“So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 Also the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.” 1 Samuel 4:10-11 NKJV
“Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon. 3 And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and set it in its place again. 4 And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon’s torso was left of it. 5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon’s house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.6 But the hand of the Lord was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and He ravaged them and struck them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory. 7 And when the men of Ashdod saw how it was, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is harsh toward us and Dagon our god.” 1 Samuel 5:1-7 NKJV
God of gods, King of kings and Lord of lords,
Sometimes we forget that You, God are omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent. You cannot be contained in a building, a world or even the universe. Even that is ever expanding under Your creativity. Yet You choose to have Your Presence with us, and in us. It is a miracle and beyond our full comprehension. What did Paul say? Your foolishness, God is greater than the wisdom of men (1 Corinthians 1:25). And You have never been foolish.
It is interesting here that the Philistines have respect for You God and begin to realise that You are more powerful than their own gods. It reminds us that when people start giving the enemy, Satan too much attention or worrying that other religions may take over, that You are still the only God. And when they meet with You they are defeated. Help me to keep my view of the rock on which I stand not as a small pedestal but the eternal foundation of Your Kingdom. You God are the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last word. You are above all, more powerful than all, more right than all and righteousness personified. One day every knee will bow. This is the God we know, put our trust in and are held by. Keep our perspective and respect right.
In Jesus name we pray
Worship Thursday 26th March 2026
At the name of Jesus
Ev’ry knee shall bow,
Ev’ry tongue confess him
King of glory now;
‘Tis the Father’s pleasure
We should call him Lord,
Who from the beginning
Was the mighty Word.
Humbled for a season
To receive a name
From the lips of sinners,
Amongst whom he came.
Faithfully he bore it,
Spotless to the last,
Brought it back victorious
When from death he passed.
Name Him, brothers, name Him,
With love strong as death,
But with awe and wonder,
And with bated breath;
He is God the Savior,
He is Christ the Lord,
Ever to be worshiped,
Trusted, and adored.
In your hearts enthrone him!
There let him subdue
All that is not holy,
All that is not true.
Crown him as your Captain,
In temptation’s hour;
Let his will enfold you
In its light and pow’r.
Brothers, this Lord Jesus
Shall return again
With his Father’s glory,
With his angel train,
For all wreaths of empire
Meet upon his brow,
And our hearts confess him
King of glory now.
Lyrics: Caroline M Noel