Category: Worship

A Foolish Exchange

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“They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass.” –  Psalm 106:20

Similar Value?

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines the word exchange as such, “An occurrence in which people give things of similar value to each other.”  Imagine how you would feel if you opened your safe and discovered an item(s) of great value was missing.  Perhaps a family heirloom.  Perhaps an item of great sentimental value.  Maybe your “love” letters from years ago.  Imagine your disappointment to learn that your child took this item from the safe and traded it at school for a stick of gum or perhaps a frog.  What seemed like a good exchange to your child would be laughable to you (once you stopped crying).  It would certainly be a teachable moment about trading (and stealing).  You wouldn’t want your child to repeat such a foolish exchange.  Nor does God want His children to.  We can forgive a child for a foolish act done out of ignorance, but what excuse do we have as adults to make an even more foolish exchange on a regular basis?

Jealous God

El Qanna.  In Exodus chapter 20 verse 4, God tells the Israelites they are not to make idols.  In verse 5, he continues by telling the Israelites they are not to worship or bow down to idols because He is El Qanna.  A jealous God.  God is jealous for His reputation.  He is jealous for His name.  Exodus 34:14 says, “For you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”  God alone is to be worshiped.  He alone is worthy.  In Psalm 106 from which today’s passage comes, the Psalmist asks the question, “Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD, or declare all His praise” (verse 2)?   Despite the fact that God miraculously delivered the Israelites from Egypt and parted the Red Sea for them to cross on dry ground, the Israelites “forgot God’s works” (verse 13) and then “forgot God, their Savior” (verse 21).  It is difficult to utter the mighty deeds of the LORD if we are forgetful them.  It is easy to make a bad exchange if we are ignorant of worth.  We need to hold in higher esteem the glory of God.

Worthless Idols

When held as slaves in Egypt, the Israelites were introduced to Apis, an idol in the form of a bull.  When Moses and Aaron arrived, the Israelites were “introduced” to Yahweh.  It was His power that performed the miracles.  It was His power that parted the Red Sea.  It was His hand that wrote the Ten Commandments.  The Pillar of Fire, the manna, and the quail, all were of God.  Apis, however,  was powerless.  Yet when Moses spends time with God on a mountain, the Israelites “resurrect” Apis.  In our self-righteousness, we ask, how?  In our self-centeredness, we do the same thing.  Like the foolish child we take what belongs to God and give it to Apis.  Not an ox to feed our family.  Not an ox to pull a plow.  The image of an ox that eats grass.  What a foolish exchange.  We might be further ahead with a stick of gum or a frog.

Costly Ignorance

Yesterday we looked at the relationship between the glory of God and His works.  In His works, God manifests His character.  Today’s text shows us the danger of forgetting God’s works.  Forgetting His works can lead to forgetting Him.  Forgetting God results in a foolish exchange.  Ignorance may be an excuse for a child, but not for us.  We have the Living Word.  We have the indwelling Spirit.  We have access to the Throne.  We have a testimony.  We have no excuse to “forget” the works of God.  We have no justification to “forget” God.  I believe the best way to avoid making a bad exchange like the Israelites did is to practice what the Psalmist asks rhetorically in verse 2, “Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD, or declare all His praise?”  A child of God can.  A child of God must.

Wise Investments

Nothing is more “valuable” than the glory of God.  God is jealous for His name and we should be too.  We need to spend time in the Word getting to know God more intimately.  We need to spend time in prayer and being still before God.  We need to be sensitive to the moving of the Spirit and not quench Him.  We need to fellowship with other Believers and sharpen one another as iron sharpens iron.  We need to be more eternally focused and not allow the world to draw us back to Apis.  We need to utter the mighty works of God, beginning with the cross.  We need to declare His praise.

Some day we will be gathered in Heaven.  The streets will be pure gold.  The foundations will be precious jewels.  We will be surrounded by a wall of jasper.  As valuable as these things may be, they will seem worthless compared to the glory of God, whose presence will outshine them all.  If the building materials of heaven cannot compare to the glory of God, certainly nothing on earth can.  If there is nothing of similar value, why are we so quick to exchange it?

Don’t be foolish.  Don’t steal from God.  Don’t exchange His glory for the image of an ox.  Instead of imitating the Israelites, may we have the passion of Moses.

