Reflections on 1 Chronicles

At the beginning of this week in the intro blog I mentioned that as we go through 1 and 2 Chronicles, we’re going to be hearing a lot of the same stories. Just as I told you, I challenged myself to do my best to read these books with fresh eyes and expect God to speak through His word. What I found interesting is that the story that stood out most to me this week was actually the same section of David’sstory I blogged about from 2 Samuel, except when I first started reflecting on it, I didn’t even realize it!

This story in 1 Chronicles 14 is almost identical to that in 2 Samuel 5 where God gives David and his army a clear picture of their battle plan against the Philistines. In the battle just before it, we read about this:

David asked God, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you help me win?” The Lord told David, “Yes, attack them! I will give you victory.”  David and his army marched to Baal-Perazim, where they attacked and defeated the Philistines. He said, “I defeated my enemies because God broke through them like a mighty flood.” So he named the place “The Lord Broke Through.” (1 Chronicles 14:10-11)

Again it stood out to me that David took time to stop and ask God for wisdom about whether or not to attack, but even more so, the name of the place.

The Lord Broke Through

Just as names of people have great meaning in scripture, so do the names of places.

• Eden, the name of God’s perfect garden before sin entered the world, means “place of pleasure”.
• Achor is the name of a valley near Jericho and it means trouble, named such for all the trouble the sins of a man named Achan caused for Israel back in Joshua.
• Kibroth HaTaavah was where the Israelites were at when they started complaining to God about the manna and asking for meat.  It was here that God gave them an excessive amount of quail in response to their complaints. This place means “graves of gluttony”.

Here, in this battle, David praises the Lord for the way they were able to go right through their enemy and named it Baal-Perazim which means, “The Lord Broke Through.”

This has become a prayer for some tough situations in the lives of people around me.  I’m begging him to break through on behalf young adults trapped in the chains of anxiety and depression and addiction. Break through is needed among a ministry area that feels stagnant and maybe even dying. I long for a Baal-Perazim place or moment for some I know who have been battling the same illnesses and situations day after day, year after year. Where is their Baal-Perazim?

Yet, I find comfort in realizing that God is breaking through into this time and space each and every day.

The Lord breaks through in late night texts to encourage a friend, or late night texts from a friend to encourage me.

God’s power breaks into the dull every day of ministry when a student suddenly starts asking questions that lead to a chance to share about who Jesus is.

Baal-Perazim in Tim Hortons coffee shops and in the middle of a mall and cozy with friends in my living room.

The Lord Breaks Through the constant noise of social media and brings contentment.

The Lord Breaks Through the comparison and reminds that I am wonderfully unique.

The Lord Breaks Through the overwhelming to do list and calls me to the one thing necessary, time at His feet.

The Lord Breaks Through anxiety, if only for a moment, to let a friend see His amazing grace.

The Lord Breaks Through here.

now.

always.

Baal-Perazim.

Keep breaking through, Jesus.