When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of dagon, and set it by dagon. And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took dagon, and set him in his place again. 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 Sam. 5:2-6)
Though it is not the ark that has the power but the LORD of the covenant, when the Philistines place the ark before their idol in their temple of dagon, the idol falls over before the ark. After attempting to set the idol up again, it is once more before the ark, but with its head and hands separated from the stump. All idols, powerless representatives of false gods, are nothing before the LORD of Heaven. The priests of dagon who worship their false god were warned by this demonstration of the power of God and stayed away and the city was cursed as long as the ark was in the city. When the ark moved to other cities of the Philistines, the curse moved to those cities, until all the cities of the Philistines had experienced the judgment of God because they took the ark of the Covenant of the LORD.
God is God alone and all idols are nothing before Him. Though they may be worshiped by those who are ignorant, superstitious, or deluded, idols are nothing but creations of man and false gods. The God of Heaven who is LORD of all has commanded that only He is to be worshiped for He alone is Creator, Redeemer, and King. The false god of the Philistines, made of stone and with no power in itself, was thrown down before the Almighty and God demonstrated His power not only over the stone god of Ashdod and Gath but also over the Philistines themselves as He cursed the occupants of the cities whenever the ark was there with disease. This judgment was temporary, only lasting as long as the ark was in the city, but God’s final judgment over sin will be permanent for those who do not repent and surrender to Him on His terms.
Because God’s judgment over sin is both present and future, we are all guilty before Him for our sin, for all have sinned. We are as guilty as the Philistines of false idols and worship of other gods, whether ourselves or of our own making, and worthy of death and punishment. Without the forgiveness and mercy which God gives to those who repent and put their faith and trust in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, we are all under condemnation for our sins. But by God’s grace we can receive the new life which is in Him and through Him and be forgiven and delivered from condemnation and the destruction which God declared will come to all who do not turn from their sin and turn to Him and Him alone in faith, worship, and salvation. We who are His have the Good News of forgiveness, not to sin all we want or to continue going our own way, but a new way and a new life in Christ, reconciled to the Father, through the Son, and by the power of the Holy Spirit who makes all things new. We are to reach the lost, teach the nations, and preach the Word until all have heard of faith in Christ and the power of God over all false idols and gods which are no gods before Him who made us, has purchased our redemption, and who reigns both in the hearts of His own and one day over all the earth.
Until that day, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
God is God alone and all idols are nothing before Him. Though they may be worshiped by those who are ignorant, superstitious, or deluded, idols are nothing but creations of man and false gods. The God of Heaven who is LORD of all has commanded that only He is to be worshiped for He alone is Creator, Redeemer, and King. The false god of the Philistines, made of stone and with no power in itself, was thrown down before the Almighty and God demonstrated His power not only over the stone god of Ashdod and Gath but also over the Philistines themselves as He cursed the occupants of the cities whenever the ark was there with disease. This judgment was temporary, only lasting as long as the ark was in the city, but God’s final judgment over sin will be permanent for those who do not repent and surrender to Him on His terms.
Because God’s judgment over sin is both present and future, we are all guilty before Him for our sin, for all have sinned. We are as guilty as the Philistines of false idols and worship of other gods, whether ourselves or of our own making, and worthy of death and punishment. Without the forgiveness and mercy which God gives to those who repent and put their faith and trust in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, we are all under condemnation for our sins. But by God’s grace we can receive the new life which is in Him and through Him and be forgiven and delivered from condemnation and the destruction which God declared will come to all who do not turn from their sin and turn to Him and Him alone in faith, worship, and salvation. We who are His have the Good News of forgiveness, not to sin all we want or to continue going our own way, but a new way and a new life in Christ, reconciled to the Father, through the Son, and by the power of the Holy Spirit who makes all things new. We are to reach the lost, teach the nations, and preach the Word until all have heard of faith in Christ and the power of God over all false idols and gods which are no gods before Him who made us, has purchased our redemption, and who reigns both in the hearts of His own and one day over all the earth.
Until that day, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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