The prophet Samuel records the capture of the Ark of the Covenant from God’s people and the placement of this spoil of war in the temple of the Philistine god Dagon. Dagon is said to be a god of fertility; part fish and part man. This was the god in whom they gloated in the defeat of Samson.
The Ark of the Covenant represents the presence, power, and provision of God. It was completed by the mercy seat, the place of atonement. It contained the Aaron’s rod which budded, the golden pot of manna, and stones with God’s commandments upon them. Truly when the Ark of God was taken, the glory of the Lord had departed from Israel.
The Philistines thought that their god had given them this great victory over the God of the Israelites. In just the chapter before the Philistines found themselves in fear as the Ark of God entered the camp of Israel and they shouted so that the earth rang again. This powerful echoing shout cemented the thought into their mind that God had truly come into the camp. No doubt they thought they would be defeated upon the battlefield. All of this noise really proved a whole lot of nothing. On the contrary how sad that the enemies of God were able to defeat God’s people because the power of God had already been lost. The enemies of God now glory because they believe that their god is superior.
Our God’s testimony is preserved in spite of the defeat of His people on the battlefield. Even when God’s people cause reproach upon the testimony of God and Christ, God still remains perfectly powerful and sovereign.
What can be observed when Dagon himself is seen lying face down upon the earth at the Ark of the One true God?
- Our God cannot fall upon His face.
- Our God is not a God whom we have to pick up and prop in His place
- Our God cannot be broken
- Our God cannot be afflicted—vs. 7
There is a big difference between the gods of the world and the God of the Bible:
Isaiah 44:6-28
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing? Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together. The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint. The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel. Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers: That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
The God of the Bible is He who alone brings forgiveness, deliverance. He exercises dominion over His creation and creatures. Those who would make a god or worship anything other than Jehovah God are blindly deceived.
Psalm 135:15-18
The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.
Consider the contrast of the God of the Bible:
The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. Haggai 2:8
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11
The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. Psalm 34:15
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. I Peter 3:12
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7
All scripture is given by inspiration of God (God-breathed), and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: II Timothy 3:16
Our God is never busy, does not go out hunting, nor goes on vacation; He does not sleep —And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.