Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
Reading & Message | David’s Breakthrough

Reading & Message | David’s Breakthrough

Last updated on: April 19, 2020 at 10:00 am by Rev. Jared V. Ingle

Reading & Message | David’s Breakthrough 2020-04-16T23:35:43-04:00 Rev. Jared V. Ingle

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Bob Revnell, Trustee & Elder Reading | Matthew 8.1-17

The best record of Jesus’ teaching and preaching is in the book of Matthew. We’ve seen it in chapters 5-7 with our readings. When we last gathered together in person, we read The Beatitudes. They describe the nature of life in the Kingdom of God. Through this authoritative teaching, Jesus shows Himself as the Messiah. This is the Word.

Now we’ll turn to the deeds . . . the Kingdom power now demonstrated. These miracles and deeds are proof of Jesus as Messiah, and that the Kingdom truly has arrived.

Jesus comes ministering to the ordinary person, the little guy, the marginalized. Some are disappointed that He doesn’t take on an earthly throne and kingdom. Instead, His mission is to overthrow Satan’s strongholds in people’s lives, showing compassion for them.

Matthew 8.1-17

Reading & Message

Pastor Jared Ingle Message | David’s Breakthrough

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 2 Samuel 5.17-18, NIV 1999

i. David is the new King of Israel

David’s old enemies, the Philistines rise up against him. He had already killed their champion, the giant Goliath. Now they gather in the Valley of Rephaim. Rephaim means giants. Is it possible that the Philistines are recruiting giants to fight David?

The enemy will try to keep us from becoming what God wants us to become. He will raise up people to speak against us, acting against God’s plan. If he can, the enemy will try to raise up old giants from our past.

so David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you.” 2 Sam 5.19

ii. It is nothing new for David to pray before a battle

David is always inquiring of the Lord before a battle. His persistence in prayer gives us a glimpse of his character. One of the core components of David’s character is that he’s always seeking the heart of the Lord.

Nonetheless, many of us instantly think of David’s greatest failure. He went through a time when he was caught up in great sin. But that sin does not define his character over his lifetime.

iii. King David replaces King Saul who has quite a different character

King Saul is ordered by the Lord to wait for the Prophet Samuel, who will offer a sacrifice before Saul goes to battle. Samuel confronts Saul because he disobeys and hastily offers a sacrifice on his own.

What have you done?” asked Samuel.

Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash, I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”

“You acted foolishly,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” 1 Samuel 13.11-14

What’s the difference between Saul and David?

David loves God with all his heart. Saul loves himself with all his heart.

David stumbles into sin and then repents with all of his heart. Saul stumbles into sin and then embraces a lifestyle of sin.

Saul follows his own heart, but David seeks the heart of God.

iv. David’s prayer before battle is a glimpse of a life of prayer (2 Sam 5.19)

He seeks God’s heart as a shepherd, a musician in Saul’s court, and as King. In this passage, we’re just catching one glimpse of David’s character.

The Lord promises victory before the battle begins. This is a challenge to us, an instruction to seek the heart of God. There are times when the Lord will promise us victory before the battle.

So far, this story is nothing new for David. It’s happened before . . . but what happens next is unique.

So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.” So that place was called Baal Perazim. The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off. 2 Sam 5.20-21

v. David defeats them at Baal Perazim

David names that place Baal Perazim. Baal is a common name for a lord, a chief, or sometimes a false god. This may be the only time in Scripture God is called Baal, a very ancient reference.

Perazim is often applied to some type of breach or breakthrough. It refers to God’s activity punishing Israel. It refers at times to God’s punishment of Israel’s enemies.

If we put Baal together with Perazim as David did, we have a completely unique name for God. There are minor differences in translation, but I love one option. Baal Perazim can literally mean the Lord of the Breakthrough.

vi. David’s Breakthrough can become our breakthrough

David’s Breakthrough is not because he’s a military genius. David’s Breakthrough must come from a higher source. David’s old enemy, the Philistines are stirring up hornet’s nest. Maybe the old giants are rising up again in the land.

We need a breakthrough in our world today from a higher source. A plague is on the rampage that is rising up like a global giant. We need a global breakthrough against this giant.

David seeks God, Baal Perazim, Lord of the Breakthrough.

Where are we expecting our breakthrough to come from? Politics may change, but they may not produce breakthrough. Medicine may change, but it may not produce breakthrough. Safety has changed, but it may not produce breakthrough.

Everything may change, but our God has never changed! He’s still Baal Perazim. He’s still Lord of the Breakthrough.

Do you need a breakthrough?

Do we need a breakthrough as a people?

Will we experience something like David’s Breakthrough?

An Invitation to Consider:

Learning to rely on God to fight our battles is not learned in battle. If we wait until we’re in a battle to turn to God, we’ve already waited too long.

Like David, we must rely on God on a regular basis. We call on Him in the everyday.

Like David, our character becomes the type of character that finds strength in Him.

Like David, we become a people with a reputation for seeking “after his own heart.”

Then when the battle presents itself, we just might experience David’s Breakthrough.

May we see the hand of God at work, Lord of the Breakthrough

connect:

Long Lake Friends Church
4172 Church Rd.
Traverse City, MI 49685

Facebook @longlakefriends

[email protected]

YouTube JCIngle

JC Ingle, Inc.

biblicalarchaeology.org

Previous Post

April 15, 2020

Michigan's Dilemma | Constitutional Rights vs. Political Winds

Next Post

April 22, 2020 Michigan's Dilemma | Governor's Office vs. Legislature

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Communion Cruz Ingle Crystal Ingle Early Church Engaging Culture Ethics & Society Family Formation History In Dialogue Jared & Crystal Kingdom of God Majority World Church Mateo Ingle Messenger College Mission Narrative Pentecostal Church of God Prayer Shepherding The Sermon The Writings Theology Theology & Psychology Traverse City Uncategorized Vernell Ingle Word Study

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 May 2017 March 2017 March 2014 February 2013 January 2013 October 2012 July 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 August 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the Amalekite king spared by Saul, contrary to God's command?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Agag Ish-bosheth Goliath Abner