Hello, thanks for joining me today for Give Him 15.

The title of our post today is A Spirit-led government.

Psalm 44-3, the Passion Translation,

Our forefathers didn't win these battles by their own strength or their own skill or strategy,

but it was through the shining forth of your radiant presence and the display of your mighty power. You loved to give them victory,

for you took great delight in them.

Great verse.

In 2nd Samuel 5, 17 through 25,

the Philistines, the nation of Goliath,

decided to wage war against King David,

attacking him in the valley of Raphaim, which fittingly means the valley of giants.

David sought God for the battle plan, implemented it, and defeated the Philistines there.

He renamed the place, Baal Parasim, meaning the master of breakthrough,

asserting that God had broken through his enemies on his behalf.

The Philistines, however, decided to attack David again,

doing so in the same manner and place. Same enemy, same battlefield, attacking with the same plan. One would think David might be tempted to use the same strategy

he had previously used to defeat them. But he wisely inquired of the Lord regarding this.

And God said, no, you shall not go directly up. Circle around behind them and come at them in front of the

balsam trees. And when you hear the sound of the marching and the tops of the

balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for the Lord will have gone out before you to strike

the army of the Philistines. David obeyed this strategy and prevailed once again.

The master of breakthrough is also the master strategist.

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