1 Samuel 5-6

 Scripture – 1 Samuel 5-6

Observation – 

• 1 Samuel 5:1-8 - The Ark in Ashdod
• 1 Samuel 5:1-5 - God humiliates the idol Dagon
• 1 Samuel 5:6-8 - God hurts the city of Ashdod with tumors
• 1 Samuel 5:9 - The Ark in Ekron
• 1 Samuel 6:1-12 - The Philistines get rid of the Ark.
• 1 Samuel 6:1-6 - The priests of the Philistines suggest a solution
• 1 Samuel 6:7-9 - The Philistines test God 
• 1 Samuel 6:10-12 - The cows go to the Land of Israel
• 1 Samuel 6:13-21 - The Ark at Beth Shemesh
• 1 Samuel 6:13-15 - The Ark is received with joy
• 1 Samuel 6:16-18 - The offering included with the Ark
• 1 Samuel 6:19 - The men of Beth Shemesh look in the ark and die
• 1 Samuel 6:20-21 - The men of Beth Shemesh ask Kiriath-jearim to take it from them.

Application – God cannot tolerate other gods. 

Prayer – Dear God. You are the one and only God. You humiliated the idol of Dagon.  Nobody can stand against you. Amen.

Sins to avoid – Failing to get rid of other gods or idols. Testing God's holiness. 

Promises to claim – 

Examples to follow – Don't test God's holiness like the men of Beth Shemesh.

Commands to obey – 

Summarize and apply – God worked in miraculous ways to get the Ark back to Israel.