How can we ensure God's glory remains in our lives today? When the Glory Fades: The Scene in 1 Samuel 4:20 “As she was dying, the women attending to her said, ‘Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son.’ But she did not respond or pay any heed.” (1 Samuel 4:20) Phinehas’ wife lay on her deathbed. News that the ark—symbol of God’s presence—was gone eclipsed even the joy of her newborn. The name she whispered, Ichabod (lit. “No glory”), tells the story: God’s glory had departed because His people had treated His presence casually and lived in unrepentant sin. Naming Ichabod: Why Glory Departed • Casual worship: Hophni and Phinehas used the ark like a lucky charm (1 Samuel 4:3). • Corrupted priesthood: they “treated the LORD’s offering with contempt” (1 Samuel 2:17). • Calloused hearts: national repentance never happened; ritual replaced relationship. Guardrails for Keeping God’s Glory Today 1. Reverence for His presence • “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). • Treat gatherings, private devotions, and everyday moments as holy ground. 2. Obedience over symbolism • John 14:23—“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word… We will come to him and make Our home with him.” • Holiness invites glory; disobedience drives it out. 3. Ongoing repentance • 2 Chronicles 7:14—humble, pray, seek His face, turn from wicked ways. • Keep short accounts with God; confess quickly. 4. Heart purity • Psalm 24:3-4—“Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? … He who has clean hands and a pure heart.” • Purity is not optional; it is the landing strip for divine presence. 5. Spirit-filled living • 1 Corinthians 6:19—our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. • Yield daily; let Him cleanse attitudes, speech, and habits. 6. Christ-centered worship • Ephesians 3:21—“to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations.” • Exalt Jesus, not personalities, programs, or personal preferences. 7. Community accountability • Hebrews 10:24-25—spur one another on toward love and good deeds. • Sin exposed loses power; sin concealed saps glory. Daily Practices That Host His Presence • Start the day in Scripture; let the Word adjust your heart. • Invite the Holy Spirit to search and refine motives before decisions. • Replace grumbling with gratitude (1 Thessalonians 5:18). • Guard media intake; feed your soul what fuels worship. • Celebrate Communion regularly with fresh awe for the cross. • Serve someone unseen by others; glory thrives in humility. • End each day with reflection and repentance, not condemnation. Encouragement for the Journey The ark was a wooden chest overlaid with gold; Jesus is the living fulfillment—God with us, God within us. As we behold Him “we are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Stay near the Shepherd, and Ichabod will never be written over your life. |
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