead his own family.
b. The reason why some men cannot serve God is because they haven’t done their “Homework!”
c. Homework must be done before Churchwork!
d. Only when our families have Confidence in us will they have confidence in our decisions concerning service for God.
e. The same is true in the church – Most pastors don’t stay long enough for the church to gain confidence in them at all.
3. Mighty Men Must Learn God’s Word
a. We can pray all we want, but God speaks to us through His Word for the most part.
b. Timothy’s mother and grandmother were “mighty women” because they shared with young Timothy the Word of God.
4. Mighty Men Must Love and Follow God’s Leaders
a. This is where many men have failed!
b. Don’t you love to be near people who have God’s good hand upon them? There is always an evidence of such leadership.
c. IF the preacher does not have integrity, don’t follow him!
d. God’s way is always to raise up a man, then raise up mighty men to help him do the job that needs doing.
III. A Cup of Water for the King (2 Sam. 23:13-17)
A. If you know anything of David’s life, you know that Saul sought his life!
B. Explain David vs. Goliath (1 Sam. 17) – From a nobody to a somebody.
C. “Courage” comes out of “Faith” – Not the other way around.
D. David was a man of faith – He had Real Confidence in God.
E. As soon as Goliath fell to the ground, people of Israel began to sing songs of David – Saul got jealous.
F. One of the great tests of our spirituality is whether or not we can praise God for someone else’s victories!
G. Can you sing praises to God when other churches are blessed; other children or parents are blessed; other Christians are blessed?
H. We shouldn’t be so quick to condemn Saul!
I. David is hiding in the “cave at Adullam” – Our story is about a “Cup of Water for the King”.
J. “This is a REFLECTIVE Story” at the end of David’s Life.
K. No doubt, David was “reflecting upon his boyhood” – He was so tired of living in a damp cave, drinking water in fear of his life. (vss. 13-15)
L. Three (3) Mighty Men – possibly Adino (vs. 8); Eleazar (vs. 9); and Shamah (vs. 11) went in danger of their own lives to fetch a cup of water.
M. Read – 2 Samuel 23:16-17– These verses used to trouble me, but I think I now know why David did this.
IV. Reasons for Story (2 Sam. 23:16-17)
A. Reason for Mission of Mighty Men:
1. Were they “Commanded by David” to go get the cup of water? NO!
2. Were they “Compelled by Duty” to get the cup of water? NO!
3. WHY did they get the “Cup of Water for the King?”
4. We must conclude that they went for only one reason – Because they Loved David!
5. They loved him so much that they were willing to risk their own lives for the chance that he had only a thought for something!
6. Illustration – Men, why do you work to support your family – Out of commandment or duty? NO! Because of LOVE!
7. Why do serve the Lord Jesus? Out of commandment or duty? IF so, then YOU are missing the greatest blessing of all.
B. Reason for David’s Action:
1. What David was saying in vss. 16-17 was simply this – What these 3 Mighty Men of Valor did for him; they did unto the Lord!
2. David refused to put it to his own lips because it was the same as an offering and a sacrifice unto the Lord.
3. Whatever YOU do as a church body in following a man of God, you are doing it as unto the Lord.
4. In Mark 9:41 – “For whosoever shall give you a “Cup of Water” to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.”
5. Not everyone can be the LEADER, but everyone can be rewarded for bringing a “Cup of Water Unto the Lord”.
6. This is God’s Way in David’s time, and it is still God’s Way today in the New Testament Church!
V. Application – Kingship of Christ
A. David is “Reflecting” on his life in years gone by – He was NOT king during the time he was actually in the cave.
B. David was NOT yet King – he was just crowded there in a cave with 600 men; they weren’t much to talk about.
C. While others hated him & talked about him – THEY LOVED HIM!
D. While others spoke his name in blasphemy - THEY LOVED HIM!
E. While others sought to destroy him; persecute him - THEY LOVED HIM!
F. But some day, David was going sit on the throne as KING of Israel.
G. Down here in this old world – There are some people who Hate Jesus; Blaspheme His Holy Name; Seek to Destroy His Children; Talk Evil About Him; Erase His Very Presence from History – But I know something they don’t know – One Day Soon – Jesus Christ will come as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to Sit on the Throne in Jerusalem where He will rule and reign for a thousand years! Every knee will bow and every tongue shall confess that He IS King!
H. While we can we too should bring our “Cups of Water to the KING”!
I. Just as surely as I’m standing before you tonight – Jesus Christ Will Be Crowned King of Kings!
J. Won’t YOU be willing to do as those 3 Mighty Men in our story? Won’t YOU be willing to Risk ALL, not because of Commandment or Duty, but rather Because of YOUR Devotion and Love for the KING of KINGS!
K. Would YOU Bow Your Heads With Me In PRAYER?
