3/7/13. 1 Samuel 5:1-12. GOD NEVER COMPROMISES WITH IDOLS – my devotional

Key Verse: 5:11                                                                                          Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF

“’So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, ‘Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people.’ For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it.’”

    Dear Lord heavenly Father, thank you for the time off work when very stressed. You are a God that knows my needs. I thank you for the two years of the health care worker’s group Bible study. Today is the last day. May much fruit be born through our two years of prayer. I pray to start up “Art of Marriage” seminars among healthcare workers. I also pray that you may help me to write a powerful message on the death of Jesus. May it move the hearts of all at the Bible schoo starting it with my heart first. Please grant me one word of God in my heart through this daily bread. I thank you and I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Part 1: Don’t Make Use of God (1-5).

Verses 1-5, “After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. ² Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon. ³ When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. ⁴ But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. ⁵ That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon’s temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.”

The Philistines thought that they could make use of the ark of God. So they put the ark of God near Dagon, their god. But when they awoke, Dagon had fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! Later, Dagon’s appendages were broken off. The whole nation panicked. And so they should. God does not compromise with idol worship. Nor does he compromise with those who just want to make use of him. He brings a curse, not a blessing.

I learn here that God does not compromise with idol worship in any form. Holding onto idols brings a curse to any person or nation. It will bring them down. In America we have turned to money as an idol. We turn to science as an idol. We turn to technology as an idol. We are turning away from the Bible and the church in our spirituality. We turn to music as an idol. One popular show is American Idol. Now don’t get me wrong. There is a place for money, music, science and technology. I enjoy and utilize all of theses things in my life. But I know that they are not the way to salvation. They have very limited capacity to bring happiness and fulfillment and they have great capacity to leave us lonely and alone and fruitless and set adrift from God. They can not solve our interpersonal relationships with people and other groups of people. They can not lead us to heaven or to a personal relationship with God. But the hearts of our young people are being dragged away and enticed by these “idols” and they are being left high and dry. They need to come to Jesus and devote their hearts and lives to Jesus.

Even if we are Christians, there still can be idols attempting to control our hearts. Could we be trying to make use of Jesus to make our life in this world meaningful and fruitful for our own sakes? Could we be using Jesus to establish a ministry that glorifies us? Is that possible? Absolutely it is possible. In many ways I could be using Jesus for these purposes sometimes.

Part 2: “Let go” And Completely Repent (6-12).

Verses 6-12, “⁶ The Lord’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumors. ⁷ When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.” ⁸ So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked them, “What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?” They answered, “Have the ark of the god of Israel moved to Gath.” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel. ⁹ But after they had moved it, the Lord’s hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors.¹⁰ So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.” ¹¹ So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it. ¹² Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.”

They knew that they had to get rid of the ark! But they did not send the ark directly back to Israel right away. They moved it around from city to city thinking that their troubles would end and in some secure place they would be able to further exploit the ark. But they did not find rest. The Philistines were afflicted with tumors. God would not allow them to find new ways to hold onto their sin. They simply needed to repent and return the ark immediately, giving God the glory due him. God was solving Israel’s national problem his own way.

Yes, how true. We just can not seek new ways to hold onto our sins. We need to let it all go and devote all of our hearts and minds to Jesus Christ. On our own this is not possible. There are small crevices where the darkness tried to cling. But we need Jesus to shine his light brightly so that the light of Jesus may shine bright in every corner, eliminating every hiding place and we may walk in the light of the world, Jesus Christ. Our prayer must be, Lord Jesus shine your light into my heart. Drive out every idol and make my fully devoted to you.  Amen.”

Prayer: “Lord, I am tempted to just use you to serve my purposes. I repent of this and want to surrender to you immediately, giving you all the glory.”

One Word: God never compromises with any idol