|
|
The Philistines and the Ark
5 When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place. But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the LORD, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
The hand of the LORD was heavy against the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory. And when the men of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for his hand is hard against us and against Dagon our god.” So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” They answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath.” So they brought the ark of the God of Israel there. But after they had brought it around, the hand of the LORD was against the city, causing a very great panic, and he afflicted the men of the city, both young and old, so that tumors broke out on them. So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. But as soon as the ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought around to us the ark of the God of Israel to kill us and our people.” They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people.” For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there. The men who did not die were struck with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
(ESV)
1 Samuel 5 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
There are times when God uses circumstances to demolish the false gods that we all cling to. Initially, we tend to make excuses and stick with the status quo. This is especially true when it involves confession and change. Even though God used verifiable evidence to illustrate that Dagon was inferior to Him, the people still chose to worship Dagon. Not only that, they instituted another religious ritual to accommodate their decision.
“The destruction of Dagon’s idol resulted in the foolish Philistine custom of stepping over the threshold of Dagon’s temple (Zep 1:9). Apparently the threshold came to be regarded as taboo because of its contact with Dagon’s hands and head (v. 1Sa 5:4).”
Nelson’s Commentary
Do we make excuses when God shows up and destroys the false idols in our lives? Do we simply add another religious rule to our checklist?
He spoke to them through their crumbled false god. He spoke to them through the plagues and ulcers. And this was their chance to turn from their wicked god and serve the true God, but they would not do it.
They merely thought they could get rid of him by sending him back to Israel. We know this isn’t how it works. The ark could have signaled revival and renewal for the Philistines, but instead, it represented judgment and condemnation, as they refused to face the truth that stood before them.
1 Samuel 5 is a demonstration of the power of God. When we invite Him into the darkest places of our heart, He will bring terror and opposition to the evil that resides there. He will destroy all that is false. The question remains, we will justify and make excuses, or repent and change?
“The dying thief passes from his cross to Paradise, while Judas goes to his own place. Dare to admit the Savior into the secret place of your heart. He will utterly destroy the works of Satan, and will drive out the evil things that have too long infested it.”
F.B. Meyer