Ichabod - The glory has departed and the people knew not
The glory has departed and the people knew not.
I am saddened to hear of the news of the church where I first got saved. A couple of years ago, I belonged a church in Montreal that was run by a board of deacons. The pastor there was just an employee. A number of men dictated to our pastor what to preach, when to end the sermon, and how to preach. Behind the men were their wives. At some board meetings, the men would agree to a certain issue, and although they were sworn to secrecy, they'd go home and share with the wives who if they didn't like the subject, the deacons would then call the pastor and tell him they had changed their mind.
With time the situation degenerated in my church, and the church families took sides. Some believed in the authority of the pastor as the man in charge who stands accountable first and foremost to God himself, Christ being the head of the church. Others wanted a congregational church where the people would rule. Things got so bad that we got to point where members were threatening each other with libel. Finally, a general meeting was called, and lawyers were invited by a certain party to the church Assembly. The pastor was just a puppet in the hands of the deacons, and the meeting atmosphere was really really sad. I think this was the saddest scene of my life, seeing a pastor humiliated over issues that had nothing to do with his Christian conduct. It was nothing than a Power Struggle. And Power CORRUPTS. The meeting broke off, and the members were more divided than ever.
We finally called on a reconciliation team. One thing we all agreed upon was Ichabod. The glory had departed from our church and the people knew not. God's Holy Spirit was displeased with us that he had left us, and the people knew not. Some people even witheld their tithes and offerings. You know the old time trick when people thing they will teach their pastor a lesson by not paying their dues.
Samuel 4:21 - And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband. 1 Samuel 14:3 - And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD's priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone. Isn't it sad, when Satan reaks havoc in God's house because we are not sensisitve to God's holiness.
How sad. The glory has departed and the people knew not. When Christian fight over God's authority in the church, may be they should read up again in their Bibles and remember.
Revelation 2:5 - Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
God Bless
Matthew
That sums it all up - The glory has departed and the people knew not.
David is the best example of a man that feared God, and therefore feared God's annointed. It's so dangerous to strech out our hand (and our mouth) over God's annointed.
It's like telling the Lord that His judgments are not good.
That's what usually happens when we make our decisions wihout seeking God's counsel.