I knew about Phinehas’s wife naming their child Ichabod, and I always wondered why a university would choose Ichabod as their mascot. Before we get into Phineas’s wife’s story, here’s some background on Washburn University.
The school’s website states this about their mascot: “Washburn University and its Ichabods are both named for an early benefactor of the school – Ichabod Washburn. Washburn students began referring to themselves as Ichabods in the late 1800s and a mascot was given an image in 1938.”
While Washburn University has a positive story to tell about a benefactor who established the school, the Ichabod of 1 Samuel is a story of sadness and loss.
His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains.
As she was dying, the women attending her said, “Don’t despair; you have given birth to a son.” But she did not respond or pay any attention.
She named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The Glory has departed from Israel,” because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband.
She said, “The Glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured” (1 Samuel 4:19-22).
God’s Glory
The Hebrew word for “glory,” literally means “heavy.” God’s character, nature, and presence is “heavy,” because He is filled with immense significance.
When the Israelis tried to make God fight their battle, they treated Him like a lucky charm – something light – instead of someone important and powerful (heavy). They saw Him as something they could control, rather than someone they should follow.
Paul highlights how we can exchange God’s glory for something that is a lightweight imitation of His magnificent Being.
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse;
For although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their senseless minds were darkened.
Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man or birds or animals or reptiles (Romans 1:19-23).
So we don’t miss Paul’s message, let’s highlight the importance of honoring God and His glory. If we don’t recognize God’s eternal power and deity, the following will take place in our lives.
- We will empty in our thinking.
- Our senseless minds will be darkened.
- Claiming to be wise, we will be fools.
- We will exchange God’s glory for empty substitutes for God.
God’s Glory and Ezekiel
It was during the time of Ezekiel that Zedekiah was the last king of Israel. God gave the prophet a vision of the departure of His glory from the Temple and Jerusalem in chapter 10.
In dramatic fashion, God’s glory progresses from the Temple to beyond the gate of the city.
Once again, when we treat God’s glory (His heaviness) lightly, we can expect the removal of His presence, nature, and character from our midst.
Reflections
One of my friends used to say, “God doesn’t owe me anything.” His statement was true on many levels, but it certainly applies to the theme of today’s article.
- If we take lightly God’s glory and imitate the idolatry of Israel concerning the Ark when at war with the Philistines.
- If we ignore God’s glory, as Paul outlined in Romans 1.
- We have no room to complain if God removes His glory from our lives.
This truth about God’s glory applies to individuals, churches, and nations.
As the old preacher once said, “Every pot has to sit on its own bottom.” We may not be able to influence churches and our nation, but we are definitely responsible for our personal behavior.
The same man who told us that God didn’t owe him anything, was unwilling to rest until he sensed the presence of God in his life. He never wanted to have an “Ichabod” experience where the glory departed from his life. What a great example for us all!
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 