Bible Reading: 1 Sam. 4,5 & 6. Luke 9:1-20.
“And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.” – 1 Samuel 4:22 (KJV)
The Ark of God was a sacred chest made by the ancient Israelites according to the command and design of God. ( Exodus 25:8-10). It is a symbol that represents his presence. God tells the Israelites in Exodus 25:22 (KJV), “And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.”
However, God is holy and will not behold iniquity (Habakkuk 1:13). Thus he was not in the Ark when it was being held by those who profaned his name, the two sons of Eli; Hophni and Phinehas ( 1 Samuel 4::4). When Israel therefore moved the ark from Shiloh to the battle camp beside Ebenezer, it was the mere wood that was taken; God was no longer there. The ceremony and shouting that accompanied the movement did not move God. Thus, inspite of the Ark of God’s presence, the Israelites lost the battle.
In a similar manner, our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 3:16 (KJV), “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” So every believer is expected to be a carrier of the Holy Spirit. However, where you continually grieve the Spirit, He will depart from you. It does not matter your position whether you are a layman or a priest or even a General Overseer, he will depart from you. This is why a number of children of God are mere shells of themselves because God will only honour those who honour him and lightly esteem those who despise Him (1 Samuel 2:30). Thus the glory of God departs from them just as Phinehas wife said in 1 Samuel 4:22 (KJV) “And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.”
However, the beauty of serving our God is that He is a God of second chance. He is ready to restore his glory to anyone who has lost it but is remorseful enough to ask for mercy and show his readiness to follow God and obey him. Jesus Christ says in John 6:37 (KJV), “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” I therefore pray for you that if the Glory of God has departed from you, the Almighty God will restore it today in Jesus name.”
Prayer: Father, please let your glory never depart from me in Jesus name.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero