“After the Philistines captured the Ark of God, they took it from the battleground at Ebenezer to the town of Ashdod. They carried the Ark of God into the temple of Dagon and placed it beside an idol of Dagon. But when the citizens of Ashdod went to see it the next morning, Dagon had fallen with his face to the ground in front of the Ark of the Lord! So they took Dagon and put him in his place again. But the next morning the same thing happened—Dagon had fallen face down before the Ark of the Lord again. This time his head and hands had broken off and were lying in the doorway. Only the trunk of his body was left intact. That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor anyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod will step on its threshold. Then the Lord’s heavy hand struck the people of Ashdod and the nearby villages with a plague of tumors. When the people realized what was happening, they cried out, “We can’t keep the Ark of the God of Israel here any longer! He is against us! We will all be destroyed along with Dagon, our god.” So they called together the rulers of the Philistine towns and asked, “What should we do with the Ark of the God of Israel?” The rulers discussed it and replied, “Move it to the town of Gath.” So they moved the Ark of the God of Israel to Gath. But when the Ark arrived at Gath, the Lord’s heavy hand fell on its men, young and old; he struck them with a plague of tumors, and there was a great panic. So they sent the Ark of God to the town of Ekron, but when the people of Ekron saw it coming they cried out, “They are bringing the Ark of the God of Israel here to kill us, too!” The people summoned the Philistine rulers again and begged them, “Please send the Ark of the God of Israel back to its own country, or it will kill us all.” For the deadly plague from God had already begun, and great fear was sweeping across the town. Those who didn’t die were afflicted with tumors; and the cry from the town rose to heaven.”
1 Samuel 5:1-12 NLT
The Philistines could be forgiven for thinking that the Ark was just another piece of plunder, regardless of its status among the Jews. After all, the Israelites had tried to harness it as a weapon and failed. Yet, this false testimony, about the Ark and God, would be their undoing. Because even though God would not be mocked by his own people and be treated transactionally, he also would be faithful to them in Philistine hands. He is not a machine or a slave to be controlled. He is sovereign among the nations. There are fewer better illustrations of this than the idol of Dagon lying prostrate before God’s Ark. He is so holy that even the gods cower before him. Though the Israelites testified poorly about him through their idolatry and wickedness, this did not stop his plan from being achieved. His purpose in creating a people through Abraham would still be accomplished. His greatness, even in their defeat, would be declared. Whether by blessings or curses, there is no one who is like the God of the Israelites. He is neither impressed by men, nor controlled by them. He does not share his glory with any other gods, nor will he be conscripted for their purposes. His purposes are his own, and they will always come to pass.
God’s Sovereignty: God is sovereign and not controlled by humans or other gods.
God’s Faithfulness: God remains faithful to the Israelites even when they fail to honor Him.
God’s Holiness: God’s holiness is demonstrated by the Philistine idol Dagon falling before the Ark.
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