I Samuel Chapter 5

Please read I Samuel 5 –

The Philistines were most likely celebrating since they had just defeated the Israelites in battle with a great victory.  Along with their great victory they captured the Ark of the Covenant from the people.  This was the article they had feared knowing that the God of Israel had much power.  Now the Philistines surmised that their god had given them power over the God of Israel and so there was no better place to put the Ark of the Covenant than right beside their god Dagon in the city of Ashdod.

Dagon was a made-up god of the Philistines and represented by a man-made statue that was half man and half fish.  The story is really an example of God’s humor as you read about what happened to their god.  Dagon was powerless against the one true God, nor could it save the people from the judgement of God. 

The one thing they had heard about the power of the God of Israel was the plagues He had brought unto the Egyptians.  Now the Philistines were experiencing a plague of their own.  God caused them to realize their worst fears.  He brought a plague of tumors upon the Philistines.  We don’t know exactly what the tumors were, but many Bible scholars believe this was a form of the bubonic plague which causes painful swollen black lymph nodes and was very contagious and very deadly.  It was spread rapidly by mice or rats.  This would explain why the Philistines inserted golden replicas of rats in the Ark of the Covenant when they sent it back to Israel.  Dagon was no match for God.

Let's Reflect

1.  Where was the god of the Philistines kept?

2.  After placing the Ark of the Covenant beside their god what happened?

3.  They “fixed” their god, but what happened a second time?

4.  The Bible says that the hand of God was upon the people of Ashdod.  They were afflicted and terrified!  These people could have confessed their sins and asked for mercy from the one true God, but instead of turning to God what did they do?

5.  The Ark of the Covenant was moved several times.  Each time the people faced the judgement of God.  The people of the city of Ekron called for a meeting with the lords of the Philistines.  What was the request of the people of Ekron?

6.  How does the Bible describe the fear of God that these people had?

It is important that we understand that all people will one day face the judgement of God for their sin.  It is only the redeemed that will escape judgement.  It is the mercy of God given to those He calls His, that will not see judgement.  Let’s praise God today for His mercy and the redemption given to us by His Son, Jesus.