1 Samuel 5

Bible Passage:  1 Samuel 5

After the tragic events in the last chapter, we come to what I feel is quite a humourous chapter…. well…. at least for us who are reading it.

The Philistines had comprehensively defeated Israel (30,000 foot soldiers died).  Not only that – the Ark of the Covenant ~ symbol of God’s presence with the Israelites had been captured.  The spiritual leadership of Israel had been crushed.  It looks like the gods of the Philistines has now triumphed over the God of Israel.

But in today’s passage, if you can visualize the whole thing… it is quite comical.

The captured Ark was taken to Ashdod where they placed it beside their god, Dagon in his temple.  The next morning, they found Dagon fallen down before the Ark!  Then then put him up again and the following morning, it was much worse… his head and hands were broken off!

God was not done yet.  The people Ashdod suddenly suffered from tumours and it was most uncomfortable (:

They moved the Ark to Gath.  The same thing happened and their was mass panic.

They decided to move it now to Ekron and the people there wailed and cried and those who did not die were also inflicted with tumours.

So what was supposed to be a victory march and a showing off of their god’s power over the God of Israel has now descended into a farce where no city of the Philistines wanted the Ark!  It is almost like reading Asterix where none of the Roman armies wanted anything to do with the indomitable Gauls.

My God is Bigger than Your gods

The Philistines were celebrating because they thought that they had struck a blow for their gods by now capturing the Ark fo the Covenant… the pride of Israel as it is the source of their God’s presence.  This now shows that their gods were stronger, more powerful and successful.

But our Lord God in Heaven – He is a God that does not need His battles fought for Him.  He can handle anything and everything Himself…  unlike the gods that the Philistines worshipped.

One of the gods they worshipped was Dagon.  Obviously it is an idol and God demonstrates this clearly that no idol god can withstand Him.

This is one lesson we know very well… that idols are nothing before the Lord and it would be foolish to place our trust in them.

But ….

Are We Idolators?

We all know that idolatry is not the right way… and also plainly silly at times…

This is what the book of Isaiah says …

The carpenter measures with a line
and makes an outline with a marker;
he roughs it out with chisels
and marks it with compasses.
He shapes it in the form of man,
of man in all his glory,
that it may dwell in a shrine.

He cut down cedars,
or perhaps took a cypress or oak.
He let it grow among the trees of the forest,
or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow.

It is man’s fuel for burning;
some of it he takes and warms himself,
he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
But he also fashions a god and worships it;
he makes an idol and bows down to it.

Half of the wood he burns in the fire;
over it he prepares his meal,
he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
“Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.”

From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
he bows down to it and worships.
He prays to it and says,
“Save me; you are my god.”

They know nothing, they understand nothing;
their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see,
and their minds closed so they cannot understand.

No one stops to think,
no one has the knowledge or understanding to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;
I even baked bread over its coals,
I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left?
Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”

Isaiah 44:13-19

It is very easy for us to dismiss the notion of worshipping idols.  Praying to graven images, rubbing the back of wooden animals, etc are obviously not useful at all.  Idol worshipping is so pointless to us that we laugh at the thought of doing it.

However, is that absolutely true?

Let’s see what Paul said to the Ephesians….

But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;  neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.  For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Ephesisns 5:3-5

Hmm… did you read it?  I actually higlighted it for you….

Covetousness is idolatory!

When we desire what we do not have – whatever that thing, that person, that job or whatever – that has become an idol to us and we are idolators!

Just consider for a moment today…

Are there any things in our lives that we greed after more than that of the things of God?  If we have.. we are truly in danger of being like the Philistines… to be idolators.

God wants to be our only desire. Jesus taught us,

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Matt. 6:31-33

If God is your only desire, then He will provide you with what is best for you.

Speaking about correct desires… I love what the Psalmist says in Psalm 37:4-5 …

Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.

If we have the right desires that is found in the Lord… we will not become guilty of being an idolator.  And hence will not face the terrible punishment that came upon the Philistines.

Desires … I have lots of thoughts on this but perhaps it is for another day.

So just consider this today…. is there anything that I desire in my life that makes me an idolator in how I pursue it?