ICHABOD – THE GLORY IS GONE!

ICHABOD – THE GLORY IS GONE!

1 Sam 4:2-11

2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.

3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord  smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord  out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.

4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the Lord  of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5 And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord  came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.

6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the Lord  was come into the camp.

7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.

8 Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.

9 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.

10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

1 Sam 4:19-22

19 And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.

20 And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.

21 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.

22 And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.

          The history of the Palestinians are linked to the Philistines. According to Warren Wiersbe, “They were originally a seagoing people from the Aegean region who invaded the territory along the Mediterranean coast (Phoenicia) and sought to control all of the land we know as Palestine.” (The name "Palestine" is a form of the word "Philistine.")  Israel lost 4,000 men in the first battle and this should have indicated that God was displeased.

          The people knew that God had smitten them and not the Philistines (see verse 3). Hophni and Phinehas collected the sacred ark out of Shiloh thinking that God’s presence surely would accompany this religious relic. But God is not bound to accompany relics nor to bless the inglorious. Israel was defeated once again, Eli’s two sons were killed and the ark was captured and taken to the house of the idol Dagon.

          News of the defeat reached the ears of Eli who is now 98 years old and mostly blind. He hears that his sons are dead but when he also hears that the ark has been captured he falls from his chair and breaks his neck. Now the wife of Phinehas hears all this news and is thrown into early labor. She would soon die in childbirth but before she dies she names her new son Ichabod which means “the glory has departed.”

          This long story is only part of a much longer one and time and space prevents a full treatment of it. However, we may draw this conclusion. Relics, religious symbols and good luck charms are poor substitutes for the presence of God in our lives. Christians, churches and whole denominations may continue to rely on their relics but God has left the building.

Dear Lord, let us never think that the charms of our faith are adequate substitutes for a pure walk with you. Do not leave us and let us not leave you. AMEN