1 Samuel 5
Explanation and Bible story for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 3-6)
The Explanation
The Philistines had a big box. God's box. It was called the ark.
They had taken it away from God's people.
"Let's put it in our temple," they said. "Next to our big statue. Our statue is called Dagon."
So they put God's ark right next to Dagon.
Then it got dark. Very dark. Everyone went to sleep.
But in the morning, something was wrong. Very wrong.
Dagon was lying on the ground. Flat on his face. Right in front of God's ark.
"Oh no!" said the people. They picked Dagon up. They set him back on his feet.
Night came again. Morning came again.
And there was Dagon. On the ground again. But now his head was broken off. His hands too. Only his body was left.
The people of that city got sick. Very sick. Big sore lumps on their skin.
"This ark is too strong for us," they said. "Send it away! Send it to Gath!"
So they sent it to Gath.
But the same thing happened there. Sick people. Big lumps. Everybody scared.
"Send it to Ekron!" they said.
But when the ark came to Ekron, the people there shouted, "No! Not here! It will hurt us too!"
They were right. It did. So many people got sick. The crying went all the way up to the sky.
What Does This Mean?
Dagon was just a statue. A stone thing. It could not stand up by itself.
But God is not a statue. God is alive.
Nobody can put God next to something else, like He is small. God is not small.
The Common Thread
Long, long after this, God did not stay far away in a box.
God came close. He came as a baby. His name was Jesus.
Jesus was not stuck like a statue either. He was alive. He is alive today.
For You
You cannot put God on a shelf, like a toy you forget about.
God is not a toy. God is real. He sees you right now.
You can talk to Him. He hears you.
Talk About It
Why could Dagon not stand up by himself?
What is different about God, that He is not like a statue?
Praying Together
Dear God, You are not a statue. You are alive. Thank You that You see me. Thank You that You hear me. Amen.
Questions about 1 Samuel 5
Short answers for anyone reading about this for the first time.
What is 1 Samuel 5 about?
What does 1 Samuel 5 say?
What does 1 Samuel 5 teach us about God?
What can toddlers learn from 1 Samuel 5?
Why is 1 Samuel 5 an important Bible story?
What others discovered
When they of Ashdod arose early on the next day, behold, Dagon was fallen on his face to the ground before Yahweh's ark."
The Philistines thought they had captured Israel's God like a trophy. But overnight, in the dark, their own god had bowed. Notice they set Dagon back up. How often do I do the same? Propping up idols that God has already toppled, pretending nothing happened.
Looking for something for slightly older children?
We also have dedicated versions for elementary age (7-12) and teens (12 and up).
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