April 14th | 1 Samuel 5

The Israelites were facing a fierce enemy, the Philistines. They had a terrible battle where the Israelites lost four thousand men and the battle. Wounded and hurt, they rally together to determine how they might defeat this fierce enemy. What is the solution? The people decided to take the Ark of the Covenant into battle with them (1 Samuel 4:3). The Ark of the Covenant was where God’s presence resided. The logic was this: we will pick up God and take Him with us, and then we will have the victory. 

With the Ark in hand, they travel again to the Philistines, and once again, the Philistines defeat them. However, it gets worse, the Philistines steal the Ark of the Covenant. Why had the plan not worked? God is not someone you can pick up and take with you. After the first defeat, the Israelites could have prayed and asked God to come to their aid. Rather, they decided they would not ask God but simply make Him go with them into battle. God doesn’t do what we want, He does as He pleases. 



While in enemy territory, God’s presence and power are on display. The Philistines placed the ark in the temple of their god, Dagon. When the Philistines came in the next day, the Dagon statue had fallen face down. They set him back up, but the very next day, Dagon had fallen again and was smashed into pieces. God will not share His glory with another. 1 Samuel 5:6 says, 

“The hand of the Lord was heavy against the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory.” 

God’s presence brought terror among the Philistines. They were afflicted with tumors and sickness and were brought to their breaking point. The entire city was decimated not by the army of Israel but by the presence of God. Finally, the Philistines said, 

“Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people.” For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there.” 1 Samuel 5:11. 

God’s power and presence are not things that we can pick up or manipulate. We cannot see God as someone we can control and keep in our pocket like a lucky charm to help us in trouble. No, our God is mighty and powerful. His power demands that we submit to Him and His ways. Today, instead of trying to use God for your purposes, ask, “Almighty God, how can I be used by you?”