EVIL FALLS ON ITS FACE


 Image result for CLIP ART OF DAGONIsrael is again facing the consequences of her disobedience.  She has been in war before and even taken captive by other nations.  This battle with the Philistines has resulted in the Ark of God being taken by them,  Eli's two sons are killed, and the early birth of Eli's grandson named Ichabod which means "no glory".  (If you ever disliked your name, have some compassion for Ichabod!)  Tragically, when Eli hears the news of the loss of his two sons and the Ark of God being taken, he falls over in his chair and dies of a broken neck.   1 Samuel 5.

I love the comical foray that ensues in this reading for today.  The Philistines take the Ark of God and place it in the house of Dagon in the city of Ashdod.  Dagon is the major god of fertility of the Philistines.  The Ark of God is set by the idol of Dagon.  Remember, the Ark of God is the symbol of God's Presence.  The worshipers come the next morning and find that Dagon had fallen on his face, and they set the idol upright again.  The worshipers come AGAIN the next morning,  they find that Dagon has not only fallen face downward, but its hands and head have been cut off with only the trunk remaining.  What makes it more entertaining is that the idol has fallen before the Ark of God.  Kinda reminds me of the Scripture from Philippians 2 that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.   

Scripture states, "Now the hand of the Lord was heavy on the Ashdodites." God strikes all of the area of Ashdod with tumors and He ravages them.  Not sure what ravages may suggest, but I can just imagine God did not give them hugs and love pats!  Their conclusion: "Send away the ark of God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people." 

I don't know about you, but I have a hatred for sin and its evil.  There is certainly no guessing as to God's response to sin. "For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  

  The thoughts of evil taking a beating/falling on its face....I love it.  "When HE had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him." Colossians 2:15  At Calvary and the Resurrection, the penalty and power of sin and death are defeated, and the LORD JESUS HAS TRIUMPHED!  WE win because HE WON!  #IHAVETHREESONS

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