The Valley of Breakthrough
In The Valley • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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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; 23 so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. 24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” 25 So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
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.
Full force / David heard about it / stronghold
The Philistines had remained quiet neighbors during the long civil war between the house of Saul and David, but, jealous of the king who had consolidated the nation, they resolved to attack before his government was fully established.
As long as David was minding his own business in Hebron, the Philistines thought he was still one of their vassals; but when he became king of the whole nation of Israel, the Philistines knew he was their enemy and they attacked him.
It’s probable that these attacks occurred before David relocated in Jerusalem, because he and his men went down to “the stronghold” (5:17), the wilderness area where he had lived in the days when Saul was out to kill him.
David got word of the approaching Philistine army, quickly maneuvered his soldiers, and met the invaders in the Valley of Rephaim, just a short distance from Jerusalem.
18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;
https://graceofourlord.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/valley_of_rephaim_0114.jpg
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.”
David inquired of the Lord
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.
https://graceofourlord.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/valley_of_rephaim_0114.jpg
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.
David gave God all the glory and called the place Baal-perazim, which means “the Lord who breaks out.”
Q: Where have you seen the Lord “burst through” in your life?
Q:What is a recent breakthrough you have had in your life?
Q:Where do you need a breakthrough currently?
21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.
They left the field so quickly that they left their idols behind.
Why did they carry off the idols?
5 This is what you are to do to them: Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their Asherah poles and burn their idols in the fire.
David and his men burned them. The Philistines were sure the presence of their gods would assure them victory, but they were wrong.
Story when I first got saved and a Christian friend said I needed to through out all my hard core rap music.
22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;
The Philistines returned to fight David a second time.
God gave him a new battle plan, he obeyed it, and the Lord gave him the victory.
Q: Have you ever had a battle the Lord brought you through and it returned a second time? What was it? Did God give you a different battle plan to bring you through it?
23 so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees.
David sought the Lord’s will a second time. David didn’t assume that the same strategy would work again.
This time he was to flank the enemy.
24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.”
What was the sound in the tops of the trees? God coming to lead His people to victory?
https://www.videvo.net/sound-effect/wind-passing-through-poplar-trees-114/1014622/
Q: When was a time it was very evident that God went out ahead of you into a battle you were facing?
4 For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”
15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.
For the battle is not yours, but God’s
25 So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
The strategy worked and David pursued the enemy all the way from Gibeon to Gezer, a distance of fifteen to twenty miles.
https://graceofourlord.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/valley_of_rephaim_0114.jpg
David fought his battles the way God instructed him. In each instance he (1) asked if he should fight or not, (2) followed instructions carefully, and (3) gave God the glory.
We can err in our “battles” by ignoring these steps and instead (1) do what we want without considering God’s will, (2) do things our way and ignore advice in the Bible or from other wise people, and (3) take the glory ourselves or give it to someone else with out acknowledging the help we received from God. All these responses are sinful.