Around 3,100 years ago, a little boy came into this world with the curious name of Ichabod. His mother, who died giving him birth, named him that as she died. The word means, "the glory is departed." The Bible record indicates that the little boy's father, mother, and his grandfather, Eli the priest, all died on the same day.

Ichabod's mother gave him that name because the Philistines had stolen the ark of Israel and because her husband, Phinehas, and his father, Eli, had both died. The final verse of the chapter gives more emphasis to the taking of the ark for the choosing of the name, Ichabod.

Ichabod - THE GLORY IS DEPARTED! All of his life, this child's name remembered the fact that the ark of God, which contained the word of God, had been taken by the Philistines. When the Word Of God departed, the glory departed. I repeat: When the scriptures were taken from Israel, the GLORY was taken from Israel.

When the word of God was removed, the glory was gone, for the LIGHT was gone. God's word is LIGHT! Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

I. THE GLORY CAN DEPART FROM A COUNTRY (1 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.

The light goes out, and the glory is departed, when the word of God is removed!

     1. From the laws of its courts
        A. Upon what are our laws founded?

             1. The "The Ten Commandments"

             2. Now the Ten Commandments are banned from our courts.

            3. Now what are our laws founded on? The opinions of judges!

    2. From the learning of its children

       A. In America's schools the word of God has been replaced by new age,etc.

           In reality anything other than the word of God.      

      B. It's either "Back to the Bible"or "Back to the JUNGLE!"

  3. From the lives of its citizenry

       A. Where do we get our Views of right and wrong?

       B. Biblical literacy is America is at an all time high

       C. Decline of England, US to follow

II. THE GLORY CAN DEPART FROM OUR CHILDREN (Proverbs 17:6) Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

The glory is gone from children, when God's word is disregarded in the home about:

    1. Roles of family members

    2. Rules for child raising

    3. Restraint of evil-doing

III. THE GLORY CAN DEPART FROM A CHURCH (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.

    1. When love for the word of God is gone

        A. Less and less preaching, more lectures, Powerpoint presentations,

            drama, and other activities

    2. When loyalty to the word of God is gone

        A. The Word Of God being replaced by the teachings of man.

    3. When living by the word of God is gone

        A. No longer do we have pastors who are living examples of how to live by

            the Word of God       

        B. No longer have many pastors who will stand for the Word of God

            regradless of the cost.

        C. The results being now we no longe have many church members who will

            take that stand for God and His Word.

IV. THE GLORY CAN DEPART FROM A CHRISTIAN (1 Peter 4:14-16) If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

    1. When he quits reading the Bible

    2. When he quits receiving the Bible

    3. When he quits rejoicing in the Bible (Ps. 119:162)I rejoice at thy word, as one

       that findeth great spoil.