| I Samuel 5:1-7:17; John 6:1-21; Psalm 106:13-31; Proverbs 14:32-33
The Philistines put the captured ark of God in with their god Dagon. In the morning their god was bowed down before the ark of the Lord. They stood their god back in his place…wait that doesn’t even sound right. You mean to tell me you have to stand your god up? Well, the next morning they went in and Dagon was bowed again before God with his palms and head cut off. Get a clue man! You have to protect your god from the big bad God of Israel. Really. Change to the true God that protects and tends to you and doesn’t require that you babysit Him. Good night!
So, God is oppressing their people to the point that they finally pass the ark on to another Philistine town, Gath. In Gath, the men were afflicted with hemorrhoids and the town was overrun with mice. Yuck! These folks were so slow that they kept the ark for seven months before considering sending it on.
“…the Philistines summoned the priests and the diviners and pleaded, ‘What should we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us how we can send it back to its place.'” (I Samuel 6:2)
“Make images of your tumors and of your mice that are destroying the land. Give glory to Israel’s God, and perhaps He will stop oppressing you, your gods, and your land. Why harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened theirs? When He afflicted them, didn’t they send Israel away, and Israel left?” (6:5-6)
The priests told them to take two milk cows that have never been yoked (sent out), put a cart with the ark behind it and send it out. If the ark goes back to where it came from (Beth-shemesh) then it was the God of Israel that was tormenting them but if it goes off randomly then all the hemorrhoids and mice were just a fluke.
“The cows went straight up the road to Beth-shemesh. They stayed on that one highway, lowing as they went; they never strayed to the right or to the left…” (6:12)
My God don’t need no matches, He’s fire all by Himself! Woohoo! I said my God doesn’t need me to take care of Him because He is the great God of heaven and earth, the creator, master and sustainer of the universe. Shout somebody! I rest comfortably in His care because I know that He is more than able to see me through. Even in my trials and tribulations, He is leading me out and I trust Him.
PRAYER:
Lord, You are so awesome, so incredible. Truly there is no god that can even imagine measuring up to You. I honor and worship You. You are the great God Jehovah and beside You there is no other. I stand in reverence. Amazing, You are simply amazing. My God, BAD to the bone, my protector, my hero. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. |
