ICHABOD vs. SHEW ME THY GLORY

"And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son? And the messenger answered and sia, Israel is fled before teh Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken. And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. And his duaghter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she ehard 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. 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. 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." I Samuel 4:16 - 22

"And he said, I beseech Thee, shew me Thy glory." Exodus 33:18

If offered between the two set of verses, almost everyone in the church today would choose the one from Exodus. Nobody of any sound mind wants to be assoicated with the first set of verses in I Samuel and the term 'Ichabod'. Yet, when we consider the plight of today across the nations; the conditions of our own nation, here in the United States; the coniditons of homes with marriages, relationships, parent - child upbringing; conditions in churches and the lack of power, holiness and awe of His glory; and the individual Chrisitan, who for the most part across the board labors on empty, striving at best simply to make it through; we are left with the broken hearted truth we are more of the Ichabod than 'His glory'. How did we get here?

We have to look at this story of Eli and Israel and see the historical lesson given and offered for us today. We are at the very beginning of the book I Samuel. Eli is the high priest. He has several sons that help me at Shiloh in the ministry. They are wicked sons, having set their desires for the flesh and sin. They commit great sin amongst the people and defile the holy place of God. God in His mercy, through the book of Judges has fought this battle of the people choices between themselves and Him. And when they chose themselves over God and His way, He allowed or sent captivity and burdens upon them. Sin reaps what it sows. 'For he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall reap everlasting life.' What have you sown too? What are you sowing even now in your life? Be certain of this truth, you will reap what you have sown. Now the children of Israel and Eli and his sons have made their choice.

God is merciful and gracious. It is not His desire to destroy His Own. Make the wrong choice, choose sin and self; but there He stands beckoning and pleading, 'Return unto Me, and I will return unto you.' And God in His love for redemption sent to Eli and Israel, repeatedly a word to get them to repent and turn back. Not just one invitation of turn or burn; but opportunities came and went for them to respond. He spoke through young Samuel, that night when God first spoke to the new chosen prophet. He sent others to tell of what the future holds if he did not reign in his children and their sin.

For those that know their Bibles and have read and learned, you know that Eli did not listen nor obey the Lord's gracious attempts for the wrongs to be made right. And how often is this our own case? God, in His mercy, comes and desires to help, to redeem, and gives the right way to choose and live; and we choose the opposite of what He desires. Hell is filled with those that live in regrets of having chosen in such a manner. The passage of Scritpure in I Samuel 4 is the out come of Eli's choice. His sons were dead, the ark of God was taken by the Philistines and the daughter - in - law died and this son, Ichabod, was left orphaned. Israel had been defeated and scattered and the enemies of the Lord had prevailed. Why? How did this happen?

It happened as has always been the case, when God's people turn from Him and His gracious ways and refuse to obey. The old hymn, 'Trust and Obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus; but to trust and obey.' People in the churches are not happy in Christ, because they don't trust and obey. If they trusted and obeyed, then they would be happy in Christ. Oh, the foolish of man to think they could ever do it without God. And instead of living for God's glory to be shown, we are left with Ichabod. We cannot survive with Ichabod as our status as a nation, church ,family or individual. These are the ones that are cut off early and removed from existence.

Look at what God did to Eli. He not only punished Eli, but the whole family. Is this the first time God did this? Oh no; look at the story of Noah and the very existence of all mankind. The line of Cain, completely destroyed in the flood. All the line of Seth and Enoch destroyed except for this one embissary, Noah. Who was allowed to live and his sons to carry on man's existence on this earth. What did God do to evil Ahab? to King Jeroboab, who made Israel to sin? to the other kings of Israel who refused to obey and follow rightly? He made them Ichabod and destroyed them.

Yet, look and see even in the midst of this sin, God spared the son. He would live and bear the name as a testimony for generations of men to learn that you cannot survive without God. 'if God be for us, who shall be against us?' But if God be against us, how shall we live?

When did we stop living for God? When did we stop seeking His glory? How did we get here in this awful mess called life? When we told God that we did not want Him, we did not want His glory, we wanted SIN. The absolute desire and passion for sin is unlike anything ever seen in our lifetime today. Whole nations, whole families, individuals living, planning and desiring sin in every way. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life being enjoyed day by day with little or no conscience of the evil that they are doing or the rewards of their sin. Satan is masterful at getting people to forget eternity. With no sight of eternity on their hearts or minds, they have no regrets nor hindrances to withhold themselves from their lusts. They are free to frolic. And frolic we are.

Entertainment, money, sports, family, technology, movies, music and whatever else that bids to this place of Ichabod. And only after the glory is departed shall we know what we have lost. only after death, pain, sorrow and suffering shall we know that all this could have been avoided had we only sought after the glory of God. So I ask you again? What do you desire? What are living for and dying for - Ichabod or the glory of God? What is your desire?