Hello, thanks for joining me today for Give Him 15. The title of our post today is

the master strategist. Psalms 443, 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. In 2nd Samuel, chapter 5, verses 17 to 25,

the Philistines decided to wage war against King David,

attacking him the valley of Refaim,

which fittingly means the valley of giants.

David sought God for the battle plan,

implemented it, and defeated the Philistines in that valley.

He renamed the place, Ba'al Parasim,

which means the master of breakthrough, stating that God had broken through his

enemies for him.

The Philistines, however, decided to attack David again, doing so in the same manner and place.

Same enemy, same battlefield, attacking with the same strategy.

One would think David might be tempted to use the same strategy he had previously used to defeat them.

But he 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.

When you hear the sound of marching in 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. On another occasion,

when Israel desperately needed water, Moses sought the Lord and was told to strike a rock with his

staff. He did so in a river of water gushed forth.

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