Moment of Meditation: Dagon Bows Down (1 Samuel 5:2-3)

Original Broadcast: January 2010

Monthly Theme: First Commandment, Graven Images

Then the Philistines took the ark of God
and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon.
And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day,
behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the LORD.
(1 Samuel 5:2-3)

Dagon Bows Down

The Philistines defeated the Israelites in battle and captured the Ark of the Covenant. They brought it into Dagon's rebuilt temple. After they went to bed, Dagon's statue fell in worship before the Ark. Every morning they set Dagon back up in his place. Every night, even Dagon bowed down before the Ark of the Covenant.

On the Last Day. "Every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11).

John Milton, in his Paradise Lost, personified many of the false idols of the pagan nations around Israel as demons in Lucifer's army. Dagon will be one of the many who will confess Jesus as Lord to their eternal detriment.

The Philistines returned the Ark to Israel to keep from suffering other troubles. They did everything except repent of their sins. Repentant of your sins, you may return to the LORD and receive His forgiveness as you bow the knee to Him. Amen.