Ichabod

"One Year Bible" Old Testament History Passage
I Samuel 2:22-4:22

"Then she named the child Ichabod, saying 'The glory has departed from Israel!' because the ark of God has been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. And she said, 'The glory has departed from Israel for the ark of God has been captured.'" I Samuel 21-22 (NKJV)

Have you ever done a really stupid thing and it seemed like all was lost? Israel did such a thing in this passage of Scripture. Faced with a losing battle against the Philistines, the elders of Israel decided to use their secret weapon - the ark of God. They decided to send this which in worship symbolized the manifest presence of God - to send it into battle as a kind of religious trump card. God would surely show up and kill all these heathen for them.

It didn't work. Instead disaster struck. The ark was taken, the sons of the "man of God" were killed, and the "man of God" himself (Eli) fell over dead.

It looks like final judgment has fallen. Eli's daughter-in-law gives birth at that very moment and names the child Ichabod - "the glory has departed".

I have heard these verses used many times to describe how God will finally withdraw His blessing from a person, a church, or a nation. He will "write Ichabod over their door". After that, there is no future, no hope - it's over!

Please note however that it was not God who said "Ichabod." It was Eli's daughter-in-law. No doubt it was a dark day in the history of Israel, but know for sure, God DID NOT permanently withdraw His favor and blessing from Israel. Within a few years, the ark is back in the hands of Israel, David is on his throne, and the best days of national Israel are in full bloom!

We far too often think, "This is the end. God is through with me. My mistakes, my stupid mistakes have taken me out of the game". NOT SO.

God WILL deal with you. He may correct you. He might even take you aside for a season. But HE WILL NOT FORSAKE YOU. There is always a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) So keep walking, keep waiting, keep obeying. The best lies ahead.