1 Samuel 4 – Ichabod No Longer
This chapter is just one example of how unbelieving sinful hearts kept getting in the way of God’s relationship to his people. This scene is played out for us again, many years later, in Ezekiel 10. In a vision the prophet sees the glory of the LORD leave the Temple, as the Babylonian armies ransack Jerusalem. It’s the same problem, with the same cause, resulting in the same issue. Something has to change. God kept departing from his people. Not because he changes or wavers, but because of their sin. He had to depart, for their own good. But something had to change.
So he sent “Immanuel” (God with us; Matthew 1:23). The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory (John 1:14). God with us, glory with us, in Jesus Christ. To deal with sin, so there would be no reason for God to depart from his people.
You see, the true believer, believing and repenting from his heart, God will never depart from. Even though faith and repentance be imperfect and inconstant, where it is from the heart, there will “Ichabod” never be written. God will not depart from his blood-bought, Son-redeemed people.
Because on the cross he “departed” from his Son, Jesus Christ. He abandoned him, and Jesus became “Ichabod” (no glory), that we might never be left.
In Jesus we will never be “Ichabod”. He lives in us by his Spirit. He transforms us from glory to more glory. Glory never departs from us. Even when we sin and fall short. We might lose the sense of his presence because of our sin. He might let a cloud of hardship come between us and the light of his face. But the Sun is still behind the clouds, working on the clouds. So God is always with us. He never departs. “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
Questions
- Where or why do you fear that God has or will depart from you?
Prayer Points
- Give thanks that Jesus became “no glory” that we might share his glory.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.