Ichabod: No Glory

In their degradation, the children of Israel offended God to the uttermost, and God left them; eventually, instead of the Ark saving Israel, the Ark itself was captured, and the glory of God departed from Israel (1 Sam. 2:30, 34; 4:10-18, 22; Psa. 78:61); to be “Arkless” is to be “Christless,” and to be “Christless” means that there is “Ichabod,” meaning No Glory (1 Sam. 4:21-22; Rev. 3:20).

1 Samuel 4:11 And the Ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

1 Samuel 4:18 And when he mentioned the Ark of God, Eli fell from off his seat backward by the side of the gate. And he broke his neck and died, for he was an old man and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.

1 Samuel 4:19 And his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant, about to deliver; and when she heard the report that the Ark of God had been taken and that her father-in-law and her husband had died, she bowed down and gave birth, for her pains came upon her.

1 Samuel 4:20 And around the time that she died, the women who stood around her said, Do not fear, for you have borne a son. But she did not answer or pay attention.

1 Samuel 4:21 And she named the child Ichabod, meaning, The glory has departed from Israel, because the Ark of God had been taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband.

1 Samuel 4:22 And she said, The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God has been taken.

This is a history, but it must not be repeated in our Christian life. Glory is God expressed. If there is no expression of God in our Christian life, it is an Ichabod situation. This would be a sad thing to ever happen in the course of our Christian lives. This must also serve as a warning that we should not do anything that the glory of God may depart from us. We cannot take things for granted. While there is still time and when things can still be amended, we must heed to the warning and do the needful. Lest, we end up with our "Eli, Hophni and Phinehas" death and the Ark of God being taken away. 

Perhaps, there may be successes outwardly with good jobs, fat payscale, high position, comfortable living, and outward prosperity, but the question is, "Is there God expressed in all these?" What difference does it make having all things but God's glory even when many godless people are healthy and wealthy? The striking difference is the expression of God's glory in all that we are and do. 

When I learned of this truth my being trembled before God that I and my family and the church I am in should not end up in an Ichabod situation. God is everything in my life. I cannot imagine living a Godless life. All my taste for worldly wealth has since long gone. Given a choice today between God and prosperity, I would willingly and happily choose God even if it meant poverty. I have tasted God and I cannot live without Him. To me, a life with God is not worth the living. I treasure the presence of God more than anything else. I care not for anything else even if they are necessary. God knows what I need and He knows what is the best, I would rather leave the matter of any physical blessing, if need be, to His discretion. Let Him decide and I just receive whatever He bestowed upon me. I would only care for Him and His presence. I do not want any godless life, no glory life, an Ichabod life. 

Lord, have mercy on me. Do not depart from me, and preserve me in You and in Your presence all the days of my life. I don't want an Ichabod situation ever in my life.