THE GLORY OF GOD ( PART 9 )

Pastor Christopher Choo 

Lesson 3307

THE GLORY OF GOD ( PART 9 )

ICHABOD ( WHERE IS THE GLORY? )

This word comes from an incident recorded in 1 Samuel 4:21.

When a messenger brought word back to Shiloh of Israel's defeat in battle and the capture of the Ark by the victorious Philistines and the deaths of Hophni and Phineas, the sons of Eli the High Priest, the latter fell off his bench, broke his neck and died. His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, gave premature birth to a son and died in childbirth. But before she died, she murmured,  "Israel's glory is gone," and she named her son "ICHABOD" which means, " Where is the glory?" ( 1 Sam.4:21 ).

In modern Israel, there are many magnificent ruins of formerly great cities whose glory has long departed. Many ancient sites of first and second-century churches have likewise disappeared. Now there is no church, no Christian witness. The glory has gone.

What happened? The moral rot that started in the hearts of Hophni and Phinehas who were indifferent guardians of the Ark ( Symbol of God's Presence ) spread. When it affected the masses, the glory departed. 

Abba Father, Your Church is only one generation away from extinction. Some churches are obliterated through violent persecution. But in other churches, their demise starts with a slow moral erosion - when church members are no longer bothered to uphold Your glory. Lord, revive Your Church so that true worshippers can stand strong for You in their respective churches and reverse the curse of ICHABOD.