1 Samuel 5:1-5

Foreshadowings.

The facts given are—

1 . The Philistines, acting on polytheistic principles, place the ark in their heathen temple, thus ascribing to it Divine honour, and yet indicating its inferiority to Dagon.

2 . During the night their god Dagon falls to the ground.

3 . Supposing the fall to be the result of some unaccountable accident, they replace their god, and on the next day find him even broken to pieces.

4 . The event is memorialised by the establishment of a superstitious custom. The supernatural and ordinary events connected with Israel's history have a prophetic significance for future ages. The record is "for our admonition, on whom the ends of the world have come." There is another bondage than that of Egypt, another conflict than that of Dagon and the ark. Here are two powers in collision, and we have given us—

I. A FORESHADOWING OF THE FALL OF HEATHENISM .

1 . The fact is established that heathenism is doomed to perish. The occurrence in the house of Dagon is a single instance, in palpable form, of what has taken place in many lands, and will recur till every idol is abolished. No prediction in Scripture is more clear than that the day will come when paganism will cease to exist ( Psalms 2:8 ; Isaiah 2:18 ; Isaiah 11:9 ). Events daily point on to it. Dagons fall in many lands. History is really but the completion of processes set in operation by God in ages past. Destruction is inherent in the essential falsehood of heathenism. The truth of God cannot be converted into a permanent lie ( Romans 1:25 ). It is a mercy that God has so ordained things that only true worship can endure.

2 . Heathenism is doomed to perish by contact with God's truth. Dagon might stand erect and receive the homage of men when he and they are left to themselves; but in presence of the ark, the visible manifestation of God's will to the world, he must fall on his face to the earth. Doubtless corruption in men, if left long enough on earth, would cause them to become extinct, because in the nature of things it tends to utter ruin of morals, society, health, and life. It is, however, the purpose of God to extinguish it without extinguishing the race of men, and that too by his revealed truth. Events prove that this has been the process. Britain ceased to be idolatrous when the light of life came to her shores. Hence the missionary enterprise; hence the need of "holding forth the word of life."

3 . The downfall of heathenism is brought about by the secret, silent power of God exercised through his truth. There is suggestiveness in the hint that the fall of Dagon occurred during the silence of night. The fall was through the unseen power of God, operating by ways men could not trace, and that revealed its existence in its effects. The conquests of the gospel are instrumental. It is not history, though pure and impressive; nor precept clear and useful; nor sublime thought for the intellect; nor mere influence of character, though holy and elevating; but the quickening Spirit, who, in the depths of human nature working by means of the instrument, turns men to God. There is a profound secrecy and mystery in every soul's regeneration.

4 . The final down fall of heathenism by means of the truth is brought about after repeated efforts to revive it. They placed Dagon on his seat again, and rejoiced once more in his sufficiency; but the Unseen Power wrought on with greater energy, till the head and hands, the seat and instruments of power, were cut off. Beautifully does Scripture thus indicate the ebbs and flows of the stream of truth in process of subjugating every principality and power to Christ. A thousand years with God are as one day. He gives free scope to men and principles. Yet the truth will prevail until the earth is "filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the deep."

II. The FRUSTRATION OF ALL EFFORTS TO DISHONOUR GOD 'S REVELATION OF HIMSELF . The placing of the ark in the presence of Dagon was intended to indicate a belief in it as a power among men, but as a power inferior to that exercised by the Philistines' god. Jehovah was a deity, but yet a conquered deity. Hence the glory due to Dagon. Now the ark represented at that time the specific revelation which God had given for bringing to pass his purpose in the deliverance of the world from the curse of sin. The practical effect, therefore, of the Philistines' conduct was to rob revelation of its supremacy. The tendencies of human nature are constant; and now that the full revelation has been given in Christianity, there is the same effort to dishonour and discredit it before men by placing it in unwarrantable positions.

1 . The insult offered to Christianity. There are two forms of insult.

2 . The rebuke of those who offer the insult. Without dwelling on the sure disappointment and sorrow which come on those who dishonour Christianity by regarding it as merely one of the various powers equally deserving of respect, it may suffice to point out how—

General lessons : —

1 . History confirms faith in the sufficiency of the gospel for the conquest of heathenism.

2 . In all use of means the power of the Holy Spirit should be recognised.

3 . We must seek proof of the pre-eminence of Christianity in deeds such as no rivals can produce.

4 . We may yet expect many boastful claims from human systems before men learn fully the lessons of history.