Ichabod

by G. PRASHER, SR. | Category: The Last Of The Judges | Sept 1961

In Israel a day of darkness and gloom had arrived. It was a day which, through many generations, would leave its mark upon both people and land. Despair and anguish filled the hearts of all, for God had commenced His work of judgement, and Ichabod was written large over the gloomy clouds.

The Philistines had often drawn up their forces in strength to challenge the prowess of Israel's army, and oft had they been smitten before the people of God, but on this occasion there is a dire turn of events. Israel is defeated, and about four thousand footmen fall in the conflict. "Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us today before the Philistines?" they ask among themselves. Then they resolve to act upon the counsel, "Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that it may come among us, and save us out of the hand of our enemies" (1 Samuel 4.8). If they had had the right answer to the inquiry as to why the LORD had smitten them, and had humbled themselves before Him and sought His mercy, the outcome of those days of conflict might have been very different. Instead of thus humbling themselves they are trusting in a symbol, it, to save them from their enemies.

It was indeed a glad day when the Tabernacle was erected in the desert land, and the LORD filled it with His glory (Exodus 40.84). The shekinah glory was within, and the pillar of cloud was without, together manifesting the LORD in residence among them. They were the "Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants" (Romans 9. 4); for God "established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel" (Psalm 78. 5): "Moses commanded us a law, an inheritance for the assembly of Jacob" (Deuteronomy 33.4). The inheritance, however, had been neglected, the law had been forsaken, and the testimony had been spoiled. During the period of the Judges the Place of the Name but seldom appears in the records of their times. "They were turned aside like a deceitful bow" (Psalm 78.57).

The LORD having departed from them, the mere symbol, the ark, must prove devoid of value. Their enthusiastic shout when the ark arrived, which brought fear and trembling in the Philistines' camp, like the wind that moved the rocks in Horeb in the sight of Elijah, had not the LORD in it; and so the Philistines quit themselves like men and fought. Israel was again smitten, and thirty thousand footmen fell in the region of Eben-ezer - the stone of help. Hitherto had the LORD helped indeed, but neither present shadows, like the ark, nor past help, as Eben-ezer indicates, can avail when the LORD is not among His people.

The Benjamite runner out of the army, his clothes rent and earth upon his head, soon spread the dread doings of that doom's day battle. Hophni and Phinehas are slain. There is a mortise and lock accuracy that is awesome in these two men being associated with the carrying of the ark to the field of battle. He who foretold, "In one day they shall die both of them," was the One who controlled the events so that prediction and fulfilment met. Then Eli, who survives the news of family disaster, succumbs beneath the calamitous tidings that the ark is taken. The man who failed to rule and discipline his sons died in the defeat that day. The wife of Phinehas regards not the words of those who tell her, "Fear not; for thou hast brought forth a son." "Ichabod," which bespoke the depth of her grief of heart, is the name she gives her son, and which describes the condition of Israel, "the glory is departed from Israel; for the ark of God is taken."

G. PRASHER, SR. | Sept 1961
The Last Of The Judges