And Thurrock’s name shall be “Baal Perazim”
Lessons from the life of King David that speak to us today here in the l'il ol' Borough of Thurrock
Background
2 Samuel 5:1-3
David Becomes King Over Israel
All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, We are your own flesh and blood.
In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the LORD said to you, 'You shall shepherd my people Israel, and you shall become their ruler.'
When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel.
The tribes - which in today’s context could be nations, cultures, traditions or denominations - united under one king, David, or for us, King Jesus. The tribes acknowledged David ‘one of them’, just as we today can acknowledge we are all of and under and in Christ. In fact, there can be no true unity - which is only bought about by the Holy Spirit - unless we are joined or knitted together in Christ
The tribes also acknowledged David’s military successes, and this is a major unifying fact. We also can unite in the fact of Christ’s ‘military success’ at having defeated satan, sickness, sin and death on the cross.
The third acknowledgement made by the tribes was that David had been called by God to be their shepherd-king - this wasn’t decided by men, but by God himself, speaking through Samuel the Prophet. Again, we can acknowledge that Jesus is the King of kings.
The compact David and the tribes of Israel made was a covenant, an agreement, a promise between them: David will be their king, and they will be his people. Likewise, Jesus is our Lord & King, we his people - he looks after us (so we can trust him and have faith in him), and we follow him because we belong to him.
Just as David was anointed king over Israel, have you anointed Jesus to be your King? Do you let him rule you? (There’s a difference between believing in Jesus as your Saviour and following him as your Lord.) By agreeing to let Jesus be your Lord and King, you get his protection, and your obedience to your King liberates his divine power through you.
I n 2 Samuel 5:4-16, David defeats the Jebusites and Jerusalem becomes his capital city and seat of government.
Jerusalem is the most spiritually contested piece of land in the world, constantly disputed and under siege - because God has a plan for Jersualem. It’s a picture of the spiritual battle that will result in the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven. Believers in King Jesus are already citizens of the New Jerusalem, which is why you are constantly disputed over and under siege - but the reality is, there is no dispute (you are Jesus’s) and though you maybe besieged, the war has already been won (by Jesus).
Right: The heading in the New Revised Standard Bible above 2 Samuel 5:6... Note the capital 'U' on 'united'. Found by Colin Baker during the service at which this message was delivered.
David Defeats the Philistines
2 Samuel 5:17-19
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; so David enquired of the LORD, Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me? The LORD answered him, Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you.
The enemy (Philistines) reacts to David’s kingship, the Israelite tribes’ unity, David’s military success over the Jebusites and establishing of Jerusalem as his capital.
Our enemy constantly reacts to Jesus’s Kingship, which means we are his, and Christ’s Lordship, which means we have (share in his) authority. The enemy constantly reacts to the church’s unity - he does anything to keep us separated in our little manmade groupings - through which God commands the blessing for life evermore (Psalm 133). The enemy constantly reacts to Jesus’ disciples’ unity, through which the world sees and finds Christ (John 13:34). The enemy constantly reacts to the fact that the war is already won by Jesus, and deludes himself (he is the father of lies) he can still win, but in doing so, continues to lose, and perpetually shoots himself in the foot (no wonder he’s hopping mad...).
The enemy forces were ready to attack, but what was David’s immediate response? To react impulsively? No, he asked the Lord what to do - he sought God’s strategy and not his own. In spiritual warfare, we must ask God for strategy: to do it our way is to do it in our own strength. It is the only way he will surely hand situations, illnesses and communities over to us, because (as Ethel Jones of Grays Pentecostal Church used to say) ‘obedience liberates divine power’.
So David defeats the Philistines - because he knew the battle belongs to the Lord, and so he let the Lord win the battle by doing it the Lord’s way, by following the Lord’s strategy. (Think of other examples from the Bible characters who didn’t ‘do it my way’ - Moses at the Red Sea; Joshua at Jericho; Gideon against the Midianites; Daniel in the Lion’s Den; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the Fiery Furness; Jesus on the Third Day...) That’s why David gave God all the glory for his victory - it wasn’t his, it was God’s. The battles we face belong to the Lord too, and he wants us to ‘win’ them his way, not ours. Our weapons aren’t the weapons of this world, and come from the Lord’s arsenal of love.
