Where Is The Glory?

Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near her time of delivery. When she heard that the Ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth. She died in childbirth, but before she passed away the midwives tried to encourage her. “Don’t be afraid,” they said. “You have a baby boy!” But she did not answer or pay attention to them. She named the child Ichabod (which means “Where is the glory?”), for she said, “Israel’s glory is gone.” She named him this because the Ark of God had been captured and because her father-in-law and husband were dead. Then she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God has been captured.” [1 Samuel 4.19-22]

Ichabod!

Why did the wife of Phinehas name her son Ichabod? Because her husband was dead, Eli (her father-in-law was dead, and the Ark of the Covenant was captured. In other words, things had gone very badly.

Does anyone besides me find it interesting that Phinehas's wife did not name her child "These are trials from God"? All the events that occurred were seen as one thing to the woman - bad - "no glory". The loss of life, the loss of family, and the loss of spiritual significance and power were all seen as a departure of God's glory. God had left them!

I don't want God's glory to be gone. But I am afraid the Church today rarely witnesses God's glory. If Jesus' life on earth is any example at all to us today, then God's glory has been largely gone for quite some time. And the worst part is that God's people don't even recognize it. We have grown so accustomed to glory-less religion that we don't even recognize God's absence in so much of what we do. And, if it could be worse still, modern religion has made up and embraced religious doctrines to tell us that glory-less life is God's will for our lives.

I can't say I know exactly what's wrong, but I know it's wrong! I can't say I know how to fix it, but I know it needs to be fixed! I can't say I know how to get God's glory back to His people, but I know we need His glory (and His glory is not sickness, defeat, and loss).

Father, I suppose the first step in revival is recognizing the need for revival. I am convinced we need revival. May Your Kingdom come! May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven! I don't find it ironic that one of the things said to belong to You in the Bible is glory! May Your glory visit earth as it is in heaven!