“Please show me your glory.” – Exodus 33:18

The Heavens Declare

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“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” – Psalm 19:1

Heavenly Lessons

How wise we would be to imitate the heavens.  Declaring the glory of God and proclaiming His handiwork.  Isn’t that why we were created?  Isn’t that why we were redeemed?  We like to “make much” of ourselves.  Too much.  When we are caught in the trap of thinking the world revolves around us it is good to look to the heavens.  The heavens don’t declare your greatness.  They certainly don’t proclaim my handiwork.  We didn’t hang the stars in their places.  We didn’t give each of them a name.  As large and as bright as they are we can’t even see them all.  The heavens don’t exalt mankind, rather they humble us.  As does nature in general.  Whether it is the grandeur of a mountain or a sunset or the sheer power of a tsunami or an earthquake, we are reminded that we are mere worms (Job 25:6).  Thinking of ourselves as worms is not flattering, but it is a good perspective from which to “view” and appreciate the glory of God (Isaiah 41:14).

God’s Glory

We often speak of the glory of God, but what exactly does that mean?  In the Old Testament, two of the Hebrew words translated in English as glory are Hod and Kabod and in the New Testament, the Greek original is Doxa.  These words, respectively, mean splendor, weight, and judgment (opinion).  By extension, majesty, important, honor.  Although God’s glory is intrinsic, I am going to define it as simply, the manifestation of God’s character.  You are welcome to disagree with my definition.  But some things are not debatable.  What is more important to God than the manifestation of His character?  Doesn’t He want to make Himself known so He can be worshiped?  What is the purpose of His works?  Why did He inspire the authors of the Bible to write?  Why did He reveal Himself using different names?  God wants His name to be famous!  We should want nothing less.

God’s Manifestation

“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.  So they are without excuse” (Romans 1:19-20).  If manifesting His character is so important to God, what does that say about our obligation to know Him?  Moses prayed to God, “Please show me your glory”  (Exodus 33:18).  A.W. Tozer once said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”  Jesus lived to make the Father known to us.  He died to bring Him glory.  “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you…” (John 17:1b).  Christ glorified the Father by revealing Him to us.  We “glorify” the Father by accepting Christ and making Him known.

It Is Jesus

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15).  “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature” (Hebrews 1:3a).  The author of Hebrews states succinctly that all of God’s revelations of His character culminated in His Son.  The author of Hebrews tells us that the heavens that declare the glory of God are the works of Christ’s hands.  It is He who upholds the universe by the word of His power.  It is Jesus that made purification for sins.  It is Jesus that sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High.  It is Jesus that all of God’s angels worship.  It is Jesus whose throne is forever and ever.  It is Jesus that is a merciful and faithful high priest.  It is Jesus that is the apostle and high priest of our confession.  It is Jesus who has passed through the heavens.  It is Jesus that is a guarantor of a better covenant.  It is Jesus that always lives to make intercession for us.  It is Jesus who is holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens.  It is Jesus, the Son, who has been made perfect forever.  It is the blood of Jesus that gives us the confidence to “enter the holy places.”

Pursuing God

What comes to your mind when you think about God?  Tozer was correct, the most important thing you can do with your life is to pursue God in Christ.  That is why you were created.  That is how God is glorified.  The heavens declare the glory of God.  God has revealed Himself to us.  He is glorified when we enter the holy places and approach Him as Abba Father.  He hung the stars in place to shout to us to look to Him.  He hung a star over Bethlehem to lead the wise men to the babe.  His Son hung on a cross so we could come to Him.

“To God be the glory, great things He has done, so loved He the world that He gave us His son.”

Increasing by Decreasing

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“He must increase, but I must decrease.” – John 3:30

He must increase  

It is God’s will.  Nothing is more certain than Christ’s glory.  Nothing is going to prevent His exaltation.  All of creation was brought into being for this purpose.  All of creation is sustained for this purpose.  The heavens declare it.  The rocks are willing to shout it out.  History is racing towards it.  As sure as the sun rises in the east, the Son will be lifted up.  He must increase.  The Father will make sure of it.  The Spirit will enable it.  Man will not impede it.  John’s disciples were jealous that the disciples of Jesus were beginning to baptize more people than John.  It was time for the bride to be “handed” over to the Bridegroom.  John’s disciples saw this as a challenge, John the Baptist saw this as a fulfillment of his calling.  He couldn’t have been more pleased.  Despite being at the pinnacle of his popularity, John was ready to descend the mountain.  John was wise enough to recognize there is only room for one at the top.  He prepared the way.  Now it was time to move on.  His voice was soon to be silenced.  If a voice is going to cease, what could be better words to seal the lips, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

I must decrease

John’s was the honor of being the voice in the wilderness.  Being the Herald for the King. But now the King had arrived.  He was not going to compete with Jesus and neither should we.  He encouraged his disciples to follow Christ.  John knew he was a man of limitations.  Jesus was not.  Out of love for his Messiah and his disciples, he encouraged them to abandon him for Christ.  How humble of John.  He submitted to the sovereignty of God, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from Heaven.”  John called people to repentance.  He rebuked the religious leaders.  He challenged Herod.  He even had the honor of baptizing Jesus and announcing Him as the Lamb of God, come to take away the sins of the world.  But John was not the Lamb.  As he reminded his disciples, “You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.'”  John had an important calling, but he knew his place in life.  He faithfully performed the task God gave him.  He humbly accepted his position. He wisely instructed his jealous followers to follow the Lamb.  This is not a contest, lay down your egos and embrace Jesus.

