In this chapter, the Philistines found out that God is not to play with! The chapter begins, “After the Philistines captured the Ark of God, they took it from the battleground at Ebenezer to the city of Ashdod. They carried the Ark of God into the temple of Dagon and placed it beside the idol of Dagon. But when the citizens of Ashdod went to see it the next morning, Dagon had fallen with his face to the ground in front of the Ark of the Lord! So they set the idol up again. But the next morning the same thing happened -- the idol had fallen face down before the Ark of the Lord again. This time his head and hands had broken off and were lying in the doorway. Only the trunk of his body was left intact. That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor anyone who enters the temple of Dagon will step on its threshold. (1 Samuel 5:1-5) The Lord was like “Bow down to me! I’m the only god up in here!”
The text continues, “Then the Lord began to afflict the people of Ashdod and the nearby villages with a plague of tumors. When the people realized what was happening, they cried out, “We can’t keep the Ark of the God of Israel here any longer! He is against us! We will all be destroyed along with our god Dagon.” So they called together the rulers of the five Philistine cities and asked, “What should we do with the Ark of the God of Israel?” The rulers discussed it and replied, “Move it to the city of Gath. But when the Ark arrived at Gath, the Lord began afflicting its people, young and old, with a plague of tumors, and there was a great panic.
So they sent the Ark of God to the city of Ekron, but when the people of Ekron saw it coming they cried out, “They are bringing the Ark of the God of Israel here to kill us, too!” So the people summoned their ruler again and begged them, “Please send the Ark of the God of Israel back to its own country, or it will kill us all.” For the plague from God had already begun, and great fear was sweeping across the city. Those who didn’t die were afflicted with tumors; and there was weeping everywhere.”
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Help us understand that we too...should not be playing with you! We love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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