The problem that God’s people have always had was not that they didn’t know what God wanted them to do. God was and still is pretty clear about that. The problem for God’s people is that what God wants them to do doesn’t always match what we want to do.
So what wins out? What God wants? Or what man wants? Usually, mankind makes the mistake of believing that what they want is actually better than what God wants for His people. Without even realizing it, we are saying – we are wiser than God, and we are placing self or priorities above Him – which is no different than idolatry.
Why do we do this? Why when we know through history of God’s love and God’s demonstrations of power do we set that knowledge aside and do whatever we want? Why are we so ignorant – so incredibly stupid – as to continue to hold our gods up on a pedestal when our gods cannot hold a candle to the One True God?
This problem, as I said, is not new. It’s a pattern that has been repeated throughout the length of humanity’s existence. We put our gods of family, children, work, sports, fame, fortune, friendships, hobbies, power, possessions, acceptance, and so much more, into the greatest seat of honor within our hearts. We make them our focus. We make them our priority. We worship them by giving them our best while at the same time we neglect the One who is not only worthy of it – but demands it.
God says, “I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me.” (1 Samuel 2:30) Are we thinking lightly of God?
It struck me again this morning how easy this is to see from a distance – when I am removed from the situation. In 1 Samuel 5, we see that once again, God’s chosen people are not walking with God. They are not following His directives. They have previously been sent prophets reminding them of God’s expectations and the blessings that are linked to obedience, and the curses and trouble that are the consequences of disobedience. They were warned, yet they did not change.
As a result, God’s children found themselves again in a place of deep conflict with the Philistines. These disobedient people made a plan to go to battle, even taking the Ark of the Covenant (representing God’s presence) with them. Surely, by taking God’s Ark, they would be ensured victory, right?
Yet the battle didn’t turn out as they planned. God is not a power token. God is not like our other gods. He will not be mocked. He is not blind to His place in His peoples’ hearts. He knows what value we give Him. He knows when we are just using Him.
God saw. God did not fight for His people that day. Thirty thousand Israelite warriors died that day in battle. The Ark was taken by the Philistines.
Now here’s a fascinating piece for me: The account of this battle reveals that the Philistine people – who worship an idol god called Dagon – knew all about the stories of what God had done. They were deathly afraid of the God of Israel. Yet these same people did not decide to worship the God of Israel – the One True God. Instead, they worshiped an idol god – this Dagon – who did nothing for them. The God of Israel split seas – not the idol – he split nothing – in fact wood was split to make him! The God of Israel moved before His people and made His presence known as a cloud by day and a fire at night – Dagon stood motionless wherever he was placed. The God of Israel made city walls fall with the shouts of His people, brought and stopped plagues, kept His people alive and fed in the wilderness for 40 years and provided countless other amazing demonstrations of His power and might. What of Dagon?
Yet this is what the scripture tells us: “When the people realized what was happening, they cried out, “We can’t keep the Ark of the God of Israel here any longer! He is against us! We will all be destroyed along with Dagon, our god.” (1 Samuel 5:7)
Let this sink in, friend.
The Philistines could have realized that the God of Israel was different. They could have made the decision that their god was in fact nothing more than a garbage replacement for the real God. They could have given up Dagon and began following the LORD. They didn’t. They were too content with the gods that they had made. They were perhaps not taken with the idea of submitting their ways in obedience to the demands of a holy God.
They chose to keep their idols.
Are we different? The writer of Psalm 78 puts it this way: “In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of his wonders, they did not believe.” (v. 32)
Our problem isn’t that we don’t know what God wants us to do. Our problem is that we don’t want to make that our priority. We want to do what we want to do. What we want is given more importance than what God wants.
We cannot expect that God will be pleased with our disobedience. We cannot expect blessing when we worship our gods, but seek blessing from God. Why would He ever desire to bless our sin?
May our hearts be softened, may our ears be receptive, may our eyes be opened to the truth. And then, may our spirits be humble, and ready to repent and obey God.
“Do not hold against us the sins of past generations; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need. Help us, God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake.” (Psalm 79:8-9) Amen.
Blessings.