03/01/2024 - THE PHILISTINES’ MISTAKE

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When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon. 1 Samuel 5.2

The Philistines, whether innocent or not, made a crucial mistake by appropriating the Ark of the Testimony. This attitude would cause them to suffer greatly. Be careful when demanding something from widows, orphans and the oppressed, for the Lord says that these groups are easy to deceive: Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor, defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. (Isaiah 1.17). He who has common sense obeys God!

The box that God commanded Moses to make symbolized his Son, who would come to save the lost and offer the fullness of divinity: For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9). It was called the ark of the Testimony: And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel. (Exodus 25.22). Believe!

None of the uncircumcised Philistines served the Most High, but the prince of darkness. They were bold to lay their hands on what they shouldn’t. In doing so, they saw how zealous the Lord is in His ordinances. We have seen people talking about the divine work and threatening the Church if they are not obeyed. Fools! They don’t know what it’s like to rise up against the Almighty, so they will pay a high price. God is always faithful!

The boldness of the perfidious was so great that they took the ark to Dagon’s house. Now, it was never a good idea to stand up against the divine work, which is being built with the faith and blood of those who become martyrs for the Lord’s cause by His choice. Jesus declared: Therefore the wisdom of God also said, I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute’ (Luke 11:49). We must not fear, but bear witness to the Truth!

Such an outrage! The Philistines placed the holy ark next to the god invented by the belief of those who don’t know the Word. For them, that attitude was a promotion of their idol, but the Spirit of the Most High would bear witness to the Truth, proving that Dagon was nothing. The God of Israel is not man’s invention, but the Creator of everything. You only have to look at the history of humanity to see that the Israelites were used in a special way by Him.

In that place consecrated to lies, the Truth would be present, and the Philistines would have no doubt that the Lord is the only Sovereign. It would be proved that they had no excuses for continuing in error. However, because they didn’t love the Creator, they didn’t understand how easy it is to get out of trouble. Even if the devil oppresses someone, if the person believes in the Gospel, they will be set free and saved (John 8:32; 14:6)!

In the next messages, we will see the testimony that the ark of the Lord gave to those who imprisoned it and put it in that spiritually filthy place. The true God never left anyone in doubt, but gave proof of His love and compassion for all. Surrender to the Most High and you will be happy forever!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares