1 Samuel 4: Israel's Failure

"'The glory has departed from Israel,' she said, 'because the ark of God has been captured.'"

1 Samuel 4:22

Eli's daughter-in-law speaks these words as she gives birth to a son, Ichabod.  Her labor pains were brought on by the stress of losing her husband in battle and losing her father-in-law (who fell when he heard the news of his sons).  The Israelites had brought the ark to the battlefield with them, thinking that it would turn the tide of battle against the Philistines.  Instead, the Philistines banded together more strongly when they knew that the Lord's ark was against them.

I think Eli's daughter-in-law had her statement a little backwards, though.  God wouldn't have let the ark of the covenant be taken by the Philistines if Israel hadn't already lost its glory.  This all happens years after the Lord had promised to bring judgement on Eli's family for their iniquity.  The Lord had planned this as a wake-up-call for Israel, so that they might understand how God rejects wrongdoing and takes away His protection from those who do not follow His commandments.

Question of the Day:

Have you ever felt like God abandoned you?  Could it be true, instead, that you abandoned Him?

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, take me back into Your protection.  I seek to follow Your will for my life.  Although I have made mistakes in the past, and will surely make more in the future, I truly desire to serve You and lift up Your name.  Thank You for teaching me about Yourself and about my own iniquity.  Help me to abolish wrongdoing from my own life as well as from all of my household, so that we may truly be a house devoted to You.  Amen.