Today's readings are 1 Samuel 4.1-22 and Acts 16.23-40.
Today the glory departs from Israel. Ichabod, the son of Phinehas, grandson of Eli, the heir to the house of Eli, is born as his mother dies. He never seems to surface again. God's judgment has fallen on the house of Eli and on the people of Israel, who chose to bring the Ark of the Covenant into battle as a lucky charm against the Philistines. The Philistines, of course, fought with all their ability, knowing that God would be defending the Israelites. It does not appear that God was defending Israel.
Do we see the glory departing from our society? Do we see defeat in some of the cultural battles we fight? Do we find that sinners continue to sin and we continue to be hard-harted and uncaring? Do we see that evil is present in the land? Does it seem that God's glory has departed from the Church? A book I read recently discussed the way we have trivialized worship music and thus all our attitudes about meeting with God. Yes, it seems the glory is departing.
I'd like to write some encouraging words, though. After the glory departed from Israel due to the sins of the people, God, in his good pleasure, brought deliverance to his people again and again. In these last days our Lord has revealed himself through the person of Jesus Christ, the savior of the world. Has the glory departed from our society? May the Lord show his glory in delivering us once again, doing what we cannot do, drawing people to himself by himself.
Today the glory departs from Israel. Ichabod, the son of Phinehas, grandson of Eli, the heir to the house of Eli, is born as his mother dies. He never seems to surface again. God's judgment has fallen on the house of Eli and on the people of Israel, who chose to bring the Ark of the Covenant into battle as a lucky charm against the Philistines. The Philistines, of course, fought with all their ability, knowing that God would be defending the Israelites. It does not appear that God was defending Israel.
Do we see the glory departing from our society? Do we see defeat in some of the cultural battles we fight? Do we find that sinners continue to sin and we continue to be hard-harted and uncaring? Do we see that evil is present in the land? Does it seem that God's glory has departed from the Church? A book I read recently discussed the way we have trivialized worship music and thus all our attitudes about meeting with God. Yes, it seems the glory is departing.
I'd like to write some encouraging words, though. After the glory departed from Israel due to the sins of the people, God, in his good pleasure, brought deliverance to his people again and again. In these last days our Lord has revealed himself through the person of Jesus Christ, the savior of the world. Has the glory departed from our society? May the Lord show his glory in delivering us once again, doing what we cannot do, drawing people to himself by himself.
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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogger.com
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