A SPIRITUAL TSUNAMI

So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, "The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water." Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. (2 Samuel 5:20)

Recently more than a few homes in our town experienced destruction and loss because the Olentangy River, which normally resembles a creek, overflowed into yards and basements along its winding path through Galion. More of my readers will remember the tidal wave that devastated the nation of Japan, now over a month ago. What was so remarkable about this disaster is the amount of video documentation, which I found difficult to watch. Whole buildings crumbling and rolling out to sea, and a thousand vehicles being tossed like Matchbox cars across the landscape/seascape.

This is the kind of destruction that is described in the verse above, depicting David’s victory over the Philistine army. I imagine that the battle went on for some time and then just as David was growing weary, there was a sudden surge of God's favor, like dammed up water being released, or a tidal wave, creating a huge slaughter of Philistines.

In nature, a tsunami is the result of a great shifting of the plates that make up the crust of the earth. Jesus predicted an increase of earthquakes and tsunamis as indicators that His return would be near (see Luke 21:11,15). The Bible likens these events of earth in upheaval to a woman in labor as if all nature can sense that it is about to enter into a new age.

For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God… because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

According to Romans 8:19-22, it should actually be a hopeful time for believers because the Sons of God are about to manifest. Many other scriptures speak of a time of restoration just before the return of Christ for the Church, His Bride.

With an increase of sin and rebellion against God like we see in the world, increased pressure is placed on the earth itself. Earth was not created to bear the weight of sin. It was sin abounding on every hand during the time of Noah that resulted in a sudden shifting of the earth, a tearing of the firmament above the earth, and the resultant worldwide "tsunami."

Another earth upheaval occured when the weight of all of the world's sin converged on that one Man near Jerusalem. The result was not only did Jesus become hideously disfigured, but the heavens and earth were shaken as well. “The sun was darkened..” (Luke 23:45) and “the earth quaked and the rocks were split and the graves were opened…” (Matthew 27:51-52) Similarly, intense, unified prayer can result in a literal earthquake, as depicted in separate incidents in the Bible (see Acts 4:31; 16:25-26). In the spiritual realm, this kind of prayer creates a disturbance, a shifting of the “plates” of this world’s system reigning in a certain area, shaking the strongholds of darkness and releasing a sudden pent up flood of God’s very presence there.

"For thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the LORD of hosts. (Haggai 2:6-7)

All Your waves and billows have gone over me. (Psalms 42:7)

Believer, continue to press in prayer. When the wave of God’s glory descends in your locale, the destruction and loss in the enemy’s camp will result in waves of people descending upon the Desire of All Nations, the only remaining hope, Jesus Christ. Many of those who previously seemed disinterested in spiritual things will be needing discipleship. Prepare yourself. It is coming.