Artist’s Statement

David then went to Baal-Perazim, where he defeated the Philistines. David then said, “The LORD has scattered my enemies before me like waters that have broken free.” That is why the place is called Baal-Perazim. (2 Samuel 5:20)

King David of ancient Israel called God The Master of Breakthroughs after seeing Him defeat his/His strong Philistine enemies. The name “Baal Perazim” literally means Possessor of Breaches, or Master of Breakthroughs. In the case of this situation, the “breach,” or the thing to break through, was the Philistine army. God clearly demonstrated His almighty-ness over them by defeating them.

The phrase, “like waters that have broken free,” is of particular interest in 2 Samuel 5:20. The translators of the New Jerusalem Bible render this same phrase in a way that brings the image into sharper focus, “…as though they had been breached by a flood.” Imagine it! David sees the Lord crashing through his/His enemy like a torrent of raging waters crash through an old, leaking, decrepit levee. It is a picture of God’s unfettered power over an enemy.

The thick, powerful fist in this sculpture is the fist of Christ Jesus, notably so by the nail scar in the wrist. The gashes in Jesus’ hand show that He is with us in the midst of our problems. He is the God who “rolls up His sleeves” and gets His hands truly dirty as He works for break throughs in our messy lives and circumstances. The punctured steel plate in the sculpture could be any obstacle or problem the believer is facing.

Take heart, O Christian! God is still the “Possessor of Breaches” and the “Master of Breakthroughs.” If He chooses not to relieve your temporal, physical burden, He will support you spiritually so you can glorify Him and be at heart-level rest in the midst of it. May this fact be a supreme encouragement to the believer in Jesus Christ.