1 Samuel 5
The Philistines and the Ark
As I begin reading, I have had to do some research on unrecognized words, so bear with me. I hope to continue to grow in this area...
The Philistines captured the Ark and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Ashdod represents the stronghold. The Ark was placed next to Dagon. Dagon was their fish god which is said to represent fecundity and is described as the body of a fish, with the head and hands of man. What seems to make sense to me is that head represents our source for thoughts and hands to represent work or actions. Fecundity is another term that represents the ability to reproduce. So let's just say we have a stronghold with a symbol representing population growth...
The morning after, Dagon had fallen face down on the ground before the ark. This could simply have been a message that there is one God who is worshipped by all. The people placed Dagon to it's original place. Which may be an act of self-will and the inability to accept God's will.
The next day the people came back and Dagon was once again face down, but the head and hands were cutoff and laying on the threshold. This next message could simply mean turning your thoughts (head) and your actions (hands) over to God. Consequences followed and the people were afflicted with tumors (disease). This sickness spread throughout.
In desperation, the Ark (divine presence) was transferred to Gath. Interestingly enough, Gath represents a wine press or vat. Gath was another stronghold. The result was that the hand of the Lord was against the men (young and old)of the city causing a great panic and tumors spread.
Could this be saying that when we do not follow the will of God that we may run to an alternative solution? Perhaps alcohol (Gath)? What followed would certainly make sense as now we have panic (or anxiety); an out of control situation (disease) that has now spread throughout all the man. I believe this is referring to the ability for awareness. A realization...
So now the ark is moved to Ekron. Ekron means firm-rooted, the most northerly town (1 of 5) belonging to the lords of the Philistines. The result of this was absolute fear of death and a cry out. A sort of "Take it back! I'm done!", because this panic has spread throughout the city. Within ourselves, I believe that the city represents our thoughts and ideas that make up our consciousness. I think we're at the peak now as it refers to most-northerly.
Those men that did not survive were left diseased and this cry reached Heaven.
How this speaks to me...
So I see this to be a continuation of self will run riot. Regardless of the damage that we place on others (which can be significant), the saddest part is that God is always within reach. When I invite God into my day, I can go about my day knowing that He provides everything that I need to get me through the day. In fact, He will never give me more than I can handle IF I am abiding in His will.
Before I found God, I fought everything. I was not at peace with anything. I was convinced that when my outside conditions were right, then I would be right on the inside. This is the opposite to God's path. I must be right on the inside and as long as I keep fighting to make the outer world conform to my inside, I will get progressively worse. As long as I am motivated only to do what benefits me, my life will appear crazier and crazier. I will desperately try alternative ways to make it work, but it never will. The pain gets worse. Eventually, I cry out, because I have had enough. It is a spiritual disease. And I am convinced that eventual it leads to death in some form.
As I begin reading, I have had to do some research on unrecognized words, so bear with me. I hope to continue to grow in this area...
The Philistines captured the Ark and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Ashdod represents the stronghold. The Ark was placed next to Dagon. Dagon was their fish god which is said to represent fecundity and is described as the body of a fish, with the head and hands of man. What seems to make sense to me is that head represents our source for thoughts and hands to represent work or actions. Fecundity is another term that represents the ability to reproduce. So let's just say we have a stronghold with a symbol representing population growth...
The morning after, Dagon had fallen face down on the ground before the ark. This could simply have been a message that there is one God who is worshipped by all. The people placed Dagon to it's original place. Which may be an act of self-will and the inability to accept God's will.
The next day the people came back and Dagon was once again face down, but the head and hands were cutoff and laying on the threshold. This next message could simply mean turning your thoughts (head) and your actions (hands) over to God. Consequences followed and the people were afflicted with tumors (disease). This sickness spread throughout.
In desperation, the Ark (divine presence) was transferred to Gath. Interestingly enough, Gath represents a wine press or vat. Gath was another stronghold. The result was that the hand of the Lord was against the men (young and old)of the city causing a great panic and tumors spread.
Could this be saying that when we do not follow the will of God that we may run to an alternative solution? Perhaps alcohol (Gath)? What followed would certainly make sense as now we have panic (or anxiety); an out of control situation (disease) that has now spread throughout all the man. I believe this is referring to the ability for awareness. A realization...
So now the ark is moved to Ekron. Ekron means firm-rooted, the most northerly town (1 of 5) belonging to the lords of the Philistines. The result of this was absolute fear of death and a cry out. A sort of "Take it back! I'm done!", because this panic has spread throughout the city. Within ourselves, I believe that the city represents our thoughts and ideas that make up our consciousness. I think we're at the peak now as it refers to most-northerly.
Those men that did not survive were left diseased and this cry reached Heaven.
How this speaks to me...
So I see this to be a continuation of self will run riot. Regardless of the damage that we place on others (which can be significant), the saddest part is that God is always within reach. When I invite God into my day, I can go about my day knowing that He provides everything that I need to get me through the day. In fact, He will never give me more than I can handle IF I am abiding in His will.
Before I found God, I fought everything. I was not at peace with anything. I was convinced that when my outside conditions were right, then I would be right on the inside. This is the opposite to God's path. I must be right on the inside and as long as I keep fighting to make the outer world conform to my inside, I will get progressively worse. As long as I am motivated only to do what benefits me, my life will appear crazier and crazier. I will desperately try alternative ways to make it work, but it never will. The pain gets worse. Eventually, I cry out, because I have had enough. It is a spiritual disease. And I am convinced that eventual it leads to death in some form.
