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.
(1 Samuel 5:1-5 ESV)
I really struggled with the title above... One GOD should be capitalized... and obviously, one should not. The people of Israel were concerned about themselves - what would happen to them now! But they did also wonder how God would fare in enemy hands. They had been so accustomed to pagan thinking that in their minds they had put God in a box. They had no need to worry about Him. His glory would be shown, one way or the other. The picture the Philistines were trying to create was that God had come to worship their god, Dagon. But the real GOD would have none of that. The idol kept falling before Him in worship. These pagan people were superstitious, as we see in their response. But Israel had also become very superstitious, with spiritually twisted thinking about idols, icons and the sovereignty of God. Do we believe and act like we do not need to defend God - that He can defend Himself? Do we trust Him to take care of us, instead of thinking we have to do it ourselves? Israel had done battle twice and lost. God did it twice and came out on top. Who do you trust?
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