We all talk on the Glory of God ? what is Glory of God ? “The Glory of God” signifies God’s divine presence and power. When there is Glory of God the room is filled with a different power which we cannot explain. But the same time there is a Ichabod ~ Departed Glory.
We read on this in the 1 Samuel 1 - 4. What can we learn from Eli The High Priest on the departed Glory ?
Eli The High Priest
When Israel had no king Eli has been the high Priest , God chose him to pass any message to the people to correct them ,rebuke them and walk accordingly, he spoke to Eli and delivered all the message to the people.
Eli had two Sons (Hophni & Phinehas - 1 Samuel 1:3) both these sons were scoundrels & wicked in the eyes of the Lord -
Boy Samuel is ministered by Eli the priest. Samuel becomes a prophet and God speaks thru Samuel to tell why he is angry on Eli and his sons 1 Samuel 3:13-14 'For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them. Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’ ” '
God will judge his family - because Eli knew the sin “because of the sin he knew about”
Sons Blasphemed & he never failed to restrain him
These sins will not have a atonement by sacrifice or offering -
God’s plan was fulfilled, with God replacing Eli with Samuel as a prophet and to destroy Eli and his family when the Israelites went out to fight philistines. As the Daughter-in-law (of Eli) was about to die from the labour she gave this word 1 Samuel 4:21-22 'She named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The Glory has departed from Israel”—because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. She said, “The Glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”'
The Glory of the Lord departed due to the Sins of the young men (sons of Eli)
God does not spare any one who is unjust, Eli was a high priest and he failed as a parent. God did not spare his sons. Lets look at why God’s Glory Departed
Why God’s Glory Departed due to the Sins of the Young Men
Sons of Eli Lacked knowledge, understanding, or recognition of God
Who were these Sons ? They were priests of the Lord - 1 Samuel 1:3 'Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord . '
They were priests how can they not know God ? Their actions did not reflect on them as God sees their sin in Contempt 1 Samuel 2:12,17 'Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord . This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord ’s sight, for they were treating the Lord ’s offering with contempt. '
Contempt comes with these following sins that he destroyed the entire family and stripped the priest hood from the family They violated the priest responsibility of how they should offer the sin offering and Guilt offering to God
They did not honor the sacred things of God - God’s command on how a priest should handle these is outlined in How they handled the Offering to God -
Guilt Offering - shall be burnt and presented to the Lord then the priest may consume
Leviticus 6:6-7 And as a penalty they must bring to the priest, that is, to the Lord , their guilt offering, a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for them before the Lord , and they will be forgiven for any of the things they did that made them guilty.” '
Leviticus 7:3-6 'All its fat shall be offered: the fat tail and the fat that covers the internal organs, both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which is to be removed with the kidneys. The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering presented to the Lord . It is a guilt offering. Any male in a priest’s family may eat it, but it must be eaten in the sanctuary area; it is most holy. '
Sin Offering - Eaten by the priest inside the sanctuary area - Leviticus 6:25-26 '“Say to Aaron and his sons: ‘These are the regulations for the sin offering: The sin offering is to be slaughtered before the Lord in the place the burnt offering is slaughtered; it is most holy. The priest who offers it shall eat it; it is to be eaten in the sanctuary area, in the courtyard of the tent of meeting. '
They had a Unclean Priest life - 1 Samuel 2:22 'Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. '
The priest who wore the garments are supposed to be clean and holy, but they were unclean they did sins of adultery
What does the law of Moses say ?
Leviticus 20:7-8,10 '“ ‘Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord , who makes you holy. “ ‘If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death. '
What did these sons do ? Used their status to indulge in adultery.
The punishment is for the lustfulness 2 Peter 2:9-10 'if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; '
He used the righteous environment (Church) to covet us to sin saying its ok to do as no one in Church will know, its a abomination to God when you do this, as you are tampering the sanctity of God’s place to make it Holy to UnHoly with these acts.. So watch out.
When you sense these Sin, the word says Submit to God - he will flee away.. James 4:7 'Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. '
They did not listen to or obey the word of God - Eli’s Son’s were disobedient to their Father - 1 Samuel 2:25 'If one person sins against another, God may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord , who will intercede for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord ’s will to put them to death. '
Man’s first sin - Disobedience, the result of foolish talk with Satan
Why does God’s wrath come on God’s children for disobedience
The wrath comes because we are called to live a new life - Colossians 3:5-10 'Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. '
We are children of Light, and should not live in darkness. wrath comes when we side or choose these - Ephesians 5:3,6-8 'But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light '
Miriam and Aaron “Spoke” against Moses (Numbers 12) RESULT ~ ICHACBOD
Disobedience to the will / Counsel of God
God’s anger was on Eli that he failed on his family duties - 1 Samuel 2:27,29-30 'Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal myself to your ancestor’s family when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’ “Therefore the Lord , the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. '
Clearly Eli failed on the counsel of God and disobeyed, he was true to the word of God for public cause, but failed on private cause (With him and his family).
In our personal lives we appear religious/ spiritual / busy but are we obedient to God ?
A very interesting thing here, when you start reading 1 Samuel 1, Eli was the high priest for Israel, all come to him for his advice as he seeks God to tell that, here in 1 Samuel 2:27 ~ God sends a man to tell his mistakes. God is a fair to his holiness, he will raise any one to help tell the word..
None of our religious Status will save us from his righteous judgement. We could have ministered to many, saved many, give best sermons, give best prayers, speak in tongues etc.. . If we are wrong on one. So watch out.. Very serious. Purity and holiness is more important for Godly people.. No 2nd thoughts to lower the guard..
When God tells something, total obedience to him is a must.
Summary
Let’s not discount this ICHACBOD as its applicable for Eli kind of priest. I am only an ordinary person.
God measures each of his children in same way as he measured Eli the high Priest - The word says he has made us to be a kingdom and made us priest to serve God and father as soon as we become child of God .
Revelation 1:5-6 'and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. '
We will have ICHACBOD in our life when we fail to do the following:
We know God, but fail to recognise the sins we are into and ask for any forgiveness to him.
Fear for God and reverence for God is not there in any work we do.
Any unclean sins - Sins of Adulterous life (even our eyes can lead to adultery when we see someone in that way) / Coveting
Disobedient to God’s calling - Deliberately disobeying God
Partial Obedience to God
Amen