DAILY?READINGS: 2 Sam. 19:9-43; Jeremiah 3:6 to 4:2; Gal. 4:21 to 5:9
And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed … because the ark of God was taken. 1 Samuel 4:21
The ark was captured and God’s glory had departed from Israel. This was the result of the elders making a decision without consulting the Lord (4:3). It was a decision that pleased the people (4:5) and brought great fear upon their enemies (4:7-8). But it was a decision that was contrary to the Word of God—a decision which caused God’s glory to depart from Israel. We need to uphold our elders in prayer so that they walk humbly before God and carefully check the Scriptures before they make any decisions. How sad if God would need to write the word “Ichabod” over a local fellowship! —David Croudace
The Bible stands like a rock undaunted, ‘mid the raging storms of time,
Its pages burn with the truth eternal and they glow with a light sublime.
—Haldor Lillenas