Day Six: God is the Living Water.

 

So far, we have learned a few important things from this famous battle in the Bible. We have learned that our positioning is crucial when facing the enemy. When the enemy emerges, will you believe his voice or that of God? What to do when you feel powerless? The principles of acting quickly or to act on an Apostolic command and what armour to wear.

Today we see how important it is to be refreshed from the living water. When we face Goliath, we become thirsty, and it is important then to drink at the refreshing waters of the Word.

Let’s continue with the scripture in 1 Sam 17.

1 Sam 17: 40Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.

When faced with the threat of an enemy army and their champion, it wasn’t the king’s armour or sword David had chosen to use. No, this shepherd went with what he knew best, his trusty old sling shot.

His choice of ammunition was Five smooth stones from the brook. Before we get into his choice of picking up five stones, let’s look at the Hebrew word used here for brook.

In Hebrew, the word is nachal, which means to inherit, to occupy, to bequeath, or to possess. In other words, David drew his ammunition from the only trustworthy source: from the living waters of the promises of God. He embraced his inheritance in God and knew that God has given him the land to possess. It refreshed his body, soul and mind.

David knew that Saul’s armour had not been tested, but there was One that had never failed David in the past. That was his refreshment that occupied his mind. He remembered the lion and the bear. He already knew the outcome and knew he could trust God again with the same outcome. Victory was on his mind when he knelt at the brook.

Remember back in day one, God said in Micah 2: 12-13, “I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob, I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together like sheep of the fold, Like a flock in the midst of their pasture; They shall make a loud noise because of so many people. 13The one who breaks open will come up before them; They will break out, Pass through the gate, and go out by it; Their king will pass before them, With the Lord at their head.”

David was called to break open the hedge of despair and fear for his people. He possessed the power to not only break the hedge but also to lead the army of Israel into victory. He had the mandate directly from God.

What made David so sure that he could defeat the giant Goliath? After all, he was the youngest of his brothers and was much smaller in stature than King Saul. I believe it was because he knew who he was in the eyes of God. He was part of the remnant. Shepherding the flocks of his father, Jesse had given him valuable experience in not only tending to the vulnerable but also in defeating mighty beasts. And that’s exactly what David compared Goliath with, an uncircumcised beast.

David knew that the Holy Spirit would always prevail over the flesh of a beast, whether that beast is an actual beast of the field, or if it is a man living in the beast’s image. David had already chosen to live after the image of God. He was the exact representation of Christ; therefore; a remnant; called to do mighty exploits. Those made in the image of God RULE over all creatures, great and small. Goliath was no exception and David had complete faith in this truth from the Word of God.

Though the giant taunted Israel with threats for forty days, invoking great fear in the king and army of Israel, David could “see” beyond his natural sight. I believe this is figured not only in the source of his ammunition (the stones were retrieved from Living waters), but in the number of stones that he chose to carry.

How good is your sight?

In order to really win a fight, you must envision the victory. David already saw Goliath’s head rolling into the valley.

Sight is very important when you are fighting the enemy. Without sight, you are blind.

Jesus asked the disciples in Matthew 11 three times, “What do you see?”

7As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’

Without vision, we cannot see what God is doing. We cannot understand the things that happen right before our eyes if we do not study the word.

How do we receive vision?

By studying the word of God.

Ephesians 4:14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

It is so easy to be tossed around and carried away with every doctrine that is out there. False teaching on when Jesus is coming, about the rapture, or going to heaven. We are called for much more and not to run away. We are called to overcome.

We must be able to understand the scripture, divide it rightly. Jesus confronted the disciples by asking them three times, “What do you see?”

We must understand the smoothness of the stones and its significance in order to use it correctly. We must know that we have to get it from the living waters; the river of God to be accurate in our interpretation. We don’t have time to run after lies and hide in the shadows. No, we must understand the times, and be part of the remnant that will break the hedge for others to follow.

The significance of the five smooth stones carries a grace with it that can be wielded once you understand God’s word. It is effective and powerful. It carries with it an authority that only the Davidic company can use. But it begins at the brook, where each stone has been washed and cleansed with the pure waters of the Word. Once you drink of this water, you will not be satisfied with polluted water.

God is the living water that wants to refresh your daily intake. This is where you will become strong, trust in your inheritance as a son of God and do mighty exploits for God.

Grace and peace to you.  

Day One / Day Two / Day Three / Day Four / Day Five/ Day Six / 

Day Seven / Day Eight / Day Nine / Day Ten / Day Eleven / Day Twelve