Ichabod means, “the glory hath departed.” In the biblical history of Israel, God manifested His presence to His people in various ways. When they were delivered out of slavery and pursued by the armies of Egypt, God’s glory, or presence, was made visible to them as He stood between them and the camp of the Egyptians, in a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day. Later in the tabernacle built by Moses, and in the Temple of Jerusalem erected by Solomon, God’s glory was again known to His people by the Cloud and Light of His presence that filled the inner sanctuary, the Holy of Holies.
While God’s presence was manifested, the people of Israel could expect His blessing; He was their God and they were His people. But in time their hearts grew cold; they forgot His laws and began to worship other gods, first in a syncretistic worship that included Him, and later, Jehovah, the only true God was excluded altogether. Ezekiel 8:4; 9:3; 10:4, 18; 11:23 recounts the day in which the glory of God visibly departed from the house of God, and from the people of God. Israel had made her choice.
The scriptures state clearly that we are to learn from the examples of our forefathers in the faith. But, as mankind is so prone to do, we have chosen to follow in the steps of those who forsook their God. We, as a nation, have elected leaders who would erase, even the memory of God from our hearts, and have already spawned generations of godless sheep, programmed to be dependent upon men with impure motives. Look closely; we are not “indivisible,” but divided. We are no longer functioning as “one nation under God,” and it is obviously not “in God we trust.” Today, as in the days of old, God’s glory hath departed. We have chosen to exclude God from our lives and He, true to His Word, has allowed us that freedom of choice.
Is there hope! YES, the same hope that was offered to ancient Israel, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)”