ESOCS Devotional 14 March 2022
TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 5:1-12
MEMORY VERSE: “And when they rose 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.” 1 Samuel 5:4 KJV
0 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted lace ”
The Israelites and Philistines were archenemies and were constantly fighting. Whenever the Israelites sinned against God, He caused another nation to conquer them. So it was at this time – the Philistine defeated them and captured the Ark. The Ark contained the Ten Commandments. It was supposed to be kept in the holiest place; a sacred part of the Tabernacle that only the High Priest could enter. On the other hand, the Dagon was the chief god of the Philistines, which they believed gave them rainfall and bountiful harvest. For them, the more gods they could have on their side, the more secure they felt. That was their reason for taking the Ark. If the Ark, helped the Israelites, then it would help us too, they reasoned. So, they kept it with Dagon. Contrary to this, it was tragedy all the way, the arrow of God started striking.
First, Dagon fell down flat with the face on the ground before the Ark; the head and both palms of his hands were cut off; only the stump was left (1 Samuel 5:3,4). Second, God visited the city of Gath where they relocated the Ark, with great destruction (vs. 8, 9).
Lesson one here is that nobody can defeat God. Two, many people do not realize the power of God and Biblical truth until they experience pain. Third is that God cannot be controlled by the whims of men who seek to create their own gods after their own imaginations.
- There are many powers today. Which one appeals to you?
- Avoid anything that will make you doubt the power above all powers.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Exodus 20:3-5a; Matthew 28:18; Acts 4:12
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ESOCS Devotional 14 March 2022
