The Departed Glory...

[Barb]

Picture it if you will...

Israel is at war with the Philistines (I Samuel 4:1-22). Israel has lost many men in this battle, including Hophni and Phinehas, the evil sons of Eli. The Ark of God is taken. The Ark represented the presence of God, and with the Ark gone, the power, the anointing, the glory was gone.

Eli sits “by the wayside watching” (v. 13). There is probably not a more tragic statement than that. How sad to have been in the flow of His presence and end up sitting by the wayside...watching.

No longer was he on the 'playing field' or even in the 'grand stand'. Eli's training and background meant little as he was sitting it out on the bench...watching.

Well into his 90's, he sits and recalls past victories. He remembers the days of his youth, when life seemed less difficult. He recalls the days as spiritual leader and advisor to God’s people. His mind reflects on the former things, but there is no joy....there is no substance.

So it is that we find him here, too old and too tired to even try to change things, with indifference placing him “by the wayside watching.”

Receiving news of the war, and hearing that the Ark is taken, he falls from his seat, breaks his neck, and dies (v. 18). His daughter in-law, hearing what has happened, goes into labor and delivers a son. Before she dies she names him Ichabod, saying, “...the glory is departed from Israel” (v. 21). Literal meaning: where is the glory; where is God?

Have you ever been in places or met people and you wondered, "Where is God?!" Because some have become so accustomed to the habitual form of rendering service and worship, perhaps they are not even aware that the glory has left. They continue to see a lot of smoke, but there are no flames of fire shut up in their bones.

Why is it that folks don’t realize that the glory is gone?! When did it leave?! How long has it been vacant from their presence?! Can they even remember the last time they experienced the real deal?

Are there any clear cut answers or hard and fast rules for maintaining the glory?!