Some bad news comes by phone call at two in the morning. In Shiloh, it came running down the road with dirt on its head.
1 Samuel 4:12-22 — KJV
12 And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head. 13 And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out. 14 And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli. 15 Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see. 16 And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son? 17 And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken. 18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. 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. 20 And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it. 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. 22 And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.
1 Samuel 4:12-22 — WEB
12 A man of Benjamin ran out of the army and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. 13 When he came, behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for God’s ark. When the man came into the city and told about it, all the city cried out. 14 When Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, “What does the noise of this tumult mean?” The man hurried, and came and told Eli. 15 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old. His eyes were set, so that he could not see. 16 The man said to Eli, “I am he who came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army.” He said, “How did the matter go, my son?” 17 He who brought the news answered, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been also a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and God’s ark has been captured.” 18 When he made mention of God’s ark, Eli fell from off his seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck broke, and he died, for he was an old man and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years. 19 His daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to giving birth. When she heard the news that God’s ark was taken and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth; for her pains came on her. 20 About the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for you have given birth to a son.” But she didn’t answer, neither did she regard it. 21 She named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!” because God’s ark was taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 She said, “The glory has departed from Israel; for God’s ark has been taken.”
Explanation
Back up a few verses. Israel lost a battle to the Philistines at Aphek. Instead of asking what God was saying through the defeat, the elders decided to bring the ark of the covenant onto the battlefield, treating the holiest object in Israel like a lucky charm. Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, carried it into battle. Israel lost again, badly. Thirty thousand soldiers died, both priests were killed, and the ark was captured.
Now a runner from the tribe of Benjamin races to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dirt on his head, the signs of mourning. Eli is sitting by the road, ninety-eight years old and blind, his heart trembling for the ark of God. Give the old man this much: of everything at stake, the ark was what he worried about most. The messenger delivers four blows, one after another. Israel ran. Many died. Your sons are dead. The ark of God is taken. It was the last one that killed him. Eli fell backward off his seat by the gate, broke his neck, and died. "He had judged Israel forty years."
Then the grief reaches someone who did nothing to cause it. Phinehas' wife hears the news and goes into labor. As she is dying, the women tell her, "Don't be afraid, you've had a son." She doesn't answer. She names the baby Ichabod, which means "no glory" or "where is the glory?" With her last words she says, "The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken."
This is what leadership run amok looks like. None of this came out of nowhere. God had warned Eli more than once, through an unnamed prophet and through young Samuel, that judgment was coming on his house. Eli honored his sons above God and let them abuse their office. And when the crisis came, the leaders tried to use God instead of seeking Him. The bill came due, and a young mother and a newborn baby paid part of it.
But this week has taught us not to stop here. On Wednesday we saw that when glory leaves a building, God goes looking for His scattered people. On Friday we saw the ark come home on its own, with no army needed. Back in Shiloh, a boy named Samuel is growing up, and the LORD is with him. The glory left Shiloh. It never left God. And on Monday we saw where the story ends: a city where God's glory lives with us forever and every tear is wiped away.
Maybe you're in an Ichabod season: a church hurt by its leaders, a family broken by choices you didn't make, a layoff that has you asking, "Where is the glory?" Say it honestly; Scripture does. Then ask the harder question too: where am I leading, and am I honoring God above my comfort, my family's image, or my position? Ichabod is a real name for a real season. It's just not the last word.
Thought for the Day
The glory left Shiloh. It never left God.
Reflection Question
Where are you tempted to use God to get what you want, instead of seeking what He wants?
Prayer
Lord, some of us know what it feels like when all seems lost. Meet us in our Ichabod seasons and remind us that You are never captured and never gone. Forgive us for the times we have treated You like a lucky charm instead of a holy God. Raise up faithful leaders in our homes, our church, and our community, and make us faithful too. In Jesus' name, amen.
Today is Sunday school. We saved you a seat.