Nougat 16

What’s in a name? Depends on whose perspective. Consider today’s Holy Nougat

“So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “The Lord did it!” David exclaimed. “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”).” ‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭5:20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I confess, this David story feels like an Anancy story ie a tall tale. You know, stories that get attributed to the folk hero or which gets a bit more exaggerated with each telling. Why does it feel ‘tall tale-ish’ you ask – the language. In almost all other references to Baal, the personage is one of a pantheon of gods affiliated with child sacrifice, fertility rituals and other ‘heathen’ behavior. Given that the First of the Ten Commandments specifically said No to idolatry; the Israelites generally steered clear of using a local language to describe YHWH. (During the pre-monarchy era, it was also expected that they would annihilate the original people and not assimilate).

Additionally there’s the very obvious clue – David went to Baal-perazim. Most of the other God-experience stories featured a hero who’d visit a local town under special circumstances, where they would have a God encounter. After the epiphany, ie their God-encounter, the place name was changed to a Hebrew word that best transliterates the experience of God’s character. Seeing David going to a place that carried a Philistine name suggests that he did not name it. Rather it seems that he appropriated the name as it matched his experience of God’s power, shortly after his official enthronement as king of all Israel.

One is then faced with a choice: do we discount the story and move on; or do we try to discern the bigger picture? Of course, even with my original skepticism, I opt for bigger picture!

What then is this bigger picture?

As indicated a few sentences earlier, this is a Victory story framed in the larger narrative of David’s kingship. A victory that was clearly attributed to YHWH, Who instructed David to go forth in battle (see verse 19). With the division that eventuated as folks loyalties became clear, it took close to a decade for David to gain the entire kingdom’s trust, thus delaying his enthronement. And, he was crowned with the implicit understanding that David was still God’s chosen and that he would lead them in battle against the Philistines and other enemies. This victory thus proved David was still God’s anointed warrior, which may have further endeared him to them.

But, more importantly, it underscored God’s presence with and protection of the Israelites. A decade prior David killed Goliath; and Israel got a reprieve; but there were other battles, including this one. And there were battles after. But God saw them through.

And that’s the bottom line.

God’s love and power bursts through the trials which beset us. It may not look like David overthrowing the Philistines, but God is most definitely with us. Will we trust that God will burst through for us when even we are surrounded and outnumbered? Every single time we go to battle and in our times of ‘rest’? Then, if so, we also might rename some places on our spiritual journey Baal-perazim.

Selah

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May all we seek be found in Christ