Ichabod

https://odb.org/MY/2021/09/28/flight-of-ichabod

We learn in 1 Samuel 4:12-22 that Israel brought the Ark of the Covenant (which at that time contained the presence of God) into battle in an effort to boost their chances but without consulting God. Eli the High Priest’s sons carried the Ark and were killed in the battle and when Eli heard of the news of the capture, he fell down and died. Eli’s daughter who was pregnant gave birth and died when she heard her husband had been killed and she name her child “Ichabod” for the glory of God had departed from Israel. The glory of God was subsequently restored during the time of David and when Solomon built the Temple for the LORD to reside in the Holy of Holies, the purported site of where the Western Wall is in present day Jerusalem. The glory of God then became a permanent feature in the lives of believers when Jesus died for our sins and redeemed us to be children of God. Now God’s glory is within us and our role as people of the faith is to bring forth God’s glory through our Iives.

Is there a parallel we can learn today from this story in 1 Samuel 4? I think the first and more fundamental lesson is not to allow the glory of God to depart. In Ephesians 4:29-32, Paul taught us not to grieve the Holy Spirit by not doing certain things and thus if we continue in such behaviour, there is a risk of the glory of God departing from us, the same way if we continue to live in intentional sin or refuse to forgive those who have sinned against us. Our relationship with God will be blocked until we repent.

But what I think is a more practical lesson is not to take things into our own hands when it comes to the things of God or even in facing our own problems. Saul made the same grievous error when he took it upon himself to offer the sacrifice to God instead of waiting for Samuel, the High Priest before going into battle and as a result he lost his throne as king of Israel to David. In this story in 1 Samuel 4, the elders of Israel decided to bring the Ark of the Covenant into battle without checking with God, meaning to say they should have consulted God through Eli the High Priest. Eli’s own sons carried the Ark into the battle camp and if you read chapter 3, it brought such high spirits to the soldiers and fear upon the Philistines but alas the Israelites lost the battle. Bringing the Ark into battle without checking with God was a stupid move as it risked the Ark being captured and it was and the glory of God departed from Israel. They lost the presence of God as a result of their error.

I think the most important lesson for us is that the method is always inferior to the person, when it comes to God. Joshua carried the Ark with him when he crossed the river Jordan and he had 7 priests carrying trumpets in front of the Ark as they went around the walls of Jericho for 7 times. Carrying the Ark of Covenant worked in those instances, and worked well! Why? Because those actions then originated from an instruction of God! It is obeying the Word of God that brought the victory, not the methodology of carrying the Ark.

Whatever we do in our lives whether ministry or our day jobs, it is more important to keep the relationship going with God rather than rely on time tested methods and that can even be our routine to fast and pray for something. Keep God close, not our methods or ways of doing things as we need to be prepared to change our ways and methods as God leads. Carrying the Ark worked in the past doesn’t mean it will work now – what’s most crucial is what is the Word of God for the situation, what is God saying to us?