- araratchurch
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
“When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went out against them. Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the Valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of God, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up, and I will give them into your hand.” And he went up to Baal-perazim, and David struck them down there. And David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. And they left their gods there, and David gave command, and they were burned. And the Philistines yet again made a raid in the valley. And when David again inquired of God, God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; go around and come against them opposite the balsam trees. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” And David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer. And the fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations.”
1 Chronicles 14:8-17 ESV
I am amazed when I watch elite athletes, military trainees, and so on, running extensive obstacle courses with what seems like relative ease. The fact is, they come to do so, after much repetitive, often grueling, training.
Now, you may not be out there running obstacle courses, but I imagine that you are currently being challenged by obstacles—not the kind that are found being mastered by “Ninja Warriors”—but the kind that life throws across your path.
Over the next several days, we will be using the story found in our opening scripture to examine David’s experience with dealing with obstacles in the form of enemies. We will endeavor to glean from this story what we need to know about getting past our own seemingly immovable obstacles.
Remember, David had experience from a young age with overcoming great challenges through the power of God. Consider how David answered, Saul, when Saul thought that he was foolish to attempt to fight Goliath:
“But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!””
1 Samuel 17:34-37 ESV
Then, faced with the mocking by Goliath, David still responds with great confidence:
“Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.””
1 Samuel 17:45-47 ESV
Friend, we serve a God who specializes in moving the immovable. In this “Year of the Explosion,” let’s expect to see long-standing obstacles, moved, yes, exploded, out of our way!
Tomorrow, we will begin our consideration of David’s victory at Baal-Perazim.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
“For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.”
Amos 3:7 ESV
Here we are, entering into yet another New Year! It feels as though the years are rapidly flowing into the past, like water over a waterfall. But, no matter whether the years seem to speed by, or drag along, our God is able provide what we need, when we need it, to navigate whatever may be in front of us.
Now, I would be remiss to speak of going into a new year without reminding you—although this is not our focus here today—that you don’t want to carry offenses, disappointments, losses, and so on, from 2025, into 2026.
Indeed, the best approach for jumping into a new year (all of our resolve toward exercise, self improvement, and so on, notwithstanding), is that we do so with a “clean slate.”
Now, without the help of the Lord, I know how difficult it is to leave behind, what is behind. But truly, if you ask the Lord to help you, He will give you a good “heart cleaning” so that you can face this year without residue from this last year. Consider this request of God from the psalmist:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
Psalm 139:23-24 ESV
God can and will help you to let go of those ways of being and doing, starting with your thoughts, that keep you from the abundant life He has promised.
Having said that, as noted earlier, we can be confident, knowing that the Lord has gone before us, and has prepared our path, no matter what may come along the way. Again, turning to the psalmist, we see the assurance we have because of the loving care of our Good Shepherd:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalm 23:1-6 ESV
As we see in our opening scripture, part of the way the Lord prepares us, is that He will instruct us—whether that comes by way of a warning, encouragement, or direction—in terms of what lies ahead.
However, make no mistake, none of the Lord’s instruction to us concerning what is ahead, will merit us anything, if we don’t listen and respond accordingly.
Lord willing, on Monday, we will launch out into what the Lord has shown us about 2026. But before entering into that, let’s look at how the Lord has instructed over the last several years.
As we looked to launching into 2020, the Lord instructed that 2020 would be the “Year of Astonishment.” Now, in case you have forgotten, I will remind you that 2020 turned out to be the year of Covid, the year of social unrest, and the year of highly controversial election results.
As we looked to go into 2021, the Lord instructed us that 2021 would it be the “Year of the Earthquake.” And, whereas 2021 was the most seismically active in over a decade, with 19 major earthquakes, three over 8.0, the very real “earthquake” aspect of 2021, involved a shaking on many societal levels, not the least of which was the controversy around the January 6 riot at the Capitol. In fact, we are yet to know all the truth surrounding that event. Tremors are still being felt from it to this very day.
Before going into 2022, the Lord instructed us that it would be the “Year of Ramoth Gilead: No more Delay.” What delay? The Lord instructed us that 2015-2021 was a period of delay. In other words, as events in the world were hurtling toward the final days of the Last Days before the coming of Jesus Christ, and the culmination of all things yet to be fulfilled, a 7 year delay was inserted, after which all the events took back up where they left off, lining everything up for the Lord’s soon coming. Yes, the delay was over!
Surely enough, this has been written about 2022: “Future historians may come to regard 2022 as a hinge in history, marking the end of one era and the beginning of another. Major war returned to Europe, with the attendant threats of nuclear strikes, and the door closed firmly shut on the US policy of strategic engagement with China.” (Council on Foreign Relations)
In addition to the aforementioned events of 2022, on June 24 of that year, the Supreme Court struck down the decades old Roe versus Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Also, the United Kingdom had three Prime Minister‘s in two months and lost their longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, very soon after she celebrated 70 years as Queen. As well, Benjamin Netanyahu was again made Prime Minister of Israel.
Going into 2023, the Lord told us that 2023 would be the “Year of Realization.” He gave us the Book of Esther as a paradigm for that year. I probably don’t need to remind you of what happened on October 7 of 2023. It was then that the worst attack on Jewish people since the Holocaust occurred, as 1,200 innocent men, women, and children were killed in the worst terrorist attack in Israel's history. Additionally, Hamas captured over 250 hostages.
Going into 2024 the Lord told us that it would be the “Year of Resolve.” That is to say, it would be a year requiring resolve because of the rough ride that 2024 would be.
Interestingly, the need for resolve was manifested in my life first, early in 2024, as January 2024 brought what I have referenced as “The Spiritual Journey.” I will not go into that now (as I have done so before at length), but suffice it to say, it was a time of severe testing for me. Then—as you probably are aware—2024 was an election year filled with all sorts of drama, including at least two attempts on Donald Trump‘s life, one in which he missed death by a fraction of an inch. Yes, 2024 was a time of testing on many levels for the United States and all over the world.
Going into 2025 we were instructed that it would be the “Year of Exposure.” The exposure would be in terms of truth being revealed, as well as exposure in terms of natural disasters. Indeed, we are still reeling from things that were uncovered in 2025. And, the Palisades fire in Los Angeles, the flooding in Texas, as well as the destruction and flooding from two hurricanes, bringing unimaginable destruction, were but a few of many instances of freakish, natural disasters in the United States alone.
Now, as we embark on our journey into 2026, we do so, having been instructed by the Lord that it will be the “Year of the Explosion.” Over the coming days, we will together explore what the Lord wants us to know and do, to be ready for what this year will hold.
Going back to our opening scripture, we have rehearsed some of the instruction the Lord has given us over the last several years, and how His instruction made us better prepared to face what those years held. We have looked back over these examples of the Lord’s instruction, to remind us that the Lord does not want us to be ignorant, or unprepared, for whatever may come our way.
We declare with confidence, the sentiment expressed by the Apostle Paul: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”
Romans 8:31-32 ESV
Child of God, let us not fear. On the other hand, let us not take lightly the need to be listening to our Lord’s instruction as we walk through every day in 2026 and beyond.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!