1 Samuel 5-6 God Was And Is Well Able To Take Care Of Himself

The Philistines were proud of their victory and certain that their God Dagon had beaten Jehovah.  The Ark was placed in Dagon's temple.  "However, Dagon didn't have a chance, for Jehovah God was and is well able to take care of Himself, my commentary said.  The next morning, Dagon's idol was found on the floor before the Ark as though worshiping it.  Although the statue was righted, the next morning the statue was only a stump, with the arms and legs severed.  God also judged the Philistines.  

"When the Philistines captured the Ark and arrogantly treated the Lord as though He were just another god, they invited the judgment of God ... the Lord sent infected mice or rats."  Wanting to prove these effects were coincidences, the Ark was moved from town to town, but the effects followed the Ark wherever it was taken.

The Philistines saw that they needed to get rid of the Ark, but didn't want to lose face in the process.  "Their wise men came up with a scheme that would test the God of Israel one more time.  If Jehovah, represented by the Ark, was indeed the true and living God, let Him take the Ark back where it belongs!"  

Hitching cows that were unused to pulling plows and that were missing their calves and needing to have their full milk bags relieved to a cart carrying the Ark would definitely require Jehovah's hand on the whole setup if it were to be returned to Israel's territory.  But God did it!  "The lords of the Philistines didn't know the true and living God, but the cows did, and they obeyed Him!" my commentary said.

The local Israelites were thrilled to see the Ark arriving, and they offered the cows as a burnt offering.  But some Israelite men violated the law but looking inside the Ark, and God killed them for not following His stated law.  "If the pagan Philistines were judged for the way they treated the Ark, how much more responsible were the Jews who knew the law and were living in a Levitical city!  ... The Ark represented the presence of the Lord with His people and the rule of the Lord over His people.  The Lord had every right to abandon His sinful people, but He graciously remained with them ..."

Father, thank You for Your constant watchcare over me and my family.  Your faithfulness continues to give me hope, and I praise You for Your love!

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford