“So David went to Ba‘al-P’ratzim and defeated them there. He said, “Adonai has broken through my enemies for me like a river breaking through its banks.” This is why he called the place Ba‘al-P’ratzim [Lord of breaking through].“-2 Samuel 5:20
So why in the world would the Israelites use the name Ba’al to celebrate their victory over the Philistines?
Well, remember in an earlier teaching, I told you the word “Baal” can also mean “Lord” when used in a generic sense, even though it was also the name of a Canaanite deity.
It’s kind of like how the word “Adonai” means “lord” or “master,” while at the same time being a title the Hebrews used as a substitute for God.
By the time of David, the word “ba’al” (with a small “b”) simply meant “lord” or “master” and wasn’t meant to refer to any Canaanite god.
So, when we hear “Ba’al P’ratzim,” understand it isn’t about honoring the Canaanite god in any way whatsoever.
Having said that, this does give us a chance to take a step back and examine Israel’s relationship with the Lord at this time.
By using the name “Ba’al”, the intention may not have been to honor the Canaanite god.
But, it was indicative of a bigger problem.
It shows how over time, the pure Hebrew faith that was handed down to the Israelites at Sinai became defiled.
The term “Ba’al” had gone from being a label God despised to becoming part of the Israelites’ common everyday vocabulary.
Israel slowly but surely started to mix in little bits of pagan customs, people, and words into their lives and worship ever since they first stepped foot into the Promised Land.
These changes may have seemed insignificant at first, but over time, it all added up.
Sadly, by David’s era, words like “Torah,” “Moses,” and “Law” weren’t even used anymore.
God’s commandments had so blended in with local traditions that the Hebrews became indistinguishable from their neighbors.
This was not a good thing.
How can one be a light to the nations if you aren’t any different from them?
If you think about it, everything I just said could also be applied to the gentile Christian church, don’t you think?
What started as a Jewish movement called “The Way”, over the centuries, transformed into something that would be unrecognizable to any of the original apostles.
Think about it.
Your typical church teaches that the Law has been done away (something a true Messiah of Israel would never have done).
They eat pepperoni pizzas and ham sandwiches.
They don’t keep the Sabbath.
They call Yeshua by a foreign name “Jesus.”
None of the Biblical festivals are observed or honored.
Instead, in their place, they celebrate Christmas and Easter, things that are completely foreign to Scripture.
They worship the Messiah as literally God Himself.
They show no support for Israel and often side with Palestinians over land ownership, despite the New Testament teaching that gentile believers are grafted into Israel’s commonwealth.
I wonder if any of the original apostles visited a modern American evangelical church today, would they even recognize it as related to the faith they were martyred for?
Does heaven know they’re missing an angel? May Yahweh bless you and keep you.
Thanks for the warm words, William. Be blessed and SHALOM!