ESOCS Devotional 14 August
TEXT: 1 Samuel 5: 1-12
MEMORY VERSE: “And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon’s house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day. But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.” 1 Samuel 5:3-5
A man who takes God for granted, either does not know God or has not seen His mightiness. The things recorded in the scripture about the mighty deeds of God are not fiction, the imaginations of man, but things that truly happened. From the scripture it is obvious that God is real, mighty and greatly to be feared. Anyone who has had a personal experience of the power and might of God, as seen in the things He does will always hold Him with deep reverence.
Why many people disrespect God today or do not take the things that concern Him seriously and do not fear Him, as they ought, is because they don’t see Him and so may not feel Him, and therefore misinterpret His silence and His patience. The Philistines made the mistake of their life when they thought that their defeat of the Israelites was by the power of Dagon and so took Jehovah for granted, gave the glory to an idol and disrespected God. But God will always show himself as God and bring all nations and all people to submit to Him.
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
The Philistines saw this and feared, for His hands was against their god and their people. Dagon fell in respect and worship before His Divine Majesty while God plagued the philistines with a strange disease. God will always be mighty and greatly to be feared. To challenge God or take stand against Him will always bring man to his knees with much sorrow. Such a person will have many stories to tell. All men should fear Him. All men should honor Him. All men should give Him the glory due to Him. All the children of God should be encouraged for our God is greater than all. No one is like Him.
CHALLENGES
- Can you think of any experience or event you have witnessed that shows you the greatness of God?
- How should you feel when you are threatened by man or by forces of evil?
PRAYER POINT:
- Our great God we honor you and bless your holy Name. May your power and might be seen in our lives for our good and may the ungodly see it and fear you. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Zechariah 4:1-14; 5:1–11; Romans 7:1-13; 7: 12-25
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ESOCS Devotional 14th August
