Sunday 13 March 2016

Ichabod

Then she named the child Ichabod, 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 4.21

Hophni and Phineas were dead due to their sinful choices. The ark had been captured and taken by the Philistines. Eli was dead when he fell off his bench and broke his neck.

When Eil’s grandson was born his daughter in law named the baby ‘Ichabod’ because the glory of the Lord had departed from Israel. His name means ‘where is the glory?’

What a tragic day for the nation.

Is there a sadder question than ‘where is the glory?’

This isn’t just a question for Israel – it is a question which must be asked of people of all ages. It is a question we ignore at our own peril today.

I found the following and I think the author describes a tragic illustration for today. We have seen so many churches who were once on fire for God and true to His word and who refused to compromise the truth. The building may still be there. Vast numbers may even still attend – but where is the glory?

It is a terrible thing to experience the loss of the glory of God. And while Israel’s ruin was temporary “until the fullness of the Gentiles” would be brought into the kingdom of God on earth (Romans 11:25), one wonders how many churches today have lost the glory of the Lord, whether willingly or unknowingly. The same things that caused Ichabod in Israel—sin, disobedience, idolatry—are present in many of today’s churches. Christians must never take the glory of God in our midst for granted, lest we wake up one day and find that Ichabod has become a reality among us.’ http://www.gotquestions.org/Ichabod.html

Whenever we allow sin and disobedience and idolatry to creep in there is no room for the glory of God.

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