Ichabod

Ichabod means no glory.

And she named the child Ichabod, meaning, the glory has departed from Israel, because the Ark of God had been taken...1 Samuel 4:21

The sinfulness of Eli's son, Hophni and Phinehas, God could no longer tolerate. Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did not know Jehovah-v12. Therefore, God judged the two black shepherds and both were killed by the Philistines. God could have protected them as they were serving priests in the temple of God, instead He allowed them to be killed. This bad news later led to the death of Eli himself and Phinehas's wife right after bearing a son. And a son was born, rightly name, ICHABOD, no glory. It was a shame and defeat to the Israelites. Therefore, Jehovah God did away with the degraded and rotten Aaronic priesthood, and found an alternative, through Samuel.

As I was reading this portion of the Word, the Lord enlightened me very much. And I have to solemnly come before the Lord and consider. As serving ones, is my life, living and conduct before God and man, pleasing to the Lord? Am I loose, lethargic and degraded in my service? Am I serving out of the over flow of the divine life, out of the enjoyment of the Lord? 

True indeed are these solemn warnings. God desires to express Himself through man. His expression is His glory. If there is no expression of God in our living or service, we are degraded. We need to repent and turn to the Lord to be revived in spirit and vitalised. Otherwise, we might face the fate of Eli's son. The Lord forbid that this should happen among the saints. Instead, let there be revival among us and the saints. And let there be God's glory manifested among the saints in the churches!

A classical hymn by Albert Midlane on Revival reminds me of my need for such.

Revive Thy work, O Lord!
  While here to Thee we bow;
Descend, O gracious Lord, descend!
  Oh, come, and bless us now!
Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/797#ixzz2HfTAjQRc

However, the real revival is from within by living a god-man life in the normal church-life and practising  the God-ordained way. Being renewed every morning  and revived everyday is the key to experience the new revival, not merely for personal growth, but much more for the building up o the Body of Christ. 

Lord renew us every moment and revive us every day!