1 Samuel 5: Powerful Presence

When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. 3 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. 4 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. 5 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.
 
6 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. 7 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.” 8 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. 9 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. 10 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.” 11 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. 12 The men who did not die were struck with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
 
Meditation
The powerful presence of God overwhelms His enemies, causing them to fall and flee before Him. At the same time, the powerful grace of God invites you to come into His presence for renewal and restoration. These co-exist because of God’s powerful provision.
 
Israel’s devastation in 1 Samuel 4 fueled celebration for the Philistines who captured the ark of the covenant and placed it like a trophy in the house of their god, Dagon (1-2). God’s powerful presence overwhelmed Dagon, the false god falling “downward before the ark of God” (3, 4). The hands of Dagon fell off because “the hand of the Lord” was working against His enemies (note repetition in 6, 7, 9, 11). The head of Dagon was on the floor as the Lord displayed His headship over all powers of this world. No one, and nothing, can withstand the powerful presence of God without His provision.
 
The powerful presence of God in the ark led to “deathly panic” among His enemies (12). God laughs at His enemies attempts to challenge His authority (Psalm 2). God is orchestrating history to return His presence with His people, immediately in 1 Samuel 6, and ultimately through the person and work of Jesus. God desires real relationship with those He loves.
 
 Jesus is God who gave Himself to the power of His enemies so by the cross he could triumph over, disarm, and put them to shame (Colossians 2:15-16). Jesus makes provision for all people, even God’s enemies, to come into God’s presence for restoration through real relationship.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you identify with God’s people who come to Jesus for restoration and renewal? Why or why not?
 
-Where do you see God’s powerful provision and powerful grace in your own life?
 
-God rules over everything, even His enemies. God’s love is greater than all things, inviting even His enemies to come to Him for real relationship. How do these truths shape you, specifically?
 
Key verse
2 Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. 3 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…..