1 Samuel 4
The Glory is Gone
19 Eli’s
daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of
delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and
that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave
birth, but was overcome by her labor pains. 20 As she was dying, the women
attending her said, “Don't despair; you have given birth to a son.” But she did
not respond or pay any attention. 21 She named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The
glory has departed from Israel”-because of the capture of the ark of God and the
deaths of her father-in-law and her husband.
SOMETHING wonderful and glorious had separated Israel from
all the nations of the world for about 500 years. When God instructed his
people to build a tabernacle in the desert, he resided over it in a pillar of
fire by night and a cloud by day. His presence was between the cherubim on the Ark
of the Covenant, here called the ark of God. God’s glory, his holiness and
majesty, was with his people to guide them, to receive their repentance and to
bless them.
This scripture
records God’s severe judgment on his people. God gave the hated Philistines victory
over Israel’s army, and the Philistines removed the ark from Shiloh. The
visible presence of the Lord God is gone.
Thus, when Phinehas’
wife lay dying, she grieved God’s glory departing Israel. The LORD was no
longer available to save and protect them.
Today we must be
humble to welcome the Lord’s glory to guide and protect us. If we rely on our
own ways, God’s glory will depart. Then where would we go for his protection
and salvation?
A Moment’s Thought: May
the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works. (Psalms
104:31)
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