1 Samuel 5 - The Ark of the Covenant Captured | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 5, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.1 Samuel Chapter 5 the Philistines have captured the ark. In the mind of the Philistines they had defeated the Isrealite God, and they now believed their god to be superior. They knew the Israelite God had defeated the Egyptian gods, so this was quite a celebration for them, but their theology was also faulty. What God would allow himself to be defeated? Yahweh for one, because he cares more about the hearts of men, that the perception that he lost a battle.The great temple of Dagon was in Ashdod. Previously there had been a greater temple in Gaza, but Sampson had destroyed it. Ashdod is also the NT city Azotus, which Philip visits in Acts 8. Once the ark is put in the temple, the statue of Dagon falls down before it overnight. The Lord so amazingly puts messages before people of all times and places.Here God speaks to the Philistines showing them that He alone is to be worshipped, but nobody seems to pick up what is being said. After this the plague starts. Many people think this was the Bubonic plague because of the tumours and the rats. In the Bible, plagues are always associated with God’s action. It may well have been the Bubonic plague symbolised by both the tumors and the rats, but it can still be spiritually caused too.The plague causes the Philistines to change their mind about wanting to keep the ark.