“So they went up to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there. Then David said, ‘God has broken through my enemies by my hand like a breakthroughof water.’ Therefore they called the name of that place Baal Perazim.” 1 Chronicles 14:11

Master of Breakthroughs

As I shared with some friends recently, I’ve been camped out in 1 Chronicles 14:8-17 all week. In verses 8-12, after the Philistines hear that David has been anointed king, they go searching for him. David inquires of the LORD whether or not he should go up against them and if God will deliver them into his hands. God says yes, so he goes up and defeats them at Baal–Perazim which literally means “Master of Breakthroughs” or “the LORD breaks through.”

A breakthrough is defined as a sudden, dramatic and important discovery or development; or an instance of achieving success in a particular sphere or activity.

This led me to pray for these friends, my own family, our church body, the nation and the world. If ever there was a time we needed a breakthrough it is now. I prayed for a breakthrough in areas of bondage whether from fear, weariness, frustration, depression, physical/emotional/mental/spiritual pain/disease or perhaps the need to do things the way we want or think they should be done. In a time when very few things seem to be going the way most of us think they should be or need to be…God is still the Master of Breakthroughs.

In verses 13-16 they come to attack again, and David inquires of God again; this time He tells David to go a different way. Verse 15 says: “And it shall be, when you hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

The LORD tells David to wait for Him this time. David, and perhaps his men, literally heard the sound of angelic armies marching ahead of them across the treetops to defeat their enemies!

Over a decade ago in the darkest time of my life, when the world appeared to be crashing in on my family, I was up in the middle of the night and knew angels and demons were fighting over my house. There was a battle raging for us in the heavenlies and as I sat on my couch in the dark praying for victory I had to trust that God would strike down the enemy that wanted to defeat us, and He did.

Sometimes we’re to go out to battle and God will give us victory; sometimes we’re to wait and listen/watch for Him to move first; and sometimes we’re simply not to go at all, as it’s not His perfect timing yet.

Master of Breakthroughs, I pray we would inquire of You before each battle we face throughout our day and then be obedient to what You tell us to do. Amen.