Memory Verse: And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, … I Samuel 7:14a KJV

The Philistines stole the Ark of The Covenant. When they carried it to their lands in Ashdod, they placed the ark in the house built for the pagan god Dagon. The next day, the statue of Dagon was fallen to the ground though the ark remained unharmed in its place.

We read in I Samuel 4:3 that the Philistines set the statue of Dagon up in its place again. When the Philistines came into the house of Dagon the next day, the ark was yet unchanged. However, the statue of Dagon was not only fallen to the floor on its face, but its head and hands were cut off from its body.

God promises in that He will restore the years that the locusts have eaten. In other words, what the enemy has stolen, God will replace. Job lost family and wealth. God not only gave Job children, He restored family and wealth to a greater extent than Job had lost. Hannah gave her son Samuel to the service of the Lord. Though Hannah was barren before birthing Samuel, God gave her children after Samuel began to minister in the temple.

God has proven time and again that no matter how the adversary may stand intending mock God’s anointed with a loud voice, God always has the last word on the matter. How can you know if the battle is not over? If it looks like Satan is winning… it’s NOT OVER! If the Philistines with all their giants are standing over you with their big words; and their big egos; and their big mockery of your great BIG GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, It’s NOT OVER!

I’m reminded of the ordinary, not so big – no not a giant by Philistine’s measure – but the little old David, who slung back his little old sling with a little old stone in it.

Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. I Samuel 17:45 KJV

A setback is a setup for a comeback – Willie Jolley