the Third Week after Easter
Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 2 of 5
1 Samuel 5:1-12
The LORD allowed the ark to fall into the hands of the Philistines. But they must come to understand that if Israel has been smitten, it is not because the Philistine god is superior, but because it is the LORD’s will that it should happen. He wants to show the enemies of His people that they have in their midst "the ark of his strength" (Psalms 132:8). Twice their idol fell down before the God of Israel. Then, as before in Egypt, plagues struck the LORD’s enemies. His power is shown by these punishments.
We see once again the world’s selfishness. They do not think twice about sending such a dangerous object to other people.
But let us now turn our eyes away from this sad situation and let us look to Jesus, of whom the ark is always a beautiful picture. In John 18, people are looking for Him to take Him prisoner. At His words, "I am he," the men "went backward and fell to the ground", just like the statue of Dagon does here. He lets Himself be taken; He is sent from Annas to Caiaphas, from Herod to Pilate (like the ark being sent from Ashdod to Gath and from Gath to Ekron). But those who treat Him thus, who insult Him and condemn Him, have to learn these words from His lips: "They shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven" (Matthew 26:64).
