1 Samuel 5

“Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon” (v2).  Like the Israelites, the Philistines recognize that the ark symbolized God’s power, but they thought they could control that power.  They brought the ark to their city and set it up next to their own idol, hoping the God of the Israelites would bless them.  Instead, God’s power was against them, and the men of the city broke out in tumors, and their idol fell to the ground (v4). 

“The hand of God was very heavy there” (v11).  The Philistines tried to worship God alongside other idols, but our King requires the complete commitment of our hearts.