I've Fallen, and I Can't Get Up!
Those of you who have followed my ministry for any length of time know that I have a warped sense of humor. It’s the way God made me, and I don’t apologize for it. Today, I want to share with you a story in the Bible I find both sad and hilarious. How can it be both? I’ll let you be the judge of that.
“And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod. When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon’s house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.”
“Help! I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!” I’m sorry, but that’s funny. To clarify for those of you who may not know, Dagon was the god of the Philistines. He was the one to whom they gave their allegiance. He was supposedly their almighty provider and protector. But here, in the presence of the One, True God, Dagon toppled to the floor. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he fell to his knees in worship, but the fact of the matter is, God literally knocked him off his pedestal and then decapitated him. In the words of the Incredible Hulk, “Puny god!”
Can you imagine being one of the Philistines who first enters Dagon’s house to find their god lying facedown on the floor? What would you say? What would you do? Like those in the Biblical account, you’d probably place your “god” back on his “throne” and consider it a good deed. But what happens when you come back the next day, and your “god” has not only fallen again but has also been decapitated? There’s no picking him up and replacing him on his pedestal at that point, is there?
Aren’t you glad we serve a God who lifts us up instead of the other way around? What a relief to know I’ll never find God lying down on the job or fallen to a place where He can’t even help Himself let alone anyone else. My God is the God of all gods and Lord of all lords. No other “god” can compare. No other “god” can save. No other “god” can lift me out of the miry clay and set my feet on the solid rock. No other “god” will do. So why would we put our trust in any other?
“I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.”
When I read the account of Dagon, this clip always comes to my mind. Talk about hilarious!
[youtube=://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsUCRcK7QYc&w=854&h=480]