DCLM Daily Manna Wednesday 16 August 2023
TOPIC: Consequences of Daring God
TEXT: 1 Samuel 5:1-9 (KJV)
5 And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.
2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.
3 And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.
4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.
5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon’s house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.
6 But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.
7 And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.
8 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither.
9 And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the Lord was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.
KEY VERSE
“And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.”
(1 Samuel 5:7)
DCLM Daily Manna Wednesday 16 August 2023 MESSAGE
The Almighty God will not condone sin among His children, neither will He accommodate iniquity or being taken for granted by the enemies of the cross. It is dangerous and damning to play games with the Almighty. Those who dare Him will not be held guiltless.
The Philistines had just defeated the erring Israel in a battle. Feeling triumphant, they carried the Ark, the symbol of God’s presence, away to their land. They ignorantly and presumptuously equated the Ark of God to the image of their idol, Dagon. Therefore, they put the Ark in the house of Dagon. How daring!
READ DCLM Daily Manna Tuesday 15 August 2023 – False Confidence
Although God was not pleased with Israel and He allowed their enemies to conquer them, it did not mean He had become weak and powerless. He would not take the desecration of His holy name from the heathen! His judgment started first on Dagon, their god before the people themselves suffered their share. He smote them with haemorrhoids.
History tells us of Bernard Shaw, who, while smoking, puffed out some smoke into the air and said “God, that’s for you”. He died at the age of 32 of lung cancer in a horrible manner. The man who built the ship, ‘Titanic’ said in an ironic tone, “not even God can sink it”. However, the Titanic never reached its destination. Marilyn Monroe, an actress, flatly told Billy Graham who wanted to preach to her, “I don’t need your God”. A Week later, she was found lifeless in her apartment. Christine Hewitt, a Jamaican journalist and entertainer said the Bible was the worst book ever written. In June 2006, she was found burnt beyond recognition in her car! Whatever else you do, please do not take God for granted, for the righteous Lord will surely defend His name.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God is great and to be feared above all gods.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Job 16-20
