Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Fish and Flattery


"When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon [דָּגוֹן, The fish idol]… Early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD" (1 Samuel 5:2-4).  "The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips" (Psalm 12:3).  "A flattering mouth worketh ruin" (Proverbs 26:28).  "Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes… Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these?" (John 21:11,15).   

When foes of God do as they wish
And then engage in flattery,
Like Dagon fell (the idol fish),
They shall be humbled finally. 

The Lord is able to abase
The self-exalting heart of pride.
As Dagon, fallen on its face,
All flattering lips shall God deride.  

At times we need God's admonition,
As Peter who could not forget
His failure in that first commission,
When Christ at first had filled his net.  

Our hearts, with Peter, are arrested
By fish and flattery, O Lord,
As things we loved are now detested,
And by Your grace we are restored.  


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