Look here. Look over there. You can look everywhere. It doesn’t matter what religion. And it doesn’t even matter if you look within, or look without. If you are doing it without the living God, then the Glory is gone. So Meditate on this – read on.
I Samuel 4:21-22 – Ichabod
21 She named the boy Ichabod,[b] 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. 22 She said, “The Glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”
For the rest of the story, scroll to the bottom and see what led up to the baby being named Ichabod. But first…
Where is The Glory?
Before we talk about where it is, let’s define it. As Phinehas said, “The glory has departed.”
What is Glory?
Glory (noun) – the splendor, holiness and majesty of God.
Glory, in this sense, is often associated with a person experiencing God’s presence in a tangible way. When used this way, the word glory conveys a sense of deep dignity. It’s God’s awesomeness!
Okay, if you know me you know I am going to make this simple.
Love sums it up!
There is no “Follow These 10 Steps” or the “1-2-3 Step Process” or any other formula to figure this out and somehow cause God’s glory to happen. How does a husband experience the glory of his wife? Or the wife of her husband? We can apply this to any relationship – love. I think we can also call it favor (that’s for another blog).
A Great Cost
Some would even say ‘it,’ God’s glory, has a great cost to it. And maybe technically it does. But now we are turning it into a business deal, a process. If you give this up or give up that, then you can experience God’s Glory. Or turn that last statement around – when you experience God’s glory it will cost you something – something may be taken away from you. It may cost you everything.
The Wrong Perspective
This may all be true in some form, in some way or the other, but it’s the wrong mindset. Just walk in it. Love Him. As you love your neighbor as yourself, then you are loving Him. So just walk in that wonderful relationship. Yes, that everyday-walking-around-kind-of-life with Jesus. If you love HIm, and if you love your spouse or your children, you are not thinking, “What is this going to cost me?”
Quite frankly you probably don’t even care about the cost!
So before you start thinking about what you have to give up. Before you start thinking about what it’s going to cost you. And before you start putting some magical steps or processes in place and start doing the chicken dance, just love Him.
His Presense
The Glory of God is His presence. Experiencing it in a tangible way is an amazing thing. It’s an emotional thing. But regardless. Regardless of the feelings, emotions, and all that we may experience in His presence, He is there. He is there regardless.
I can only imagine what it will be like when we finally come face to face…
Challenge of the Week
As you go through your day, as you take each step along the way, realize He is there. He is present. He, Holy Spirit dwells within you. Be aware of His presence in all you do. As you do, His glory is upon you. And from time to time, you will even experience His presence in a tangible way. God is good. So be it!
Bonus – The Rest of the Story (regarding the baby Ichabod)
1 Samuel 4:12-20
12 That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust on his head. 13 When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching, because his heart feared for the ark of God. When the man entered the town and told what had happened, the whole town sent up a cry.
14 Eli heard the outcry and asked, “What is the meaning of this uproar?”
The man hurried over to Eli, 15 who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes had failed so that he could not see. 16 He told Eli, “I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day.”
Eli asked, “What happened, my son?”
17 The man who brought the news replied, “Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”
18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and he was heavy. He had led[a] Israel forty years.
19 His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains. 20 As she was dying, the women attending her said, “Don’t despair; you have given birth to a son.” But she did not respond or pay any attention.
