The Ark of God and the Dagon

I Samuel 5:1-12I Samuel 5:1-12
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 where 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.
5. That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon’s temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.
6. The Lord’s hand was heavy upon the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation upon them and afflicted them with tumors.
7. When the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, "The Ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us because his hand is heavy upon us and upon Dagon our god."
8. So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked them, "What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?" They answered, "Have the ark of the god of Israel moved to Gath." So they moved the ark of the God of Israel.
9. But after they had moved it, the Lord’s hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors.
10. So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, "They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people."
11. So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, "Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people." For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy upon it.
12. Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and outcry of the city went up to heaven.; Isaiah 46:5-11Isaiah 46:5-11
5. "To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?
6. Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it.
7. They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its places, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Though one cries out to it, it does not answer; it cannot save him from his troubles.
8. "Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels.
9. Remember the former things, those of long ago: I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.
10. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.
11. From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.; Exodus 15:11Exodus 15:11
11. Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?

The Philistines captured the Ark of God in the battlefield. They rejoiced much over this because they thought they have captured the idol god of Israelites that give them victories over their enemies. The Ark of God is the presence of God resting on the ark of covenant between the two golden cherubim. The Israelites kept Ark of God in the Most Holy place, a sacred part of the inner temple called the Holy of Holies that only the high priest could enter His presence once a year. On the other hand, Dagon was the chief idol god of Philistines whom they believed brought rain and bountiful harvest. The Philistines thought the best place to keep the Ark of God was in the temple of Dagon beside the Dagon itself. Philistines did not know God, neither did they know what the Ark of God, the presence of God represented. The altar of God and the altar of darkness do not rub soldiers. They do not have anything in common. Besides, light and darkness does not co-exist. "To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?" Isaiah 46:5

Verse 3-4. The following day the people of Ashdod went to the temple of Dagon, and they found their god fallen on the ground face down before the Ark of God. They put back Dagon in its place, but the following morning, they found their idol god broken into pieces. "At the name of Jesus all knees must bow," and that includes the knees of the altar of darkness. The people of Ashdod did not know God, they compared the Ark of God with their idol god, and their idol was made example of their ignorance. The priest of Dagon and their worshipper never stepped into the temple from that day.

Verse 6-12. The hands of God came down heavily upon the people of Ashdod, they were heavily devastated and afflicted with tumors. Their ignorance was not spared. That was the first place I learnt of the dreadful disease of cancer in the Bible. There was a great panic in Ashdod as the city was striken with terror. "The ark of God of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy upon us and upon Dagon our god," they said. The Ark of God was taken to Ekron. The same terror and panicking was the portion of the people of Ekron. They protested and said, "Send the Ark of God of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people." The hand of God is a comforting hand to all who know Him and keep His commandments. It is a consuming fire and terror to those who do not know Him nor keep His commandment.

The Halloween season is here again. The appearance of the celebrants is scary. In our land today, the beautiful outlook is giving way to scary outlook. The scary outlook had been interpreted as unique and superb in our society today. But note; scary outlook goes along with scary characters and monstrous behaviors. The mask they wear during this occasion had been styled and shaped after the ugly evil idol gods they worship. Think of it brethren, these costumes are not just creative artwork; they are products of evil ideas from the evil hearts of the evil designers. “Out of the abundant of hearts . . .” Perhaps some of the costumes have undergone some evil rituals on the altar of the idol gods before they were distributed to the stores that offer them to the consumers. The celebration itself denotes evil. The celebration thrives much during the darkness of the night. It is one of the seasons that crime is at its peak in United States. Some regard it as fun. They prepare heavily for the celebration. The celebration of Halloween is allowed and encouraged in the public school. The public school teachers are allowed to celebrate Halloween party for the pupils. Some children wear Halloween costume to the classroom but praying to God is strictly against the public school policy. Some know exactly the evil that the celebration represents. It is the recruitment time into the Satanic’s evil cult. The innocent hearts may be unwittingly setting themselves apart for destruction as a result of ensnaring effects of these abominations. Some know that God detests the celebration. Some wise parents keep their children in door to avoid the ensnaring effects and the terror of Halloween.

The ignorant Philistines were not spared and were devastatingly dealt with when they co-existed the Ark of God with the idol of Dagon. The same way, God will not spare anybody that dip their hands into the abomination that God detests. The natural branch of our time - the Christians, will not be excluded in the judgment if they participate knowingly in the evil. Your body is the sanctuary of God; the abominable articles are from the sanctuary of Satan so also are the abominable practices. The two does not match. The combination of good and evil on your body and in your heart would corrupt your person and destroy your life. It would bring forth the devastating judgment of God. The hand of God is a comforting hand to all who know Him and keep His commandments. It is also a consuming fire and terror to those who do not know Him nor keep His commandment. Idol worshipping is an abomination. It is evil, even if the civilized and most sophisticated people in the world are participating in it. They will be judged as the people of Ashdod and Ekron. Therefore, be wise and get out of it now!