Topical Bible: Brooks: (Drinking of, by the Way) of Help in Distress

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In the biblical narrative, brooks often symbolize God's provision and sustenance in times of need and distress. These natural watercourses, typically smaller than rivers, serve as vital sources of refreshment and life, especially in arid regions. The imagery of drinking from a brook is frequently employed in Scripture to illustrate divine assistance and the sustaining power of God during challenging times.

One of the most poignant examples of this is found in the story of Elijah the prophet. In 1 Kings 17:2-6, during a severe drought, God commands Elijah to hide by the Brook Cherith, promising him sustenance. The passage reads: "Then a revelation from the LORD came to Elijah: 'Leave here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Brook Cherith, east of the Jordan. You are to drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.' So Elijah did what the LORD had told him, and he went and lived by the Brook Cherith, east of the Jordan. The ravens would bring him bread and meat in the morning and evening, and he would drink from the brook" (1 Kings 17:2-6). Here, the brook serves as a tangible sign of God's provision, offering Elijah both physical sustenance and a reminder of God's faithfulness.

The concept of brooks as sources of divine help is further echoed in the Psalms. In Psalm 42:1, the psalmist writes, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God" . This verse captures the deep yearning for God's presence and the life-giving refreshment that only He can provide. The imagery of a deer seeking out a brook underscores the necessity and urgency of divine help in times of spiritual thirst and distress.

Moreover, the metaphor of brooks extends to the New Testament, where Jesus Himself is depicted as the ultimate source of living water. In John 7:37-38, Jesus declares, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him" . Here, the promise of living water signifies the spiritual sustenance and eternal life that Jesus offers to all who come to Him in faith.

In summary, the biblical motif of drinking from brooks serves as a powerful symbol of God's provision and help in times of distress. Whether through the physical sustenance provided to Elijah or the spiritual refreshment offered by Christ, brooks represent the ever-present and life-giving assistance of God to His people. This imagery encourages believers to seek God's presence and rely on His unfailing provision, especially in moments of need and hardship.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 110:7
He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Repentance and Restitution.
... who has been a drunkard signs the pledge, and stops drinking. ... Speaking on repentance,
Dr. Brooks, of St. ... that leads to repentance; hence the true way to repent ...
/.../the way to god and how to find it/chapter vi repentance and restitution.htm

Prayers Answered
... from insanity is given by President William M. Brooks, of Tabor ... I know but Christ
would keep one from drinking if I ... me as if a breath might blow it either way. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/various/the wonders of prayer/prayers answered.htm

The Desire of the Righteous Granted;
... see the rivers, the streaming floods, the brooks of butter ... more particularly as they
work this way and that. ... better, and so cries out, 'Lord, help mine unbelief ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the desire of the righteous.htm

Hymns of Christian Devotion and Experience.
... 1806 he nearly lost his voice by accidently drinking nitric acid. ... be thy way, And
yet in His own way The Lord ... Like Phillips Brooks he went to his grave "in all ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter iii hymns of christian.htm

part ii
... Therefore we must guard against drinking much wine, tea ... of your Heavenly Father by
your actions; help Him to ... return from the way of destruction to the Heavenly ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm

Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
... the fort, where it serves as a drinking trough for ... in endeavouring to force their
way through, were ... by countless unfailing streams; rushing brooks babble on ...
/.../chapter iisyria at the beginning.htm

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners:
... but nine or ten years old,' did so distress my soul ... did set the commandments before
me for my way to heaven ... do better next time, and there get help again, 'for ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/grace abounding to the chief.htm