Lord, Would You Let Me Go?

by Dr. Don Sisk

1 Chronicles 11:15-19

“Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim. And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines’ garrison was then at Bethlehem. And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate! And the three brake through the host 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 of it, but poured it out to the LORD, And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.”

In this passage we find one of the most beautiful stories about love and faithfulness found in the holy writings. David and some of his captains were in a cave. They perhaps talked about many things. David uttered a desire. He did not make a request. Certainly, he did not give an order. It was simply an expressed wish. “Oh, that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem.”

Why did these three men do what they did? They risked their lives in order to get some water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem which was guarded by the Philistines. They desired to go because they loved their leader. Evidently their thinking was, “Your slightest wish is our greatest command.” In other words, “If you want something done, we will do it.”

David loved his men. He was a great warrior and more than once risked his life for his followers. Love begets love. When we love others, we will be loved.

I cannot help but wonder what we would hear if we got close enough to our master, the Lord Jesus Christ. I wonder if we would not hear Him say, “Oh, that someone would go and tell all the untold millions that I have provided for their salvation.” As we hear Him utter these words, what will be our reaction?

Some are saying, “But it is so dangerous.” “If we went to certain places, we could contact the horrible disease of AIDS since so many of the people are infected.” “There is a very unstable government.” “War could break out any time.” “We would be deprived of so many of life’s necessities in a country such as that.” “There are all kinds of dangers lurking out there.” “The safest place is to stay in our cave.”

Wait a minute! Think of the Lord Jesus as being the One who expressed His desire. Think of what He did for you. He not only risked His life, He laid down His life for you. Listen as He says, “I lay down my life for the sheep. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.” Someone well said, “He would rather go to Hell for you than to go to Heaven without you.” Oh! how He loves us.

It will cost us something to go where He desires for us to go and to do what He desires for us to do. But, who thinks of the cost when we are attempting to please the One we love? When we remember His great love for us, we are compelled to go wherever He desires us to go and to do whatever He desires us to do. This is what motivated the great Apostle Paul and it will likewise motivate us when we think of His great love. II Corinthians 5:14, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead.”

The three mighty men in our story left the safety and the comfort of the cave and risked their very lives in order to grant the desire of their leader. What should we do to fulfill the command of our Lord? May our answer be, “No distance is too far.” “No cost is too great.” “No situation is too dangerous.” “Our one passion is to please You.”

Draw very near to Him. Listen as He says, “It is finished.” “I have paid for the sins of mankind.” “They do not have to die and go to Hell.” “Will not someone go and tell them?” Isaiah 6:8, “Also, I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Lord, would You let me go?