God's Ark causes plagues

1 Samuel Chapter 5

After the Philistines captured the Ark of God, they took it to the city of Ashdod, carried it to the temple of Dagon and placed it beside the idol of Dagon. When the citizens went to see it the next morning, the idol of Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground in front of the Ark of the Lord. So they set it up again, but the next morning the same thing happened, this time the idol's head had broken off.

Then the Lord began to afflict the people of Ashdod and nearby villages with a plague of tumors. When the people realized what was happening, the cried out that the Ark could not be kept there any longer. They said God was against them and would destroy them and their god Dagon. Their rulers discussed what to do and suggested moving the Ark to the city of Gath. But when the Ark arrived at Gath, the Lord began afflicting its people with a plague of tumors too, and there was great panic.

So the people sent the Ark of God to the city of Ekron, but when the people at Ekron saw it coming, they cried out that the Ark was coming to kill them too. They summoned their rulers and begged them to sent the Ark of the God of Israel back to its own country before it killed all of them. The plague had already begun and great fear was sweeping the city. Those who didn't die were afflicted with tumors and there was weeping everywhere.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Dagon was the Philistine's god of harvest whom they believed sent rain.Like other pagan cultures, they believed in many gods and thought the Ark was just another idol that could help them. Then they saw it had a power they could not control. And although they saw what the Ark did to their own Dagon, they did not act on anything until they were afflicted with tumors and plague.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? We are often like the Philistines- we don't respond to the truth until it begins to cause us pain. Are you willing to listen to God for truth's sake, or do you turn to him only when you are hurting? I am the first to admit that often I am guilty of this - my prayers often request God's help when I or someone I love is hurting. How can we change this behavior? By praying with consistency. Talk to God each day. Keep a communication going that praises him often, not just when we are hurting. He is always there for you and me!

Yours in Christ,
Mary

SUCESSFUL HEALING REPORT: Thanks to your prayers, Al’s cancer is gone! His tumor, however remains inoperable and he is home living as normal a life as can be expected. Continue to pray for him. Gene’s biopsy proved his tumor was benign and he has been removed from our prayer list. Barb has been moved to a rehab facility to work on her speech etc., keep praying for her.

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, Arlene’s nephew David, Lori (who suffered a terrible accident)and her family and my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. And Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke. Also for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues. Update on Stella: She is 10 weeks old and has her own room at the hospital. The doctors continue to experiment with respirators, but her parents can see progress in her lung activity. They need your prayers so badly. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, those who need jobs, those who are about to lose or have lost their homes. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.