When God Isn't There!1Samuel 4:1-22;5:1-12Some years later, in c.1024BC, the Philistines launch a major attack on Israel. The Israelites set up camp at Ebenezer and the Philistines at Aphek.In 1 Samuel chapter 4, the Israelites go to war with the Philistines and were defeated.The Ark of the Covenant was captured, Eli's sons were both slaughtered, along with a great deal of the Israelite army, and when Eli heard of the Ark being captured, he fell off of his bench and broke his neck and died.One of Eli's daughters-in-law was pregnant at the time of Israel's defeat and due to give birth. The news sent her into labor and she gave birth to a son whom she called Ichabod – meaning the glory has departed.And truly it had.The Ark of the Covenant – the dwelling place of God – had departed from Israel.But feeling like God isn't there is a feeling with which many Christians are familiar.Israel has fallen into paganism, idolatry and rampant polytheism.God Stops Listening to Prayers.God Leaves the Temple.God Hides His Face.Paul describes Christians as those who groan, aching for the future. They have been given the Spirit, but the Spirit points them to something they don't yet have. The presence of the Spirit of God points to a current absence of God. So, they groan.When we take advantage of God's presence, we should expect his absence.Feeling like God isn't there is a Biblically verified reality.In this story Israel lost 34,000 men. But why did that happen when God was protecting Israel?It was because the presence of God wasn't in their life. In v. 19 we see the word Ichabod which means no glory, God's glory departed from them.Through prayer and worship the presence is manifested.
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Coming from Arab, Alabama, and growing up in Tampa, Fla. I moved with my family to Georgia in 1969. I was saved by God’s marvelous Grace in September 1972 at Blue Springs Baptist Church located down the road from North Cobb High School in Acworth, Ga. Called to preach at 16...
