Pam Padgett ... teacher
Man may lift up his own works as being some great thing, but
the works of man cannot stand before God. Even things made by man but considered by some to be gods have no power before the living God, Who created all things and has all power.
We have a wonderful account of that which the people of Ashdod considered a god falling down before the ark of God ...
1 Samuel 5:1 And the Philistines took the
ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod. 2 When the
Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of
Dagon, and set it by Dagon. 3 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.
4 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.
5 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. 6
But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he
destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts
thereof. 7 And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The
ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore
upon us, and upon Dagon our god.
Neither the people of Ashdod nor Dagon their god could protect themselves from the hand of God.
We often see man and the works of man presented as having great power, but this lasts
only for a time.
The power of God never fails. We see the sun, moon, and stars still set in the sky, bringing forth light as God directed when He created the world.
Such things as hurricanes, floods, hail also show forth the power of God. Man is unable to stop these things as
they fulfill the purpose of God.
Psalm 148:7 Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: 8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
9 Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: 10 Beasts,
and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: 11 Kings of the earth,
and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: 12 Both young
men, and maidens; old men, and children: 13 Let them praise the name of
the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth
and heaven.
And we know all that we see now, including the works of man, will be burned up in the day of the Lord ...
2 Peters 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the
night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and
the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of
persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the
heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt
with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look
for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
It is not man, nor the works of man, that are to be praised. God alone is worthy of all praise.