By Margaret Mullings

"Then it happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell off his seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. (19) "Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, due to be delivered; and when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband was dead, she bowed herself and gave birth, for her labor pains came upon her. (20) "And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, "Do not fear, for you have borne a son. "But she did not answer, nor did she regard it. (21) "Then she named the child Ich'a-bod, saying."The glory has departed from Israel! "because the ark of God has been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. "(22) "And she said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured. "1 Samuel 4:18-22. NKJV.

You may ask, What was it that caused these tragic events to happen? The answer is resounding from the book of 1 Samuel chapter two. Eli, the priest had two sons, and they were wicked. partaking in priestly duties yet they knew not God. Read verse sixteen of 1 Samuel 2. (16)"

And if the man said to him," They should really burn the fat first; then you may take as much as your heart desires," he would then answer him, "No, but you must give it now; and if not, I will take it by force." (17) "Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for men abhorred the offering of the LORD."

Elli's sons were so presumptuous in their sins. Read it for yourself from verse (22) "Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. "Take note Eli did not remove his sons from partaking in the holy things of Yahweh. Instead he gave them a light rebuke.

Verse (23) "So he said to them, "Why do you such things? For I hear of your evil from all the people." (24) "No, my sons! For it is not a good report that I hear. You make the LORD'S people to transgress. "It is very sad that even though Eli, the priest knew his sons were not saved, not withstanding they were doing wickedness. Eli still allowed them to partake in the holy thi-ngs of God. This grieved the heart of God. Verse (27) "Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, "Thus says the LORD," Did I not clearly reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? (29) "Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all offering of Israel My people?"

In our daily walk with Yahweh, we must take inventory of our lives. For you and I could be partaking of the holy things of God, yet still practicing presumptuous sins. The thing is, we may have been practicing it for so long; we may have become like Elli's two sons Hoph'ni and Phin'e-has... We may have become so comfortable in it. yet as you and I can see as we gather together as a people of Yahweh in assemblies all across the globe. Singing, shouting, dancing before the LORD.

Yet no power, hardly anyone is getting healed, and delivered. Many people are getting saved and turning back to sin. Could it be Ich'a-bod, the glory of Yahweh has departed? Eli honored his sons more than God. Are you and I honoring man, more than God? Could it be that men and women are partaking in the holy things of God and are presumptuously practicing sin? BEWARE! You and I could be worshiping and partaking of the holy things of God, and fail to recognize that HIS PRESENCE is not there! Could it be ICH'A-BOD, COULD THE GLORY OF YAHWEH HAVE DEPARTED?