As you can see from the date of this cartoon (1943), this demeaning saying has been around for sometime. In the sports world it refers to the lowly “water boy” who is a servant to the team. Freedictonary.com gives this definition,
Carry (Someone’s) Water
To be subservient to and uncritical of someone; to do someone’s bidding.
The dictator made sure to surround himself with those who would eagerly carry his water.
I hate my job. I have to carry my boss’s water or risk getting fired!
Maybe you are beginning to wonder where I’m going with this post. Let me explain. This morning in my Bible study a verse of scripture caught my attention again. I had read it about a week ago and it drew my attention that time as well. Something in me said, “study this verse” to learn more of what is implied in it. This is the verse found in today’s devotional reading in MyDailyBible app, DailyPlan : one-year-tract : 2020-08-25 #Bible https://www.mydailybible.org/dp/esv/one-year-tract/2020-08-25.htm
Luke 22:7-13 The Passover with the Disciples
7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” 9 They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” 10 He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters 11 and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” 13 And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
In researching of this scripture about a week ago I learned that it was not customary for a man to be carrying a jar of water. If it had been a “normal sight” the disciples would have had a hard time to known which man to follow. This morning I again found references to this and an example of this was taken from the Book of Judges. The people of Gibeon tricked Joshua into making a peace covenant with them. After Joshua learned that he had been deceived he told them this,
Joshua 9:22 Then Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you dwell near us? 23 Now therefore, you are cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
As you can see the phrase, “carrying someone’s water” having the meaning of being their servant as the cartoon from 1943 implies originated a long time ago. As the Apostle Paul often said, we should act as “bondservants” of Jesus Christ. When we call Him “LORD” we are acknowledging that we are His servants. Jesus set the record straight when He said these words,
Luke 6:46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
Oddly enough, today’s devotional reading tells the story of another servant of God who was content with just “carrying His water.” He was belittled as the “water boy” in this Bible account too. He was overlooked by his father and his brothers because he was the runt of the family, the “baby boy.” But “baby boy” was God’s “Baby Boy” and he knew it because he had a relationship with his Heavenly Father, a tangible one that no one could talk him out of. Maybe by now you’ve figured out this “water boy” is none other than David. In today’s devotional reading it says what he is called to do,
1 Samuel 17:17-18 And Jesse said to David his son, “Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers. 18 Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them.”
Even non-Christians know this story and how in the end David kills Goliath, cuts off his head using Goliath’s own sword. In this account an extra tidbit of information is included,
1 Samuel 17:54 And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.
David killed Goliath in the Valley of Elah, “Terebinth” that in itself is an interesting Bible study you should take up some time but consider this. The Valley of Elah is about 16 miles from Jerusalem. Why did David feel compelled to bring the head of Goliath to Jerusalem anyway? Could this be why Golgotha is called the place of the skull? Is it talking about Goliath’s skull?
Golgotha, (Aramaic: “Skull”, )also called Calvary, (from Latin calva: “bald head,” or “skull”), skull-shaped hill in Jerusalem, the site of Jesus’ crucifixion. It is referred to in all four Gospels. The hill of execution was outside the city walls of Jerusalem, apparently near a road and not far from the sepulchre where Jesus was buried.
The Bible is certainly not a boring book to read especially if you have the Holy Spirit drawing your mind’s attention to things in the text to search out. Bible verses have multiple layers of application because God’s wisdom is fathomless.
In researching this verse today I learned another interesting thing about the “Water Boy” Bible verse at this website, https://qr.ae/pN2WIa
What is the significance of a “man carrying a jug of water” in Luke 22:10 and surrounding text? by David Doherty May 14 Studied Philosophy of Science
This passage is very interesting as it tells us what the story is all about. What this passage is describing is the end of the astrological age. We are currently in, or at the end of, the age of the fish (Pisces). There are many references to Pisces in the new testament, so much so that Christians use the fish as a symbol of their faith.
In Luke 22:10 the disciples ask how will they know where to go. Jesus tells them there will be a man with a pitcher of water follow him into the house. Some versions of this verse translate as “a man with a pitcher of water on his shoulder” This is referencing the Houses of the Zodiac. More specifically Aquarius.
The New Testament is not a book about what happened, but what will happen. It describes the passage of the age of Pisces. It describes the last 2100 years, up until this point. We are now at the gate of the city, following the man with the pitcher of water into the house, we are on the dawning of the age of Aquarius.
So, the verse is a note of when the story will begin to come to an end, as one age ends and a new one begins. The Age of Aquarius is estimated to be anywhere from 1900 to 2100, many place it around 2012. It is impossible to know for sure because the constellations don’t have defined boundaries. It is more of a period of time then a moment in time.
So could it be that Almighty God who created the heavens with all it’s constellations in the order that tell God’s Story, in this simple verse was alluding to the when the “age of Grace” would end in about 2,000. We know for certain that God put the nation of Israel in a 2,000 year time out to institute the “Age of Grace” that the Apostle Paul was the minister of. The “Gospel of the Kingdom” was rejected by God’s chosen people, the descendants of Abraham. There was a time of transitioning that had to take place over a period of years as Paul went about preaching the Gospel of Grace. Over time people understood more and more that God had turned His attention from the nation of Israel an more towards the establishment of the church. The destruction of the 2nd temple kind of put an exclamation mark on the end of that era.
The Revelation 12 Sign got many peoples attention recently because it was a once in 7,000 year event when the scripture was accurately fulfilled in the heavenly constellation.
Psalms 147:4-5 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.
Isaiah 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing.
E.W. Bullinger wrote a book in 1893 titled “The Gospel In The Stars” that focused on the handiwork of God seen in the constellations. God told us in His Word that He uses times and seasons, the “mo’eds – appointed times” to prove He is God, declaring the end from the beginning. It is all declared in our Bible, the Word of God. To Him be ALL Glory, Honor and Praise for Evermore, Amen!!!
Oh that He would allow me to carry His water in the way He chooses by His Grace, His Spirit and His Blood.
Psalm 19:1-3, 14
The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.
2 Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
P.S. Thinking back on the image of water being poured out from a heavenly constellation 2 scripture passages came to mind that I want to link to.
Ezekiel 47:1-12, Revelation 22:1-5 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ez%2047:1-12,%20Rev%2022:1-5;&version=NKJV
In The Word 