The glory has departed

Then she named the child Ichabod, a saying, "The glory has departed from Israel!" because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. – 1 Samuel 4v21

Poor Mrs Phinehas. Her husband was dead. Her father-in-law Eli was dead. The Philistines had defeated Israel and captured the ark of God. Now a single mom she gave birth to a child. Those with her tried to console her with the fact that she had a son, but she was still in despair. She named her son ‘Ichabod.’

That name even sounds terrible doesn’t it? The name means ‘no glory.’ In her mind it could not get any worse. God and His glory had abandoned them.

I think we have all been where she is. It seems like there is no good news. The storms keep rolling in. It is one thing after another, much like it was with Job. We can all imagine if we are not careful that we can right Ichabod on our lives.

The truth is though that God was not done with Israel, and He had not gone anywhere. True, the ark was a reminder of His presence and there was ‘something’ about it, but He was not bound to that container.

I have heard it preached that this declaration was an indication that God was well and truly gone, but I am not so sure she was right. God was still there, He cannot be anywhere without His glory. The problem was a loss of their perception of him. Whenever our eyes are on our circumstances and they go badly, we will lose sight of the glory of God and His power.