Read the Word:
1 Samuel 5:1-5
Meditate on the Word:
In ancient times, there was a widespread belief that if a nation won a battle, then that proved the superiority of their god over the god of the defeated enemy. This would have been the opinion of the Philistines after beating the Israelites handily in battle. Especially since the Philistines were able to capture the ark of the God of Israel. Surely a god who could be so easily defeated and captured was inferior to Dagon, their god. But the God of Israel was not weak or powerless. He had used the defeat of Israel at the hands of the Philistines as a judgment against His people. God would not allow the Philistines to think that their god had done this for them.
Surely it was a shock to the Philistines to see their god bowed down before the ark of the God of Israel. Why would their god bow to a god that he had defeated? Surely that wasn’t it. Perhaps a natural explanation: he just fell over. “Let’s prop him up!” How often do we try to prop up those things in life that we put before our God. However, God was still not having this. The second time Dagon fell, his head and hands were broken off. Israel’s God was making a point. Dagon did not have the ability to think or to do anything. He was simply a statue. And the ark of the God of Israel was too dangerous to keep around. This is an interesting thing about those who choose to follow idols. When God breaks down their idols, they often choose to just put distance between themselves and God.
Pray the Word:
Ask God to break down any idols in your life. Then, separate yourself from the broken pieces instead of from God.
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