Philistines Punished (1 Samuel 5)

Does God provide evidence of His existence? Do idols actually do anything for people? Let’s look at 1 Samuel 5.

Where was the stolen ark of the covenant placed by the Philistines? Dagon was a half man half fish idol.

After the Philistines took God’s chest, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then the Philistines took God’s chest and brought it into Dagon’s temple and set it next to Dagon. But when the citizens of Ashdod got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen facedown on the ground before the Lord’s chest! So they took Dagon and set him back up where he belonged. But when they got up early the next morning, there was Dagon again, fallen facedown on the ground before the Lord’s chest—and this time Dagon’s head along with both his hands were cut off and lying on the doorstep! Only Dagon’s body was left intact. That’s why to this day Dagon’s priests or anyone else who enters his temple in Ashdod doesn’t step on the threshold. (1 Samuel 5:1-5 CEB)

What did the Lord do to the Philistines to punish them for their theft?

The Lord caused a lot of trouble for the people of Ashdod and their neighbors. He made sores break out all over their bodies, and everyone was in a panic. Finally, they said, “The God of Israel did this. He is the one who caused all this trouble for us and our god Dagon. We've got to get rid of this chest.” The people of Ashdod invited all the Philistine rulers to come to Ashdod, and they asked them, “What can we do with the sacred chest that belongs to the God of Israel?” “Send it to Gath,” the rulers answered. But after they took it there, the Lord made sores break out on everyone in town. The people of Gath were frightened, so they sent the sacred chest to Ekron. But before they could take it through the town gates, the people of Ekron started screaming, “They've brought the sacred chest that belongs to the God of Israel! It will kill us and our families too!” (1 Samuel 5:6-10 CEV)

What did the Philistines decide to do with the ark of the covenant? Is God capable of defending Himself?

They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people.” For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there. The men who did not die were struck with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven. (1 Samuel 5:11-12 ESV)

Long before a missionary brings the Gospel, has God already provided ubiquitous evidence of His existence? Do people still suppress the truth?

For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. (Romans 1:18-23 HCSB)

Does God provide evidence of His existence? Do idols actually do anything for people? You decide!