Full joy

Amazing how a man who empties himself becomes full.  Decreasing leads to increasing.  As we lay aside our pride and empty ourselves for the glory of Christ we are filled with joy.  Listen to John’s words, “The one who has the bride is the bridegroom.  The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice.  Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.”  The voice of one crying in the wilderness gives way to the bridegroom’s voice and greatly rejoices.  As a matter of emphasis, he says his joy is now complete!  Christ is exalted in the redemption of His Bride, the Church.  John, like a selfless best man, is filled with joy as He hears the joy of the Bridegroom.  How wise we would be to learn from John.

It was John’s priority to point people to Christ.  We should share this priority.  John recognized the sovereignty of God and submitted to it.  We would be wise to do the same.  John had a calling and was faithful to it.  Every child of God has a calling, may we also be faithful in Christian service.  In humility John emptied himself for the glory of Christ, leading to “complete joy.” Who doesn’t want the same?  Sometimes the best gains are obtained through subtractions.  Christ can be glorified through the death of our pride.  Joy can be obtained by giving up self.  Good lessons for the Bride to learn from the “Best Man.”

“He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”  Jim Elliot

Lord of the Kings

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The Father Rejected

The mere thought of it is painful.  Experiencing it is humiliating.  Who wants to be discarded like last week’s leftovers. Rejection is always difficult to accept.  More so when we are rejected by family.  But our children?  Those we gave life to.  Those we nurtured. Those we protected when they were vulnerable.  We expect them to leave the nest, but rejection?  Painful enough if it happens to fallen men. Unthinkable when it happens to a perfect God.  But that is what Israel did.  Despite the fact that God chose them out of all the nations and placed His favor on them.  Leading them out of Egypt, feeding and guiding them.  He was their protection.  They were the apple of His eyes.  They were discontent.  They wanted “more”.  They wanted a king like the other nations.

When the elders of Israel presented their demand for a king to Samuel, he was very displeased.  Samuel warned the elders of the dangers.  He warned them of the consequences.  It is inevitable, a king will fail you.  You will lose your sons.  You will lose your daughters.  Not enough?  He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards.  Wait.  There’s more.  He will take the tenth of your grains and vineyards.  He will take our male and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys and put them to his work.  Still not done.  He will take the tenth of your flocks and YOU shall be his slaves!!  Do you really want to sacrifice everything for a king?

For emphasis, Samuel gives one final warning, “And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day” (1 Samuel 8:18).  The response; “No!  But there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles” (1 Samuel 8:19b-20).  Rejected.

Replacements?

You know the story.  It’s not a good one.  Saul was the first king.  Handsome.  Tall.  Hiding in the baggage.  Offered an unlawful sacrifice.  Made a rash vow.  Consulted a medium.  Rejected by God for disobedience.   He transgressed God’s command because he feared the people. Bad start.  How about David?  Brought down Goliath with his sling.  Mighty warrior.  Things were looking good.  Then came Bathsheba & Uriah.  Adultery and murder don’t look good on any leader’s resume.  Too many family issues ensued.  Next! Solomon.  Man of wisdom.  Great builder.  Peaceful reign.  Too many foreign women and their gods.  After Solomon the kingdom becomes divided.  The bondage and human sacrifices are appalling.  But God warned them.  God’s chosen people were not only discontent, they were deluded. God sent them prophets.  For the most part, the people scoffed at them.  From time to time, a “good” king would come along and try to reverse the damage, but a band-aid doesn’t do much good when open heart surgery is needed.  God kept reaching out.  More prophets were sent.  The people didn’t heed.  God’s children ended up in slavery, just as they had been warned.  Now God was silent.  For over four hundred years.

The Son Rejected

And then a baby’s cry broke the silence.  The cry of the True King.  The cry of a Savior.  The God they rejected was back in human flesh.  The “lowly” shepherds came and worshiped.  The wise men also came and worshiped Him. Certainly now that they were desperate the Israelite’s would embrace their Messiah!  Rejected.  Instead of the Elders pressing Samuel, it was the religious leaders pressing Pilate.  Away with this fraud.  Give us Barabbas!

