Angels From the Time of the Judges to the Early Kingdom
85
The Philistines were triumphant, because they had, as they thought,
the famous God of the Israelites, which had performed such wonders
for them, and had made them a terror to their enemies. They took the
ark of God to Ashdod, and set it in a splendid temple, made in honor of
their most popular god, Dagon, and placed it by the side of their god.
In the morning the priests of these gods entered the temple, and they
were terrified to find Dagon fallen upon his face to the ground before
the ark of the Lord.... The angels of God, who ever accompanied the
ark, prostrated the senseless idol god, and afterward mutilated it, to
show that God, the living God, was above all gods, and before Him
every heathen God was as nothing.—
Spiritual Gifts 4a:106, 107
.
The men of Beth-shemesh quickly spread the tidings that the ark
was in their possession, and the people from the surrounding country
flocked to welcome its return. The ark had been placed upon the stone
that first served for an altar, and before it additional sacrifices were
offered unto the Lord.... Instead of preparing a suitable place for its
reception, they permitted it to remain in the harvest field. As they
continued to gaze upon the sacred chest and to talk of the wonderful
manner in which it had been restored, they began to conjecture wherein
lay its peculiar power. At last, overcome by curiosity, they removed
the coverings and ventured to open it....
Even the heathen Philistines had not dared to remove its coverings.
Angels of heaven, unseen, ever attended it in all its journeyings. The
irreverent daring of the people of Beth-shemesh was speedily punished.
Many were smitten with sudden death.—
Patriarchs and Prophets, 589
.
[119]
Saul and Jonathan
God had raised up Samuel to judge Israel. He was honored by
all the people. God was to be acknowledged as their great Head,
yet He designated their rulers, and imbued them with His Spirit, and
communicated His will to them through His angels.—
Spiritual Gifts
4a:67
.
Because of Saul’s sin in his presumptuous offering, the Lord would
not give him the honor of vanquishing the Philistines. Jonathan, the
king’s son, a man who feared the Lord, was chosen as the instrument
to deliver Israel....