Out of the Brook
Today’s Verse:
And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. ~1 Samuel 17:40
A brook is a small, natural stream of fresh water. It might be a runoff from a river. Travelers welcome the sight of a brook as a source to drink from. Jacob sent his family ahead of him at the brook Jabbok prior to his meeting with the angel. The brook Eshcol was the location where luscious and large clusters of grapes grew. God led Elijah to the brook Cherith, where he had water to sustain him for one year. David passed over the brook Kidron when he fled from Absalom. David speaks of drinking from the brook by the way in Psalm 110:7. This morning, let us see a brook that became the location of one of the great works of God.
We see the area of the brook.
The brook was located at the valley of Elah. For forty days, the Israelites were on one side of the valley and the Philistines were on the other side. For the Israelites, it was a time of intimidation, fear, and anxiety. The number 40 and valleys represent trials and testing. Perhaps the men of Israel drew water from this brook each day. It may have been the one bright spot each day that they were thankful for. Each drink of water from that brook gave them refreshment and hydration in that hot, arid region.
We see the articles in the brook.
It was from this brook that David “chose him five smooth stones.” There were many stones that David could have chosen, but our attention is drawn to five smooth stones. He did not choose stones that were cracked, chipped, jagged, or lacking in projectile capacity. He wanted stones that would hit their intended target. David did not look for the stones he needed from the sand or mountain. He wanted five smooth stones specifically from that cool, refreshing brook. These stones would go into his scrip, or shepherd bag. These stones were intended for him to place in his sling and to hurl at the giant, Goliath.
We see the application from the brook.
There is a beautiful and powerful lesson from this brook. The brook is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is our Water of Life. Jesus told the woman of Samaria, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.” Jesus told the Jews on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” The stones picture the weapons that God gives us to defeat the intimidating giants of life that try to overpower us. There is the Word of God, prayer, the filling of the Holy Spirit, the local church, and faith. David needed only one stone to take out Goliath. This teaches us that any of God’s weapons are sufficient to defeat the giants we face. David chose the stones out of the brook. We must draw our strength, wisdom, power, resources, and weapons that we need out of Jesus. There is no substitute for abiding in Christ. Go to the brook and find your stones!
We see the accomplishment.
David places the five stones into his shepherd bag. He reaches for one, places it in his sling, and hurls it at the most vulnerable spot on Goliath: his forehead. The stone hits its mark, and Goliath falls down dead. “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)”. Get your stones out of the brook, and let God direct it to the intended target.
Have a Christ-filled God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Jeremiah 35-37