Fish Aren’t Wet

Suppose I told you that fish never get wet? What would you reply? Well, it is the truth. Even though fish live in water, they have a special coating that keeps them dry. Their skin and scales are covered with a coating of mucus that forms a shield between the fish and the water. So, fish are actually as dry as you and I when we wear raincoats to keep us from getting wet.

Fish are drier than we are when we go swimming. They are drier than diving birds that constantly have to preen their feathers to keep from getting waterlogged. But when you know that fish spend their entire lives under water, it is difficult to believe that their bodies are always dry.

Besides keeping a fish’s body dry, the mucus covering keeps it clean. A fish cannot preen like a bird or lick like mammal, so it needs a built-in cleaning process. Without the mucus covering, fish would be host to a number of unwelcome parasites, such as young mussel shells or acorn barnacles. And with thousands of these parasitic creatures clinging to their bodies, the fish would soon die.

The mucus also permits a fish’s body to move more efficiently through the water. Without the sheild, even the streamline shape of most species would not eliminate friction that would slow down the fish.

In John 17:15 Jesus said, “I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.” The fish moves about in its water world, seemingly exposed to everything in the water, but it is not. It has a covering that keeps potential enemies from getting into it. Should the sheild in some way be removed the fish would be exposed to those enemies. Spiritually, God’s people seem to be exposed to the world, but actually we are protected from our enemies by a covering from God.

David often used the term ‘sheild’ when referring to his God: “But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.” Psalm 3:3(NLT) He talked about being surround by God with “a shield of love.” (Psalm5:12)

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety… God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.” (Psalm 18:2 and 30 NLT)

Psalm 18 which is recorded twice (See 2Sam 22) is David’s final psalm as he celebrated all the victories God gave him in his life.

Since he was taken from the sheepfold and anointed the future king of Israel, David had lived about 20 years as a courtier then fugitive, and as a man who had lost everything. He lost his safety, youth, wife,family, best friend, career, rights, his connection with the covenant people of God, he lost his comforts, and at times he even lost his close relationship with God. Despite all, he remained steadfast to the Lord.  God – in His timing – delivered David and fulfilled the long-ago promise of his anointing. 

Take time to notice the 8 claims of Psalm 18:1 – 2 of what God is to David. What He was to David He is to you. Every Christian should be both fugitive and fighter (see 1Tim 6:11-12). God is our shield for defence and our horn for offence. Vs1-3 is the introduction. Vs7-15 is a description of a storm. Notice how David sees God in the storm. )(Is He in your storm?) Vs 16 – 19 is one of David’s He/me reflections. From Vs18 to 45 we are given the connection between God’s action on behalf of men and man’s attitude to God. 

Vain were the idols of the ancient world, Baal, and Jupiter; as vain are those of modern times – sports people, actors, pleasure, possessions, honour, and profit. They cannot bestow content or make their followers happy here; much less can they deliver from death or open the everlasting doors above. 

V4-19 is described in devout imagination. In 32 – 35 is the language of grateful experience. Vs46 -50 is the conclusion. 

When reading the last verse consider the great deliverance that has been given to you in Christ and notice also the lovingkindness – God’s faithful covenant of love, our sheild – that is equally yours in Christ.