Dagon Was Fallen…
I. Introduction:
A. After Israel came up from Egypt, God told them to make an ark to be in the tabernacle (Exodus 25:21-22).
- It was kept in the most holy place (Exodus 26:34).
- Later, it was placed in the temple Solomon built (I Kings 8:6).
- The enemies of Israel understood the significance of the ark in times of battle (I Samuel 4:1-7).
- So, they took it (I Samuel 4:8-11) and thus the glory of God departed from Israel (I Samuel 4:22).
- When you read I Samuel 2-3, such was not a time of faithfulness in Israel. When Israel was put to shame before their enemies, it was because they were unfaithful (Leviticus 26:14-17).
II. Body: I Samuel 5:1-6:3
A. Dagon was the god of the Philistines  (Judges 16:23).
- Dagon continued to be their god after being put to shame (I Chronicles 10:1-10).
- Sadly, heathens were more faithful to their gods than Israel was to the true and living God (Jeremiah 2:11).
- They repented (I Samuel 7:3-4).
- They defeated the Philistines (I Samuel 7:7-13); temporarily (I Samuel 14:52).
- Yet, what Israel did not do was put idols behind them from that point forward (I Kings 11:4, I Kings 12:25-29, and II Kings 17:7-12).
- God’s request is pretty simple (Exodus 20:3-6 and Exodus 23:13).
- What if we set up the god, the idol of wealth (Psalms 52:1-7 and Proverbs 11:28)?
- What if we set up the god, the idol of flesh in trusting man (Psalms 146:3-4, Proverbs 25:19, and Jeremiah 17:5)?
- What if we set up the god, the idol of falsehood (Hosea 10:13)?
- What if we set up the god, the idol of following the masses (Exodus 23:2 and Proverbs 4:14-15)?
III. Conclusion: If you set up other gods in your life, they too will fall on their face. Be smart (Psalms 40:4, Psalms 146:5, Jeremiah 17:7-8, and I Timothy 6:17)!