 2 Samuel 5:20-21
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.
This amazing, miraculous victory caused David to name that place Baal Perazim, which means means 'the lord who breaks out' - like a spring bubbling up out of the ground; like water bursting from a rock; like rain pouring on a dry and lifeless desert; like life bursting out of arid ground after a deluge; like a tidal wave flooding low land; like a dam bursting out all over the valley below; like fresh water flushing away filthy water.
David immediately destroyed the false idols left by the Philistines - protecting his own men from their potential influence, and also making a point to the enemy of who’s side God is on. When something is overcome in us or through us it is so truth can triumph over falsehood and lies, because the Kingdom we belong to is that of the King of truth - didn’t Jesus say “I am the way, the truth and the life”? And only the Holy Spirit - the Spirit of God - leads us into all truth.
In 2 Samuel 5:22-25, The Philistines attack for a second time - once again the enemies of God come against his purposes, and once again David asks God for strategy, and once again God gives it, and once again God gives David the victory.
Then in 2 Samuel 6, all is revealed - all these battles made way for the Ark of the Covenant to come to Jerusalem, and God’s purpose was achieved, all because David followed God’s strategies and not his own.
Baal Perazim and Thurrock
A number of cross-denominational projects in the borough, the most currently visible being Rock Thurrock, are increasing and have brought unprecedented church unity.
 To use Rock Thurrock as the prominent example at this time, there is agreement under Christ - just like the tribes with David - that this is a project from God, who provoked Edwin Hughes to loiter to the point of curiosity at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) stall at the Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE) in May 2010. That unity and agreement is part of God’s strategy, and our obedience in being united will liberate divine power.
The word over the UK is that “... if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14. In Thurrock, one of the ‘wicked ways’ the church is turning away from is its obstinate propensity to remain divided. This goes deeper than denominational, traditional or cultural differences, having at its roots in the very fallen nature of man, wherein the law of sin dictates that every individual should be individualistic - an island. But ‘coming in the opposite spirit’ to that of isolationism is the promise of God’s healing of the land, which speaks not only of individuals in society and community, but the very earth in which we are planted together.
The Bible clearly teaches the spiritual principle of unity under God: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! ... For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life for evermore.” Psalm 133:1,3. Our unity - purposed and caused by the Holy Spirit through the bond of peace - will deliver results that will mean chaos for the church, but transformation for the community. “Always pain before a child is born”, as U2 sang a few years back.
 Rock Thurrock’s unity and agreement is the beginning of God’s strategy to mobilise the church of Thurrock and bring young people to Jesus. By being obedient to God’s strategy - the unlikely, slightly old fashioned BGEA-style of evangelism - we can have faith that he is preparing a Baal Perazim moment here in little old, out-of-the-way, never-heard-of-it-before Thurrock. When the BGEA were strategising their Rock The UK campaign, they probably looked at the major cities - the likes of London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Cardiff - but God’s strategy is to start with Thurrock!
And this notion of a bursting of waters is echoes in a number of recent words, pictures and dreams that have come to our attention; words about waves of blessing, revival, salvation, healing, redemption, cleansing, sanctification, hope, joy, peace and love sweeping in across this land from over the sea’s horizon. ‘Rivulets’ have been a theme, speaking of cleared channels of communication with God. Ditches have been dug and blocked-up wells reopened.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19
Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new.
It's bursting out! Don't you see it?
There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.
Isaiah 43:18-19 (The Message)
The spring is a Baal Perazim, and we’re moving from ‘perceiving’ that God’s going to do something to knowing that God’s actually doing something now, to having faith that God’s doing something before our very eyes.
Baal Perazim - can it mean the lord who breaks out in Thurrock?
 ... like a spring bubbling up out of the ground, tumbling down from One Tree Hill across the borough ... Baal Perazim!
... like water bursting from a rock, as we strike the ROCK of ThurROCK in obedience ... Baal Perazim!
... like life bursting out of arid ground after a deluge, bringing a harvest after years of drought ... Baal Perazim!
