Baal Out!

S ~ 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”). The Philistines had abandoned their idols there, so David and his men confiscated them. 2 Samuel 5:20-21

O ~ How very strange. How very, very strange. He named the place Baal-perazim. Of course Perez means breakthrough - we know that from Judah and Tamar. But what is with Baal in front of it? Baal is the Canaanite god. So yes, god breaks through, but wrong god. Jevhovah Perazim, not Baal. Even the writer of 2 Samuel states it funny. He arrives at Baal-perazim, and then names it thus. Certainly he must be simply relating how the place got it’s name, but how strange to call it Baal anything.

A ~ I want to be careful to not mix the gods of this world into my worship.  I don’t want to include worldly practices, phrases, values - into how I worship the Lord. I don’t want any onlooker to be confused about who I am worshiping.

P ~ Lord, help me practice for worship, not practice worship. Help me prepare for worship, but not offer a prepared worship. Help me know and live and communicate the difference.