A modern day drink offering

Sometimes it’s hard for me to imagine some of the Bible stories. I have no trouble with a world-wide flood and a man loading an ark with a bunch of animals, but for some reason the account in Judges about Samson catching three hundred foxes and tying their tails together and lighting them with firebrands, well, I just have to take it on faith.

You just don’t see that kind of thing today.

And then there’s the story about David holed up in a cave and having a peculiar desire for water from a well near Bethlehem, which was occupied by Philistines. When three of his mighty men heard this indulgent muse from their king, they risked their lives to break through enemy lines and bring him his desire.

When I read this the first time, I anticipated the story to continue along the line of David’s profuse thanks and reward, but wait—instead, he poured the precious gift out on the ground before the LORD!

 I know this speaks of loyalty and really honoring the risk the men took. It also speaks of offering these precious gifts to God.

The other Sunday, one man in our church felt that the Lord told him to give some money to another man, who, it was known, was in a situation of need. The first man obeyed and gave the second a bill, and then watched, astounded, as he put the money in the offering box.

“I gave that money to you,” the giver said.

“Yes, and now I have something to give the Lord,” the recipient replied.

Right before my eyes, I saw David pouring out his precious drink gift.

May I hold the gifts in my hand so loosely.

Marcia