E-pistle for September 11, 2015
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e-pistle
FreeWay Foundation September 11, 2015
the pagan god which lost its head
(I Samuel 5:1-12)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. The Philistines took the Ark of the Covenant which they had
captured from the Israelites into the temple of their god Dagon
in Ashdod; the next day that false idol was found fallen on its
face before the Ark, and on the second morning, its head and
hands were broken off and laid on the threshold, vv. 1-5.
2. The citizens of Ashdod were struck with tumors (symptoms of a
plague), and they attributed the disease to Israel's God, Who
was punishing them for taking the Ark, vv. 6-7.
3. The rulers of the Philistines moved the Ark from Ashdod to
Gath, but the Lord brought the destructive plague upon that city
also, vv. 8-9.
4. Once again they moved the Ark (from Gath to Ekron), but the
hand of God again brought death upon the Philistines; they
desperately cried out to heaven (Israel's God) for help . . . not
to Dagon, vv. 10-12.
II. Meditation: on the Philistines god called "Dagon"
1. Dagon, meaning "Little Fish," was the main god of the Philistines;
the idol had the torso, arms, and head of a man, but its lower body
was that of a fish.
2. Dagon was an ancient grain god or storm god which had originated
in the land of Mesopotamia.
3. The Philistines were worshipping Dagon, celebrating their victory
over Samson, when he brought down the temple, killing himself and
many other persons, Judges 16:23-30.
4. The Philistines displayed the severed head of King Saul in the temple
of their god, Dagon, I Chronicles 10:10.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual truths seen in this chapter
1. There is only one true God, and His power is not limited to Israelite
territory alone; He is the God of the heavens and the earth.
2. The Lord is not confined to a "box" but His holy things are to be
treated with due respect and honor.
3. The pagan idols are false gods which cannot hear or speak (Dagon's
head was cut off); these heathen gods also are powerless to act
(Dagon's hands were cut off). (See Isaiah 19:1 and Jeremiah 50:2)
4. When heathen people are hit with calamities which their false gods
cannot handle, they often turn to the true and living God, v. 12;
Jonah 1:6.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Worship the living God, the Creator of the universe.
2. Approach the Lord with sincere reverence and awe.
3. Know that Almighty God sees, hears, and acts in "my world."
4. Pray for those who do not know the Lord; bring them into a saving
knowledge of Jesus Christ.
jonah prays for god's help
(Jonah 2:1-10)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the elements of Jonah's prayer
1. Jonah acknowledged that his predicament (being in the
belly of the great fish) was caused by his own sin, which
had brought God's judgment upon him, vv. 1-3.
2. Jonah, even though he had been "cast our of God's
sight," looked toward God's holy temple . . . turned toward
the only possible source of help, vv. 4, 7.
3. Jonah recognized his hopeless and desperate situation of
certain death, doom, and destruction without divine help,
vv. 5-6.
4. Jonah renounced "worthless idols" and vowed to serve
God ("sacrifice to You") in obedience, realizing that he had
only one hope: "Salvation is of the Lord," vv. 8-9.
II. Meditation: on the theological truths of this chapter
1. God always hears when His people cry out to Him, and He
always answers their prayers . . . yes, no, wait, v. 2.
2. There is life after death . . . Sheol (the grave or the place where
the soul abides after death away from the presence of God) is
mentioned by Jesus as the tomb where He was buried for three
days before His resurrection, vv. 2, 6; Matthew 12:40.
3. God brings His people through times of trouble and danger; He
keeps and preserves them so that they may accomplish His
purposed destiny in their lives, v. 10.
4. The Lord is a God of mercy, Who deserves our thanksgiving,
praise, obedience, and service, v. 9.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications seen here
1. God's people should pray; often "we do not have because we
do not ask," James 4:2.
2. Every individual lives eternally . . . either in heaven or in hell;
each person makes that personal choice by either accepting or
rejecting God's offer of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.
3. God may not remove the obstacles or troubles from our lives,
but He always gives us grace and strength to sustain us through
those difficulties.
4. God is worthy of our worship and sacrificial service.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Pray without ceasing, I Thessalonians 5:17.
2. Live daily in the light of eternity, Ecclesiastes 3:11.
3. Trust in the Lord with all my heart, Proverbs 3:5.
4. Worship the Lord and serve Him only, Matthew 4:10.
"Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks,"
--Samuel Jackson
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