... like a tidal wave flooding low land, bringing blessing, salvation, healing, cleansing, redemption, joy, hope, love, life, Jesus ... Baal Perazim!
... like a dam bursting out all over the valley below, as prayer upon prayer built up over years are suddenly answered ... Baal Perazim!
... like fresh water flushing away filthy water, transforming Thurrock from a place of derision into a place of desire ... Baal Perazim!
Meanings of BAAL PERAZIM
- "As waters break out, the LORD has broken out against my enemies before me." NIV
- "God exploded on my enemies like a gush of water." “The-Master-Who-Explodes”. The Message
- "He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!", "the Lord who bursts through." NLT
- “The LORD has burst through my enemies before me like a bursting flood.” ESV
- "The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters." NASB
- "The LORD has overwhelmed my enemies in front of me like an overwhelming flood." “The Lord Overwhelms.” God’s Word Translation
- The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. KJV
- The Lord has let the forces fighting against me be broken before me as a wall is broken by rushing waters. Bible in Basic English
- The Lord hath divided my enemies before me, as waters are divided. Douay-Rheims Bible
- Jehovah has broken in upon mine enemies before me, as the breaking forth of waters. Darby
- The LORD hath broken mine enemies before me, like the breach of waters. ERV
- “Jehovah hath broken forth on mine enemies before me, as the breaking forth of waters.” Young’s Literal Translation
- Master or possessor of breaches, equivalent to place of breaches. Barnes
- The plain or chief of breaches, because of the breach which God made in the Philistine army; and thus he commemorated the interference of the Lord. Clarke
- The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters; as when waters, through their mighty force, break down the banks of rivers, and carry all before them; or as one breaks an earthen vessel full of water... Gill
- "The master of breaches", where the Philistines were broke in upon, and broken to pieces, of which God was the author, and which gave David the mastery over his enemies... Gill
- The master of the breaches: So he ascribes all to God. As waters - As floods or rivers of waters, which break the banks, and overflow a land, and overturn all that stands in their way. Wesley
... and from Matthew Henry’s Commentary
 2 Samuel 5:17-25
The Philistines considered not that David had the presence of God with him, which Saul had forfeited and lost. The kingdom of the Messiah, as soon as it was set up in the world, was thus attacked by the powers of darkness. The heathen raged, and the kings of the earth set themselves to oppose it; but all in vain, Ps. 2:1, &c. The destruction will turn, as this did, upon Satan's own kingdom. David owns dependence on God for victory; and refers himself to the good pleasure of God, Wilt thou do it? The assurance God has given us of victory over our spiritual enemies, should encourage us in our spiritual conflicts. David waited till God moved; he stirred then, but not till then. He was trained up in dependence on God and his providence. God performed his promise, and David failed not to improve his advantages. When the kingdom of the Messiah was to be set up, the apostles, who were to beat down the devil's kingdom, must not attempt any thing till they received the promise of the Spirit; who came with a sound from heaven, as of a rushing, mighty wind, Acts 2:2.
God's word over Thurrock...
Isaiah 41:17-20
The poor and needy search for water, 
but there is none;
their tongues are parched with thirst.
But I the LORD will answer them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
I will make rivers flow on barren heights,
and springs within the valleys.
I will turn the desert into pools of water,
and the parched ground into springs.
I will put in the desert
the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.
I will set pines in the wasteland,
the fir and the cypress together,
so that people may see and know,
may consider and understand,
that the hand of the LORD has done this,
that the Holy One of Israel has created it.
Pictures:
- The Mardyke, 10.7.11
- The Promise of Restoration 1995
- That Rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4) 1995
- Life in the Spirit 1995
- I Will Pour Out My Spirit (Acts 2) 1995
- 1588 Armada 300th Anniversary Commemorative Beacon: Fire Over England, Purfleet
This article is a fleshed-out version of a talk given by Tim Harrold, on Sunday 10 July at Grays Baptist Church. Tim is available to speak this message and others on the themes of unity and transformation upon request. He is also available to visioncast the aims and objectives of Transformation Thurrock.
|
Tim Harrold, 14/07/2011 |
|
