THE GLORY IS DEPARTED

"And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband. And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken." -- 1 Samuel 4:21-22

Blessed events like childbirth do not always occur at blessed times. Such was the case with the wife of Phinehas, daughter-in-law to Eli, who judged Israel for forty years. She was living in the time of war–fierce and unrelenting conflict with the Philistines. What is more, the Israelites were not in control as they would be under David. The Philistines had just killed 4,000 Israelites in the field, and things were not looking good. The "elders of Israel" counseled the people to "fetch the ark of the covenant out of Shiloh," saying "it may save us out of the hand of our enemies" (v 3). It certainly sounded like a good idea. After all, the ark had been carried before them in triumphant battle (Num 10:35; Josh 6:13). Perhaps it would work this time. It certainly was worth a try.

When the ark was brought into the camp "all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook" (v 5). Everything would surely be all right now. The Philistines heard the shouting Israelites and knew "the ark of the Lord was come into the camp" (v 6). They were gripped by fear as they recalled how God had smitten the Egyptians in favor of Israel (v 7). But they were not willing to quit. They began to shout to one another, "Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight" (v 9). The exhortation seemed to be all they needed. They fought valiantly against Israel, triumphing over them and killing 30,000 footmen in "a very great slaughter" (v 10). They also took the ark of God, and killed Eli's two sons Hophni and Phinehas, the latter being the father of the soon-to-be-born child referenced in our text.

Sitting on a "seat by the wayside watching," old Eli waited anxiously for some word. "His heart," we are told, "trembled for the ark of God." He was ninety-eight years old and "could not see." Soon a messenger appeared to the sound of much crying and tumult. When asked what had happened, the man said Israel had suffered defeat and "a great slaughter," Eli's two sons had been killed, and the ark of God had been captured (v 17). When the man mentioned the taking of the ark of God, Eli fell backward, broke his neck, and died (v 18).

One thing you will have to say about aged Eli–he did have his priorities right. He did not fall backward at the news of the defeat of Israel, nor at the news that his own sons had been killed. But when he heard the ark of God was taken, it was too much for him to bear.

The word reached the wife of Phinehas when she was about to give birth. Scripture tells us she actually died after the birth (v 20). The women attending her attempted to cheer her in her departing, saying, "Fear not; for thou hast borne a son" (v 20). But she ignored them, not answering or regarding what they said.

Before passing, she named her child "Ichabod." The Spirit tells us the meaning of the name: "The glory has departed from Israel!" (V21). She so named the child "because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband" (all three, I gather, in proper priority). Her last recorded words are, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured" (v 21-22).

While I do not mean to be morose, I often think of this text when I ponder the condition of the contemporary church. In our country, and several European countries as well, "the glory is departed." The power and glory of God are not evident in the church, as it limps its way across the horizon of time. Like Israel, it does attempt some quick fixes.

I see many making efforts to bring back what worked before–like bringing the ark of God into the camp. They dig up the old slogans, and reprint the old books that were used mightily in a former era. But, their enemies are out-shouting and outfighting her. With remarkable consistency the world continues to make inroads into the professed church, robbing it of its glory.

It is not a pleasant picture, but it is one to which we must give heed. The faithful remnant, however, need not fall backward and die like Eli, or give birth and die like Eli's daughter-in-law. Instead, we can begin to exhort one another like the Philistines did. But we must do it in faith. "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong" (1 Cor 16:13). Let our minds be captured by a consideration of the power of God, not the soon-to-be-removed power of our enemies.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask for grace and power to be used to restore your glory in our land.

-- Monday: THE NECESSITY OF ABIDING --