Instead of a throne, Jesus hung on a cross.  God in human flesh.  Rejected.  The cross is no place for a king, unless that King is also a Savior.  When Israel asked for a king, Samuel warned they would sacrifice everything to their kings.  When Jesus came, He sacrificed everything for His people.  He laid down His life for them.  The crown of thorns on His brow is proof of His love and sacrifice.  No other king has ever worn such a crown.  Jesus is no ordinary king.

Ruler of All

Jesus isn’t finished.  He is coming back.  No king will be able to stand before Him.

When Jesus  opens the sixth seal, the kings of the earth will hide in caves and beg for death, “Calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”  Jesus.

When Israel rejected God, they told Samuel they wanted a king to “judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”

“Then I saw heaven opened , and behold, a white horse!  The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.  His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems, and He has a name written that no one knows but Himself.  He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood and the name by which He is called is the Word of God.  And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.  From His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron.  He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.  On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, King of king and Lord of lords.” – Revelation 19:11-16

One crown to rule them all.  The crown of thorns.  Forged in the pits of hell.  Twisted and contorted with every sin.  With Adam’s sin the ground was cursed to bring forth thorns and thistles; Hell’s materials for the ruling crown.  The crown only Jesus was qualified to wear.  A sinless Savior bearing the sins of the world.  A Lord and King we desperately need.  At the end of time He will be the last King standing.  Don’t be discontent.  Don’t be deluded.  Don’t reject Him.

“For it is said in old lore, ‘The hands of the king are the hands of a healer.’  And so the rightful king could ever be known.”  J.R.R. Tolkien-Lord of the Rings

Twelve Angry Men

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“And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.” – Matt. 20:24

“And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, ‘Why this waste?'” – Matt. 26:8

“But when Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the children come to Me; do not hinder them, for such belongs the kingdom of God.'” – Mark 10:14

Sitting at Jesus’ side

One day the mother of James and John came to Jesus and asked Him for a favor.  Specifically, she wanted her two sons to have the place of highest honor in Jesus’ kingdom.  The privilege of sitting at His right and left hand.  Although mom asked the question, Jesus directed His reply to the brothers.  Did they understand what was being asked of Him?  Was the question appropriate?  Jesus could assure them they could suffer for Him, but to give out positions of honor was for the Father, not for Jesus.  James and John had their priorities wrong! The other ten had their feathers ruffled.  They were indignant!  Pride and competition are a dangerous combination.  Jesus had more teaching to do.

The son’s of Zebedee were motivated by pride, not humility.  According to Jesus, Gentile rulers exercise authority over others.  To them, this reflects greatness.  Not so with Jesus.  According to Him, if you want to be great; serve.  If you want to be first, become a slave.  If you can’t comprehend My words, follow My example; “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”  Before anybody will be sitting at my right and left hand, my hands will be nailed to a cross. Before they are nailed to the cross, they will wash your feet.  Don’t worry about what you can grasp, look for opportunities to give.

Kneeling at Jesus’ feet

On another occasion, Jesus was at the home of Simon the leper.  A woman came in and anointed Him with a very expensive ointment. When the disciples saw this they were indignant.  What a waste.  What about the poor?  What is she thinking?  What a bunch of hypocrites.  In self-righteousness, the disciples rebuked the woman.  In love Jesus commended her.  I have told you numerous times about My imminent death, yet you were worried about your status.  This woman worships Me, and you’re worried about waste? As long and as far as the gospel is proclaimed, her act of worship will be remembered!  Bet that set well with the disciples.  While they were grasping, she was giving.  If you are truly concerned about the poor, they will always be with you. Give.

Sitting on Jesus’ lap

One day some mothers brought their little children to Jesus.  They did not ask for the privilege of sitting at His right and left hand, they merely wanted Jesus to touch their children.  They wanted His blessing.  The disciples rebuked them.  This time Jesus was indignant.   What these people are asking of Me is beautiful.  It is done in humility.  Don’t hinder them. Learn from them.  Heaven will be filled with people of “childlike” faith.  Their reward?  The lap of Jesus.  They were blessed with the touch of His hands.  Each time He blessed a child He touched a mother’s heart and rebuked His disciples.  Every time He rebukes His disciples, he rebukes us.

