Water from the well of Bethlehem 

November 8, 2022

One example of wasting time was that of the woman who came into Simon's house. She broke the vessel, not calculating less or more, and she expressed the sheer ecstasy of giving, not holding back. That kind of foolishness was praised by the Lord. Another remarkable instance is from the Old Testament. David had gone back to his own native town of Bethlehem. Like every man who returns to his early home, he must have had a nostalgia for tastes and smells and scenes. What David yearned for was water from the well of Bethlehem. As the Holy Spirit tells the story in 1 Chronicles II: 1 5-19, 'David was in the stronghold and a Philistine garrison held Bethlehem. A longing came over David, and he exclaimed, 'If only I could have a drink of water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem!'' At this, three strong men made their way through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it to David. Now what did David do with it? 'David refused to drink it; he poured it out to the Lord and said, 'God forbid that I should do such a thing!  Can I drink the blood of these men? They have brought it at the risk of their lives.'' If David had drunk of that water, the holy scripture would not be telling the story. It was something that was too precious to keep for himself.