More than a lucky charm...

In chapters four and five of 1st Samuel, a non-human player takes centre stage. The Ark of the Covenant represented the presence of God in the midst of the people of Israel, but they were about to discover that it was no lucky charm and could not in itself compensate for the people's failure to live their lives every day with an awareness of the presence of God.

After being defeated in battle by their enemies (the Philistines), the Israelites decided, somewhat presumptuously, to bring the Ark of God into the camp, as if its mere presence would work some sort of magic and give them victory the next time round. Well, it certainly had a psychological and emotional impact: the Israelites' shout of joy was earth-shaking, and the Philistines were filled with panic at the news.

But the symbolism of the Ark could never be a substitute for the reality of living in dependence on God's Spirit (no more than wearing a cross or carrying a Bible could do that for us today.) The initial emotional impact backfired for the Israelites. Perhaps it made them too cocky. It certainly made the Philistines fight harder than ever before and win another resounding victory.

The shameful ending to the story was that the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God's presence among them, was captured and carried off into enemy territory - a sobering reminder that, even though nothing and no one can rob us of the true presence of God, they can certainly rob us of material things that are only a representation of the reality.

The Ark may have been only a symbol, but the all-powerful God was not going to allow that symbol to be abused and disrespected. When the Philistines placed the Ark in their temple, next to the idol of their own god, the statue of Dagon fell down before the Ark of God and ultimately smashed into several pieces - a clear message that there was no equality between these two "gods." 
I find deep symbolism in the fact that Dagon's head and hands were broken off - a powerful message that this pseudo-god had no mind to think with and no power to act.

Everywhere the Ark was taken, it brought disaster for the Philistines - another clear reminder that outward forms can never be a replacement for our obedient dependence on the genuine presence of God in our midst. 

(Before too many months had gone past, the Philistines became desperate to return the Ark to the people of Israel.)