How is your pride?  How is your self-righteousness?  Are you more interested in being great or becoming “less”  (i.e. “He must increase, I must decrease”)?  Do you want to be served or to serve?  Do you want to grab or give?  Are you more passionate about your interests or Jesus’ glory? What makes you indignant?  Maybe it’s time to grab that alabaster jar and empty its contents for Jesus.  You will find it is good for the soul, and may even put a smile on your face!

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matt. 5:3

He is Risen

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“If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.” – Isaiah 7:9b

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you-unless you believed in vain.  For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas then to the twelve.” – 1 Cor. 15:1-6

“Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?  But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.  And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.  We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.  For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.  And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.  Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.  If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.  But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” – 1 Cor. 15:12-20

“But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here, for He has risen as He said.  Come see the place where He lays.'” – Matthew 28:56

He has risen

All of Christianity stands on this truth.  As Paul says, if Christ has not been raised our faith is in vain.  He goes on to say that if we have no hope of an afterlife, Christians are of all people most to be pitied.

But our faith is not in vain.  It is based on facts.  Jesus lived.  Jesus died.  Jesus was buried.  Jesus rose from the grave.  Each of these historical events had eyewitnesses, as well as the bodily ascension of Jesus.

The resurrection is not only historical fact, it is unique to Christianity.  Christians alone worship a resurrected Savior. Christ wasn’t just a good moral teacher.  He didn’t simply impart wisdom to His followers.  Nor did He merely live an “upright” life as an example for other.  No.  Jesus was God in the flesh.  He lived a perfect life fulfilling the Law.  He bore our sins on the cross, paying a penalty we deserved.  He rose from the grave, defeating Satan and death.

Jesus has risen.  Because He has, we will too.  If we are believers.

Grief with Hope

In 2000, we buried my wife’s dear mother.  A woman who had a “firm faith”.  In 2010, we buried an infant daughter.  Obviously, in both instances, we grieved, but not as those who have no hope.  Instead, we practice the wise counsel of Paul.  We take encouragement in the truth of the resurrection.

“But we do not want you to be uninformed brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep…Therefore encourage one another with these words.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14,18

As he is teaching about the resurrection, Paul makes this interesting statement, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals'” (1 Cor. 15:33).

Firm in Faith

Literally, what Paul is saying is avoid false teachers.  In the context, he is specifically warning against being exposed to those who deny a literal resurrection.  The doctrine of the resurrection is foundational.  Paul would echo the words of Isaiah quoted above.

“If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.”

We need to take Jesus at His word.  “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Luke 9:22).

Happy Resurrection Sunday!!

Christ has risen!  He has risen indeed!!

An Idol Lesson – (Dagon before the Ark)

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“When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 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. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place. But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him.” -1 Samuel 5:1-5.

Dagon

Dagon was the national god of Philistia.  In Judges 16 we see the Philistines offering a sacrifice to Dagon for giving Samson into their hands.  Likewise, 1 Chronicles 10 records the death of Saul at the hands of the Philistines.  After stripping Saul’s body the Philistine’s took his head and hung it in the house of Dagon.  Like all idol worshipers, the Philistines were guilty of giving credit where credit was not due.  In the presence of the glory of God, Dagon was put in his proper place.  Face down.  This may be one lesson we can learn from an idol.

When the Philistines defeated the Israelites and captured the ark of God, they brought it to the house of Dagon as a spoil of war, much like the armor and head of Saul.  What they meant to be an act of tribute to their god turned out to be his exposure as a fraud.  When the ark was set up next to Dagon, Dagon did not measure up.  Inanimate though he was, he could not stand in the presence of God’s glory, and neither can we.  The text says that when the Philistines found Dagon prostrate before the ark they put him back in his place.  God had already put Dagon in his place.  And He was going to do it again with emphasis.  In case they did not recognize the superiority of Israel’s God; their god was now a mere trunk, with his head and hands cut off.

God

Yesterday, we looked at the danger of not accepting God as He reveals Himself in scriptures and in particular as He reveals Himself in Christ.  We don’t have the liberty to redefine Him.  God is so far above man that we have no right to bring Him down to our level.  Instead we need to be confronted with the Holiness of God.  Like Dagon we need to be set up next to God’s glory and see how we stand.  Chances are, we won’t.

“Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightening and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, ‘You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.'” – Exodus 20:18-19

“I had heard of  You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” – Job 42:5-6

“And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.  And I said: ‘Woe is me!  For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!'” – Isaiah 6:4-5

“But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.'” – Luke 5:8

“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead.  But He laid His right hand on me, saying, ‘Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one.  I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.'” – Revelation 1:17-18

What Dagan did involuntarily, let’s do voluntarily.  As an act of worship, may we humble ourselves at the feet of Jesus.

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” – Revelation 4:8b