relationships (1 Samuel 5:1-12) Not to Disappoint

(1 Samuel 5:1-12) Now the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon, and placed it beside Dagon. 3 When the Ashdodites got up early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and set him back in his place. 4 But when they got up early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. And the head of Dagon and both palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold; only the torso of Dagon was left. 5 For that reason neither the priests of Dagon nor any who enter Dagon’s house step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.

6 Now the hand of the Lord was heavy on the Ashdodites, and He made them feel devastated and struck them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territories. 7 When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, because His hand is severe on us and on Dagon our god.” 8 So they sent word and gathered all the governors of the Philistines to them, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” And they said, “Have the ark of the God of Israel brought to Gath.” So they took the ark of the God of Israel away. 9 After they had taken it away, the hand of the Lord was against the city, creating a very great panic; and He struck the people of the city, from the young to the old, so that tumors broke out on them. 10 So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And as the ark of God came to Ekron, the Ekronites cried out, saying, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people!” 11 Therefore they sent word and gathered all the governors of the Philistines, and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel and let it return to its own place, so that it will not kill us and our people!” For there was a deadly panic throughout the city; the hand of God was very heavy there. 12 And the people who did not die were struck with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Because of the Israelites' sinful actions, the Philistines were able to win the battle and take the ark of the Lord.  Obviously God was not helpless without the Israelites' perfect obedience, and caused the Philistines to see that they should not have the ark in their possession at all.  So their brief victory turned into great anguish as they faced God's power and punishment!

There is both a warning and an encouragement in this.  For unbelievers, there is punishment, if not here on earth, there will be for all eternity.  The solution to this is simple: turn to the Lord to repent and believe in Him.

Believers live in the freedom and security of God's grace, knowing that God will never disown His children.  And even though churches and individual Christians will make mistakes, God is still able to carry out His will, without our perfect obedience.  Therefore, we do not have to live in fear, worrying about evil, or about losing our salvation, or about God's plans being thwarted.

At the same time, we should not desire to willfully sin.  The most important relationship we could ever have is with the Lord!  And it is when we are close to God that we can access the best possible help for all other relationships.

Of course we think and say that we don't want to disappoint our heavenly Father, yet we will still do such very stupid things, even on purpose.  The bigger danger is when we start thinking, "Eh, it's not such a big thing," or "It's okay, God's grace covers me..."  It does, but we should have remorse and regrets when we sin, no matter how "big" or "small" the sin is.  We have to know that while God punishes unbelievers, He will discipline His children!  But because God is the best, most caring and loving Father, we are to keep running back to Him to confess, and continue on in our walk with Him!  

(Proverbs 3:12) For whom the Lord loves He disciplines, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

(1 Corinthians 1:4-9) I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, 6 just as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Romans 6:15-18) What then? Are we to sin because we are not under the Law but under grace? Far from it! 16 Do you not know that the one to whom you present yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of that same one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were entrusted, 18 and after being freed from sin, you became slaves to righteousness.