2 Samuel 5:17-22 (NIV) 17 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. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 19 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 deliver the Philistines into your hands.” 20 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. 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off. 22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;
- When the enemy sees progression, he comes in full force.
2 Samuel 5:17-22 (NIV) 17 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.
In the passage we see that when the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to find him. They had seen and heard about David’s victories.
1 Samuel 18:7 (NIV) As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”
David has slain his ten thousands; so they said. Because David killed Goliath, which was the principal cause of all the following slaughters of the Philistines, the Philistines wanted revenge on David. They knew that he was their biggest threat.
Satan is our enemy, and like the Philistines went up in full force to search for David; Satan wants to destroy us.
John 10:10 (NLT) “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.”
He wants to destroy your purpose, your vision, your gifts, your children, your marriage, your calling, your potential, your blessing, your expectation, your destiny, your life, your career, your name, your promises of God, your future and your present life. He does not care for you at all. His purpose is to destroy you.
2 Corinthians 2:11 (NLT) “so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes”
Satan wants us to doubt God. John 20:27 “Stop doubting and believe”
When Satan tempts you to doubt God, don’t let your circumstance determine your God; let your God determine your circumstance.
Satan wants us to fear. Psalm 34:4 says, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”
Satan wants us to feel insecure – Ephesians 2:10 “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us”
Satan wants you to fail – 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry the death of Jesus in our bodies, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”
2 Timothy 4:18 NIV “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen”
- Go down to the stronghold.
2 Samuel 5:17-22 (NIV) 17 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.
David heard that his enemies were coming in full force to search for him, but when David heard it, he went down to the stronghold. He did not run away from his enemy, no he went down to face his enemy. He knew that his strength was not in his own strength but in the strength of the Lord. Remember, John 10: 10 (NIV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.
Let’s look at the various versions of John 10:10b.
“My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. (TLB)”
“My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (NLT)”
I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]. (AMP)
I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. (MSG)
The meaning of this is: beyond what is anticipated, exceeding expectation, going past the expected limit, over and above, more than is necessary, super-added, a supernatural intervention.
Our God is an above and beyond God, exceeding our expectations. Ephesians 3:20 (NIV) “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”
God is able. He spoke and all things became. God can do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can imagine. Above all that we ask or think. This means beyond our understanding or human capabilities to comprehend. By the power that works in us, the Holy Spirit. For God’s glory.
Psalm 103:5 (NIV) “who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s”
That is why David could go the stronghold of his enemy. This stronghold was the same place where he killed Goliath – The Valley of Rephaim. If God could do it before He can do it again.
Psalm 91:7-10 (NLV) “A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand. But it will not come near you. 8 You will only look on with your eyes, and see how the sinful are punished. 9 Because you have made the Lord your safe place, and the Most High the place where you live, 10 nothing will hurt you. No trouble will come near your tent.”
- Pray and Obey
2 Samuel 5:17-22 (NIV) 17 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. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 19 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 deliver the Philistines into your hands.”
Whenever David faced a trial, especially with his enemies, he always asked to know God’s will. And each time he inquired, the Lord graciously gave him a clear and definite answer.
David always inquired of the Lord. David’s multiple inquiries of the Lord reveal that he was a man of prayer, who was always intent to know His will. This was the main reason why he was called a man after God’s own heart.
Acts 13:22 (ERV) “After God took Saul away, God made David their king. This is what God said about David: ‘David, the son of Jesse, is the kind of person who does what pleases me. He will do everything I want him to do.”
We please God when we ask Him.
Judges 18:5-6 “They said to him, “Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether our way on which we are going will be prosperous.” The priest said to them, “Go in peace; your way in which you are going has the Lord’s approval.”
God speaks to us on a daily basis, but it seems that we are not listening
Matthew 13:14 (MSG) “I don’t want Isaiah’s forecast repeated all over again: Your ears are open but you don’t hear a thing. Your eyes are awake but you don’t see a thing. 15 The people are blockheads! They stick their fingers in their ears so they won’t have to listen; They screw their eyes shut so they won’t have to look, so they won’t have to deal with me face-to-face and let me heal them. 16 “But you have God-blessed eyes – eyes that see! And God-blessed ears – ears that hear! 17 A lot of people, prophets and humble believers among them, would have given anything to see what you are seeing, to hear what you are hearing, but never had the chance.”
John 16:13 (NASB) “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”
David was instructed to attack the Philistines, and he did. David was obedient to the instruction of the Lord. Our obedience is a prerequisite to our breakthrough. We must be obedient if we want to see that sudden shift we are praying for.
- The place of Breakthrough
2 Samuel 5:20 (NIV) “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.
What does the name Baal-perazim mean? Well, the word Baal just means “Lord,” and the word perazim means “breach” or “breakthrough.” So Baal-perazim means “Lord of the Breakthrough.” That is exactly why David named the place where God broke through his enemies “Baal-perazim.” God is a God of breakthroughs.
A breakthrough is a dramatic development, a sudden shift, a move beyond an obstacle.
David describes God’s power as the bursting forth of waters. He describes it as a flood. He says that when the God of the breakthrough shows up and releases His power, it will be like a flood of His power, a flood of His blessing, a flood of healing, a flood of breakthrough.
Water is powerful. A flood of water can pick up a huge car that weighs thousands of tons and move it around. Nothing can stop the force of that water. Anything that’s in its way is moved!
You may many have problems that look extremely large, obstacles that look impossible to overcome. When the God of the breakthrough releases a flood of His power, nothing can stop it. You need to get ready for a flood, not for a small stream. Get ready for a flood of God’s favour, a tsunami of His goodness and favour! Believe that your breakthrough is here.
Micah 2:13 (NIV) “The One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out.Their King will pass through before them, the Lord at their head.”
God is the Lord of breakthroughs.
Hebrews 12:12 (NLT) “So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.”
Deuteronomy 9:3 (AMP) “So know today [with confident assurance] that the Lord your God is crossing [the Jordan] before you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them and He will subdue them before you, and you shall drive them out and destroy them quickly, just as the Lord has promised you”
“The greatest breakthrough’s happens in the most difficult of times. Expect, believe and receive it.” ― Jeanette Coron