August 26, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 1 Samuel? Here’s today’s reading:
1 Samuel 5 (NIV)
The Ark in Ashdod and Ekron
1 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon. 3 When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. 4 But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained..........Continue Reading
Amazing that witnessing the power of the Ark firsthand as their god kept ending up face down before it the people kept picking it up and praying to the weaker god. They were witnessing the power of God and yet still felt no inclination to believe and follow the true God! I guess people many times hear and see the power of God and choose not to believe everyday…they keep other sinful idols in front of the potential relationship with our one true God!
1 Samuel 5
1 Samuel 5
I love this chapter….one of my favorites in the Bible, especially in light of the last chapter. The Ark didn’t work for the Israelites when they tried to use it as a good luck charm, but it doesn’t mean that it lacked God’s power and presence. And when faced with the presence of a foreign god, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob wins….and that will always be the case! And I agree with Kelly, that it is amazing when confronted by several tangible expressions, that the Philistines don’t embrace this superior Hebrew God. And the only conclusion becomes we have to return the Ark to the Jews.
Now at the end of the last chapter, the Jews in Shiloh were mourning the glory of Israel leaving them. They probably thought about al the things THEY would need to do to get it back….Well guess what, God doesn’t not need our help defending His glory. He will get the Ark back to His people by His own hand. Amazing!
I had many of the same thoughts, Pastor and Kelly!
I was thinking of the Philistines response to God’s presence among them, “take the Ark away!” and it reminded me of some people’s responses to Jesus’ miracles. Matthew 8:34 – Jesus sends demons into a herd of pigs, “And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they pleaded with Him to leave their region.” You would think people would follow Him and wonder at who He is and what He will do at least!