"Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon. And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and set it in its place again. And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon's torso was left of it."
At this particular time in Israel's history, blind old Eli was the high priest. He and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas who served with him, were part of a corrupted priesthood. They were no longer worthy to have the Ark in their possession.
Ark Taken "Captive."
God allowed it to be take "captive" by the Philistines, who were battling with Israel at that time. They took it back to Philistia, the location of modern-day Gaza, and brought It into the temple of their fish God, "Dagon." The word, "taken" is in quotations because it was more like the Ark took them captive! That golden box housed the Most High God and He can defend Himself!
Well, they placed the Ark in the temple of their merman-god's temple--Dagon was half man, half fish--rejoicing that he was the one who gave them the victory over the God of Israel.
The next morning, know where their "god" was? FACE DOWN IN FRONT OF THE ARK, bowing
down before it!
down before it!
The priests of Dagon thought maybe there had been an earthquake or something during the night, so they helped their "god" back up (snicker). Next morning, where was he again? Same posture: face down EXCEPT his head and his hands were chopped off!
Head speaks of intelligence; hands speak of power, the arm of flesh. That's what happened to the devil at Calvary! His power and intelligence were destroyed, his HEAD CRUSHED! Hallelujah!
Typologies.
Everything o the Old Testament points to something in the New. Remember when the soldiers came to take Jesus "captive" in the garden? They asked Him if He was Jesus and He said He was. Literally, the words he used were, "I AM." Every single o e of them fell to the ground before Him.
You see, He cannot be taken captive, either. He patiently waited until they all got up off the ground, dusted the,selves off, and (no doubt) held out His hands for them to restrain. He allowed Himself to
be taken and crucified. He willingly gave up His life to save all of us!
be taken and crucified. He willingly gave up His life to save all of us!
If the devil had an inkling of a clue that crucifying Jesus would lead to his head being crushed, I
guarantee you, he would never have "orchestrated" Jesus' capture and death. In so doing, he orchestrated his own demise and sealed his fate FOREVER!
guarantee you, he would never have "orchestrated" Jesus' capture and death. In so doing, he orchestrated his own demise and sealed his fate FOREVER!
The modern-day counterpart of the Biblical Philistines are just as impotent and their forebears. They live in the area we today know as the Gaza Strip. They can NEVER PREVAIL AGAINST THE GOD OF ISRAEL! That goes for any other nation that seeks to harm the apple of God's eye.
As it says in Psalm 124:4, "He that keepeth Israel NEITHER SLUMBERS NOR SLEEPS.
Oh yes: Our God is FAR greater than the "god" of the Philistines!
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