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THE ARK IN THE HANDS OF THE PHILISTINES
MONDAY, OCTOBER 14
1 Samuel 5

Deuteronomy 5:6-11

 

“Thou shalt have none

other gods before me.”

 

THE ARK IN THE HANDS OF THE PHILISTINES
 
God allowed Israel to suffer defeat in the hands of the Philistines, yet He had not forsaken them. The Ark of the Covenant was taken, but God’s hand went with it against the Philistines. Though it was an object, it was a symbol of God’s presence in Israel. It was God who designed it and commanded its use.
 
Now the Ark was in strange hands. However, it could not be compared with an idol. The image of Dagon (the god of the Philistines) was destroyed. God also punished the cities which the Ark was taken to. Eventually, the Philistines were forced to make a decision to return the Ark to Israel. The Lord demonstrated His superiority, showing that there was no other god but Him.
 
The Philistines, enemies of Israel, were idolaters and they thought the Ark was like their idols too. They took it and imagined that they had taken the power from Israel. When they had won the battle against Israel, they took the Ark from Ebenezer to their city of Ashdod. This gave them the false confidence that their own idol Dagon had won against the God of Israel.
 
They regarded the Ark as the same as their idol, Dagon. Thus, they placed the Ark in the house of Dagon. The heathen nations had similar notions about their idols. They revered them as they believed that they had magical powers. This disqualified them as believers in the True God who made the heavens and the earth. God is particular in identifying Himself and commanding how He is to be worshipped. He taught this in the very first of the Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exod 20:3). The Philistines had no knowledge of this truth.
 
THOUGHT: Our God is the only one God with distinctive attributes.
PRAYER: Father, may I study Thy Word that my knowledge of Thee may increase.

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