“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. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place.” 1 Sam. 5:3 ESV
Snow is falling thick outside our Virginia home. It is beautiful in the way it purifies the entire landscape. Our out-the-back mess of criss-crossed brown winter branches take my breath away by their sparkling brilliance.
The first real snow of the winter has layered itself on top of our patio and its possessions, a covered grill, vases and chairs. The winter-naked Virginian hills are clothed by an unmarred smooth thick white blanket.
It is like a fresh page. A blank unwritten script. Like an unblemished New Year stretching as far as I can see.
But its perfection won’t last long. Its whiteness will be muddied by passing cars. Its smoothness marred by footprints trampling through. Folds of creamy drapery will slide and slip and drop in big wet chunks. Bare trees and bushes will show their raw limbs again.
In 1 Samuel, the Israelites had lost their way. They strayed from God, and His presence with them stolen away. The Ark of the Covenant, a visible demonstration of God’s desire to dwell with His chosen own had been captured by their enemy. Without His protection they were uncovered and vulnerable.
The Philistines, at first fearful of the Ark’s power, believed it to be a god. Pride of conquest overcame hesitation and the ark of the Covenant was brought into their pagan temple. They placed it next to their own god Dagon.
But, when the Philistines rose early the next day, Dagon, had fallen face downward before the ark of the Lord.
So what’s a people to do when their god has toppled? Why, pick it up and put it back where it belongs, of course.
And this is the continuum of try try again, of new resolve and self-focus that we fall into easily when we recalibrate plans and goals without submitting them first to God.
I love this story in 1 Samuel. I love it right now as I gaze out my window, with the perfection of the snow still intact. I love it knowing already how the story ends. I relish a victorious God and assurance that any god other than the One True God doesn’t belong in any of our lives.
The next morning, what did the wondering eyes of God’s enemies see?
Dagon was again face down on the ground before the ark of the Lord. Only this time the head of Dagon and both his hands were broken off, lying in the threshold. The temple threshold received great respect for it separated what was considered sacred from what was thought to be common. Yet, there was Dagon, the statue, with only a trunk left lying in a position of submission before the ark of God in the threshold.
Idols can be well disguised. Certainly most of us don’t have an ancient god standing around to which we bow. However, instead of a carved image, something else may take the place where only God must be. It might even be something noble, a person or cause. It could be a career, comfort, a ladder to climb, or goals waiting for fulfillment.
Recalibrating for a New Year should never shift us to put something else in a god spot other than God Himself. The story is a great reminder as we plan 2022, to not make a Philistine mistake.
“So they took Dagon and put him back in his place.”
Any god, other than the One True God, cannot stand.
A new year can sometimes mean rather than constructing new gods, we first shatter some old ones. The world with its philosophies would try to convince us that other gods can stand beside our God, good, noble, and even shiny ones. As if something else can share the glory, side by side like best buds.
A New Year is really first and foremost about God’s glory.
Are my plans and purposes centered on lifting Him highest? Or like Israel’s conquerers, am I trying to go halves with Him while I prop up another god next to Him?
The thick Virginia snow has stopped. Heavy laden trees bent low are beginning to shed sheets of snow burdens. Their arms rise again. Branches snarled brown and bare stand out against a blue sky. Sparkling perfection begins to be scarred by melting away realities. Life halted for a day, will begin in earnest again tomorrow.
But this I know for every tomorrow. There is only One God and He Alone will reign.
J.D. Wininger
Such a powerful message Ms. Sylvia. I pray it causes many to stop and consider what we’re attempting to put in place of the God of all creation. Amen ma’am. Thank you for this post!
Sylvia Schroeder
Thank you J.D. I’ve certainly been considering what I’m attempting to put next to God, so to me first! Appreciate how you take the time to read and comment on my posts. You are always an encourager!
Nancy E. Head
May we keep things in the perspective God has for us. I love a snowstorm too!
Sylvia Schroeder
Thanks Nancy! Yes, my desire as well! Glad you like snow. I wrote that before the power went out for 5 days!
Annie Yorty
A truly challenging and needed message, Sylvia. Thank you.
Sylvia Schroeder
Thank you Annie. Appreciate you taking the time to read and respond!
Katherine Pasour
What a timely message! Having just made it through the hustle and bustle of the holidays when the celebration of the birth of our Lord is often overshadowed by materialism, your words remind us of the One who our God, our Creator. You’ve given us much to reflect on. Thank you.
Sylvia Schroeder
Thank you Katherine. I feel like I was talking to myself first!
Rebecca Powell
Sylvia, thanks for reminding us to be open to letting God reveal
the areas of our lives where we’re trying to replace Him with our own perfection or substitute god. “To the One True God alone be the glory…”
Sylvia Schroeder
Thank you Rebecca! The story struck me when I read it with some of the god replacements I so easily prop up. I’m so glad you took the time to read and respond!
Candyce
Your post gave me pause. As worthy as the goals we set are, we must be careful that our efforts to achieve them do not replace our true God.
Sylvia Schroeder
Thank you Candyce. The Biblical story made me pause too as I considered goals and plans for a new year. I appreciate that you read it and found it gave you some “pause” as well. Thank you so much for your encouraging response.
Sue Vogt
Thank you for the reminder! Thank God for His word!
Sylvia Schroeder
Amen. Thank God for His Word. It never ceases to teach and guide. Thank you Sue for reading and responding!
Ron Gallagher
I love that story, too, Sylvia. It has been one of my favorites for years. The sight of their trusted deity lying mutilated must have been astounding and terrifying to those who discovered it. We love to identify with God’s people and cheer as we see Him vanquish a supposed competitor, but we rarely want to identify ourselves among the pagans. It doesn’t feel so good if we think about our trusted gods–money, social media influence, protected compulsions, etc.– rendered powerless, dismembered and destroyed. Thanks for the welcome reminder and the encouraging admonition as we start the new year.
Sylvia Schroeder
Thanks so much Ron for your insightful comments. You’re right we don’t like to identify ourselves among the pagans with our own idolatry. Thanks so much for reading and for your response.
Leigh DeLozier
“Recalibrating for a New Year should never shift us to put something else in a god spot other than God Himself.”
That’s a powerful statement for us all to remember. Thanks for the story of the Ark and Dagon as a reminder. Such vivid imagery that makes me stop and reassess things.
Sylvia Schroeder
Thanks Leigh for reading and your encouraging response. I do love the story, and I’m not sure that it had ever seemed quite so personalized as this time around when I read it. Grateful you found it meaningful as well. Thank you.