Originally posted: 4/22/2020
So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there; and David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore they named that place Baal-perazim [the Master of Breakthrough], (14:11).
[Much of today’s post is taken from a previous post conveying these same events in 2 Samuel 5, posted December 23, 2019. “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore he named that place Baal-perazim, (2 Samuel 5:20).
While I thought long and hard to see some new aspect of our great and glorious God to consider, it seemed to me that in these days we currently find ourselves, this post may be especially meaningful. I pray it brings, comfort, encouragement and courage to live with undaunted faith in Him, the Master of Breakthrough.]
Finally… a Breakthrough for David. The years of running and hiding, fearing for his life, living in caves (sheltered in place), looking for the light at the end of the tunnel… and now suddenly, everything has changed.
There was one very fascinating and new fact I learned from this account in 1 Chronicles 14, placed immediately after considering His Ordained Outburst in chapter 13 yesterday. In Hebrew, the words, Breakthrough and Outburst, are the same word!
From NIV Study Bible:
note on 14:11: “breakout… Perazim. The Hebrew underlying the name of this place where the Lord broke out against the Philistines is the same as that underlying the word used in 13:11 when the Lord broke out against Uzzah.”
Then David became angry because of the Lord’s outburst against Uzza; and he called that place Perez-uzza to this day, (1 Chronicles 13:11).
… David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like the breakthrough of waters,” (14:11).
From Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance:
Breakthrough, Outburst “6555. פָּרַץ pāraṣ: A verb meaning to break out, to break down, to burst forth. It indicates the powerful multiplication and spreading of something in all directions.”
And it hit me; when God releases His power, whether in judgment or deliverance, it is always a noticeably, explosive occurrence.
And about Breakthroughs, God’s dynamic, explosive interventions… God doesn’t need them, but His people do. He is Sovereign and what may seem to be a Breakthrough to us, has been moving along according to His plan, exactly as He has orchestrated.
But He knows we need them, the Breakthroughs.
But what we need more, is Him, the Master of Breakthrough.
Consider Him, the Master of Breakthrough
- The Master of Breakthrough establishes His kingdom for the sake of His people.
- And David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted, for the sake of His people Israel, (14:2).
- The Master of Breakthrough instills His courage.
- When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; and David heard of it and went out against them, (14:8).
- The Master of Breakthrough defeats and destroys our enemy.
- David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will You give them into my hand?” Then the Lord said to him, “Go up, for I will give them into your hand.” 11 So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there; and David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore they named that place Baal-perazim. 12 They abandoned their gods there; so David gave the order and they were burned with fire, (14:10-12).
- The Master of Breakthrough leads us in His victory.
- The Philistines made yet another raid in the valley. 14 David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees. 15 It shall be when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” 16 David did just as God had commanded him, and they struck down the army of the Philistines… (14:13-16).
- The Master of Breakthrough establishes His fame and renown.
- Then the fame of David went out into all the lands… (14:17).
- The Master of Breakthrough invokes fear every time He Bursts Out and Breaks Through
- …and the Lord brought the fear of him on all the nations, (14:17).
How do we respond to Him, the Master of Breakthrough?
Sometimes waiting is so terribly difficult, even painful. But He is faithful and will bring His Breakthrough, in His perfect time and His perfect way. And as we wait on Him, the Master of Breakthrough, our faith is strengthened.
Through His Breakthrough, He leads us not only to His provision of strength, victory, and guidance, but He brings us to Himself. If only we could learn to live in the reality that because He is with us, we are always in the midst of His Breakthrough, whether we feel that way or not, “for we walk by faith, not by sight—” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Many of us know and love to quote Romans 8:28: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
What if we read Romans 8:28 like this?
And we know that God causes all things (including our sufferings and trials) to work together for good (for the sake of His people) who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
What if we learned to see the circumstances of our lives through the lens of God’s purpose? What if we begin to expect Him to do something explosive and magnificent through these days of shelter in place, through the unknowns of when or how?
What if we begin to expect Him to instill in us His courage to defeat and destroy the enemy as He leads us in victory, that His Name be exalted and many come to understand what it is to fear Him Who is worthy and powerful and able?
What if we look for His Breakthrough for the lost, for our communities, our churches, our world, instead of just for comfort for ourselves?
What if we pray He will Breakthrough the blind eyes, the deaf ears, the hard hearts, to see and hear and receive His grace and salvation?
When we experience His Breakthrough on our behalf, may we realize He is always working, not just for us, but for the sake of all His people.
Perhaps we will learn to view our hardships with joy in anticipation of being used by Him, the Master of Breakthrough, to be a blessing to others.
The day is coming when we will join with all the saints to proclaim by sight, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters,” (14:11).
After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God; 2 because His judgments are true and righteous; for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and He has avenged the blood of His bond-servants on her,” (Revelation 19:1-2).
Until that day, let us walk by faith and not sight, that others would be blessed, as we learn to trust and praise Him, the Master of Breakthrough.
Let’s Grow Together!