Ichabod
(The Glory is Gone)

1 Samuel 2

12: Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the Lord.

13: And the priests custom with the people was that when any man offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fleshhook in his hand while the meat was boiling.

15: Also, before they burned the fat, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who sacrificed, "Give meat for roasting to the priest, for he will not take boiled meat from you, but raw."

16: And if the man said to him, "They should really burn the fat first; then you may take as much as your heart desires," he would then answer him, "No, but you must give it now; and if not, I will take it by force."

Eli was a priest.  His sons ministered in the temple.  They didn’t know the Lord.  If you go back to Leviticus 3 you can read there was a certain way God commanded for the sacrifice’s to be made.  They were always to burn the fat, (Leviticus 3:16-17, Leviticus 7).  The people or the priest’s were not to take the fat for themselves but they were to offer it to the Lord.  "Fat" here means the best part of the meat.  It doesn’t mean the part that you cut off and throw away.  It means the richest part of the meat.  So Eli’s sons took for themselves that part of the sacrifice that was meant for the Lord - the best part.

1 Samuel 2

22: Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

23: And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.

24: Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD's people to transgress.

1 Samuel 2

27: And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?

28: And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?

29: Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

30: Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

31: Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.

32: And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.

33: And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.

Obviously, the Lord was not happy with Eli or his sons.  They were blatantly disobeying God’s commands.  They were not ignorant of the Lord’s commands, they were outright rebellious against them.  Eli allowed them to continue on in their ministry knowing what they were doing.

If you read through 1 Samuel 2 you will see the story of Samuel intermingled between these verses about Eli’s sons.  God was raising Samuel up at the same time Eli and his sons were declining.  Samuel’s life was dedicated to the Lord.  He was "on loan" from his mother to Eli.  His mother, Hannah, was barren and vowed to the Lord she would give Him her son if He would give her one.  Samuel was dedicated to the Lord as a child.  His whole life was the Lord’s and he ministered to the Lord even as a child.

1 Samuel 3

11: And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

12: In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.

13: For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

During the time that Samuel heard this from the Lord he was living in with Eli.

Samuel had to hear from the Lord that what Eli was allowing his sons to do was wrong.   Eli should have been teaching Samuel the ways of the Lord.  He did tell him what to do when he heard the Lord calling him.  Samuel didn’t recognize the Lord’s voice and thought it was Eli calling him and Eli told him it was the Lord.   But it’s sad that the one who taught Samuel to hear the voice of the Lord was not being obedient to His voice himself.

After this, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, about 4000 men were killed.   The ark of the covenant was in Shiloh where Samuel and Eli were.  After being defeated by the Philistines the Israelites went and got the ark thinking that would help them in their fight.  The Philistines heard that they brought the ark into the Israelites camp and they were afraid and became more determined-out of fear of God-to stand up and fight against them.  The Philistines probably had more respect and fear of God at the time then the Israelites did.

The Israelites didn’t place much value on the ark until they were in trouble.   Samuel was hearing from the Lord and God was revealing Himself to Him.  He was enjoying the presence of God while things were good, during times of the Lord’s mercy being extended.  He knew of the judgement coming to Eli’s house.  He wasn’t taking advantage of God’s mercy and grace.  He was getting close to God while things were going well.  Most of the Israelites, on the other hand, didn’t care much about the presence of God until they were in trouble.  Do we only seek God’s presence when we’re in trouble or do we enjoy fellowship with Him during times of mercy and grace as well?

The Philistines not only defeated Israel again, (30,000 soldiers this time), but they stole the ark of the covenant and Eli’s two sons were killed.  Eli’s two sons went with the ark to the Israelite’s camp.  We know they didn’t know the Lord.  Do you think they handled the ark well?  Most likely not.  They had no respect for God’s presence.  The Philistines probably had more respect for it.  God’s presence will go to those who value and appreciate Him, even if it means leaving His people to go to the heathen.  If sinners have more respect and value and appreciation for God then the church-goers, watch out!

1 Samuel 4

19: And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard 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.

21: And she named the child I-chabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.

The glory of God departed from His people.  It’s not just when the ark was stolen that it departed.  The door is opened for the enemy to steal God’s presence through sin.  More specifically, through not valuing, respecting or honoring the presence of God.  And that happens after we do not value, respect or fear the commands of God or God Himself.  Giving to Him what is due.

It starts with Idolatry

It happens when we quit seeking the Lord, (or don’t ever seek Him like Eli’s son’s), when we hold back and keep what is best for ourselves, to consume it upon our lusts.  That idolatry of not putting God first or giving Him the best is spiritual adultery.  Represented by the sons of Eli’s sexual sins with the women of the congregation.  That idolatry / spiritual adultery leads to a disregard of His commands and a lack of respect and value for the presence of God.  And that opens the door for His presence being stolen from us.  When His presence is stolen His glory is gone.   His glory is in His presence.

Eli’s sons had no respect for the Lord’s command to burn the fat.  To the point that they would forcibly take it from the sacrificer’s if they said anything about it.  The price of the glory of God among us is more then giving the best of our sacrifice to the Lord.  It’s not so much giving the best of the sacrifice as it is obeying His commands. Sacrifice without obedience does not please the Father.  And even obedience if it’s not a loving response to the love of the Father is just religious works that do not profit anything.

What has the Lord commanded?

Later on in Samuel’s life when Saul was king, The Lord told Saul through Samuel to go and destroy Amalek.  He said to destroy everything.  Men, women, children, and animals.  So they went out and defeated the Amalekites but they kept the king alive and kept the best of the animals. (1 Samuel 15).

1 Samuel 15

13: And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.

14: And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?

1 Samuel 15

22: And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

To obey God is better then sacrifice and better then the fat of rams.  Our obedience to Him is a sacrifice far better then offering up animals. If their obedience to His commands in the Old Testament and their respect for His presence would have kept the presence and the glory of God in their midst, how much greater will the presence and glory of God be in our midst when we live our lives in obedience to Him and value His presence today when He is not bound by the ark?

God is looking for Samuel’s.  Who will hear and listen to the voice of God.   Those who will enjoy His presence and fellowship with Him.  God said Eli’s son’s sins would not be covered by sacrifice forever.  God is looking for those who will hear and obey His voice.  Those who are interested in pressing into His presence and fellowshipping with Him.  Not just when we need something but all the time.

God’s glory was stolen because of a lack of appreciation for His presence and disobedience to His commands.  Eli’s sons didn’t obey His commands and the people didn’t think it was necessary to bring the ark into battle with them until they were in trouble.  God’s kingly anointing on Saul was removed because of disobedience to His commands as well.

Do we want His glory and His anointing in our lives?  Are we willing to do it His way?  Are we willing to seek Him and His plan or are we satisfied with continuing on in our own paths?  Do we truly enjoy His presence or is it just a way to bail us out of trouble?

Do we want the benefits of the pleasures of the garden without seeking Him -- His presence in the garden?