Pouring out an offering…

Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David at the cave of Adullam, when the army of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. And David said longingly, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and took it and brought it to David. But David would not drink it. He poured it out to the Lord and said, “Far be it from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the lifeblood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it.… (1 Chronicles 11:15–19)

Again, another OT narrative stumps me into searching for its meaning. In the above story, my first thought was David didn’t appreciate what his men had done and pouring it on the ground showed contempt for their actions, but that didn’t seem right, particularly because he poured it out to the Lord.

Study showed that this was a libation, and done by many cultures, including Israel. However they were not allowed the same cultic reasons for doing it. 

It was usually a thank offering which fits this, and as has been on my mind, a demonstration of praise to God. Drinking it would be taking the glory of what they had done for himself rather than giving it to the Lord.

In this instance, the libation went beyond being thankful that his men risked their lives to bring him a drink. It also pointed to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose blood was "poured out” to meet our need. 

The Apostle Paul also used this imagery to describe his own life as a sacrifice: “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.” (Philippians 2:17)

Both David and Paul reveal a passion for Jesus Christ that goes beyond enjoying the sacrifices others make for them. Instead of thanking people or relishing in their goodness, honoring the Lord takes priority.

I notice that other Christians seldom pour out their love for Christ when others serve them. I know in my own life that my ego is warmed by such actions, yet I know that Jesus should be honored, not me. These men could say: “I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?” (2 Corinthians 12:15) And I should be able to say it also.

Lord Jesus, how often have I relished praise or any other blessing when the glory belongs to You. I excuse the doing of it knowing how weak and useless I am without You, yet drink it up to make me feel good when that offering belongs to You alone. While I am grateful for Your forgiveness and patience, teach me to do the right thing when anyone makes a sacrifice that rightly belongs to You. Like David, the man with a heart like Your’s, may I refuse to drink water that had been fought for, choosing to pour it out to give You the glory.

Letting God do the planning

Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. (Philippians 2:17)

Chambers starts his devotional reading with this verse about Paul’s commitment to the faith of believers at Philippi and his willingness to die for them. He ends with this question to his readers: “Are you willing to spend and be spent; not seeking to be ministered unto, but to minister? Some saints cannot do menial work and remain saints because it is beneath their dignity.”

This made me chuckle. This morning I was putting some color into my lifeless hair when my husband asked me to do something for him. Because of the timing, I had to say no. Later, I dumped a dead plant in the trash, but saved from the pot a stone with the word “LOVE” painted on it. I offered him the stone and said, “The plant is gone, but this remains.” He laughed. Then I said, “Tip for the day: never interrupt a woman when she is dying her hair. Some things cannot be put aside for a few minutes and that is one of them, unless the house is on fire!” He laughed again.

Chambers asks, “Are you willing to be offered for the work of the faithful—to pour out your life blood as a libation on the sacrifice of the faith of others? Or do you say—‘I am not going to be offered up just yet, I do not want God to choose my work . . . .”

I have to wonder; doesn’t God know everything? I can imagine Him asking for obedience in all sorts of situations when He interrupts me, or says ‘stop it’ to my plans. However, it seems to me that He knows better than I do when what is important, if I need sleep or to eat or to finish what I’m doing. He also knows what is most important at any given moment in His plans and whether I should be interrupted.

This understanding of God makes it easier to trust Him with what He asks me than thinking about God as using the task to teach me lessons, to abase me, to make me insignificant. I am willing to learn, my sinfulness already abases me, and I am already insignificant. Resistance to His commands could be a statement that I am smarter than God (really?), or I want to be exalted over Him, or I want to be noticed. Those are sins to confess.

However, being like Jesus means trusting God for the transformation, including a willingness to be poured out in sacrificial service for others. If I didn’t want to be like Jesus, then I’d resist that, but what is the point? Being like Jesus is my destiny!

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:28–29)