LORD of the Breaks

1 Chronicles 14:1-17
    1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, with masons and carpenters, to build him a house. 2 So David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, for his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel.
    3 Then David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David begot more sons and daughters. 4 And these are the names of his children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
    8 Now when the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went out against them. 9 Then the Philistines went and made a raid on the Valley of Rephaim. 10 And David inquired of God, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?"  The LORD said to him, "Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand."
    11 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 breakthrough of water." Therefore they called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 12 And when they left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.
    13 Then the Philistines once again made a raid on the valley. 14 Therefore David inquired again of God, and God said to him, "You shall not go up after them; circle around them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. 15 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." 16 So David did as God commanded him, and they drove back the army of the Philistines from Gibeon as far as Gezer. 17 Then the fame of David went out into all lands, and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.

David learned that the LORD had set him in place on the throne by His sovereign choice of Will, and found the victories to follow were orchestrated by the Master of breakthroughs, which name David gave to the place where a great victory against the Philistines was won (Baal Perazim, meaning also ‘Lord of the breaks’).  God gave the king the power, military skill, and wisdom to wage war for His people and glory, and David quickly gave all the credit to the God who fought the battles and used him to gain the victory as an instrument in His divine hands.  Even the example of waiting for the mulberry trees to rustle before attacking showed how that was when God was already gone into the fray before Him to bring victory.  David was obedient and trusting.  That was the secret of his prosperity in battle and in ruling the kingdom of God.  God’s work through him in battle subsequently brought the fear of the Lord on all who observed.  It is a lesson for us as well to trust God and lean on His understanding instead of our own, for we do not have any strength, wisdom, or ability apart from our Lord Jesus Christ.  He leads the fight for the word of life and truth which is the gospel of Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords.  We should muster behind Him in this battle for the souls of men and women therefore, not concoct proud endeavors of our own reasoning.  He has given us His word as both promise and as guide to live by.  John 15:5 reminds us that there is nothing we can do without Him, and Philippians 2:13 tells us that in this struggle we find the ability and strength to do all that is needed in Christ alone in the hardships of the gospel battle.  The Lord works all these things as we are faithful and willing to follow Him into the fray as we pick up the cross each day and die to ourselves to live in Him.  He is the Master of the breakthroughs as we fight the good fight, giving us the breaks as and when required according to His sovereign design.