I went to the University of Oklahoma, and our biggest rival was Texas. Our football teams would always have fierce competition, and whoever won would usually win the Big 12 and play in the national championship. The sustained success of both teams and the mutual goal they pursued raised the stakes of every matchup. Being each other’s main obstacle made the rivalry very important and very entertaining.
Rivalries are great for sports, but we can be glad we serve a God who is unrivaled. He is unmistakably greater than everyone and everything. The God of the Bible is the only living and true God, and nothing can match His power and authority. When the Israelites tried to use that power for their own gain, they suffered a great loss to the Philistines who captured the Ark of the Covenant. God then made it clear that He is the only God, and 1 in Samuel 5 He reveals a few rivals that must be destroyed.
1 When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. 3 And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place. 4 But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the LORD, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. 5 This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day. 6 The hand of the LORD was heavy against the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory. 7 And when the men of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for his hand is hard against us and against Dagon our god.” 8 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” They answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath.” So they brought the ark of the God of Israel there. 9 But after they had brought it around, the hand of the LORD was against the city, causing a very great panic, and he afflicted the men of the city, both young and old, so that tumors broke out on them. 10 So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. But as soon as the ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought around to us the ark of the God of Israel to kill us and our people.” 11 They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people.” For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there. 12 The men who did not die were struck with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven. – 1 Samuel 5
- The rivalry of our affections
Dagon was the main god of the Philistines, but they tried to add Yahweh to their family of many gods. We often try to split our affection between God and idols such as self, success, or sports. We must realize that God is not an add-on; He is the only God and He deserves all of our praise.
- The rivalry of our choices
The Philistines readily admitted God’s power, but they refused to acknowledge his authority. Even when He sent a clear message by making their dismembered idol bow before the Ark, they simply adjusted their worship of Dagon instead of worshipping God. When we choose to follow God, we need to understand that we are choosing to reject everything else fighting for our attention.
- The rivalry of experience
As the Philistines continued to deny the glory of God, they experienced punishment. If we reject God, we will also experience His hand being against us. Witnessing God will either be a blessing or a burden, but no one is unaffected by the glory of God.
How we respond to the gospel will determine whether Jesus is Lord of all or not Lord at all in our lives. So let’s put our faith and trust solely in the God who is unrivaled.
– If you’d like to hear the full message, click HERE