The Glory Has Departed | 1 Samuel 4

[music] In 1 Samuel chapter 4 verse 1 it says the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines and encamped uh beside Ebenezer and the Philistines encamped in Aph. And so what we have here and let me lay lay a foundation is that God is about to fulfill a promise. God has made a promise to Eli that he'd be bringing judgment on him. That's the kind of promise you want to be a recipient of. But he had made a promise. He had said he was going to bring judgment upon him. Why? Because he had honored his sons more than he had honored God. We need to remember and as I lay a foundation that God is holy and God is to be honored and priests were established in order to encourage the people to worship God. But Eli who was a priest had two sons Hoffne and Phineas and they were doing the opposite. They were causing the people to stop giving their offerings because of their sinfulness. His sons were robbing God of his offerings. They were seducing the women who were serving. Eli was aware of this, had spoken to them, but he did nothing to stop it. It says in 1st Samuel 2:1 17, "The sin of the young men was great before the Lord, for men abhored or despised the offering of the Lord." So what had happened is Eli the priest had treated the sin of his sons lightly. What he did was he was minimizing the seriousness of their sin. He should have exhorted them. He should have encouraged them, exhorted them to confess their sin, to repent, to seek forgiveness. He should have exhorted them to turn from their wickedness and to pursue holiness. But instead, he allowed them to continue in it. Now, he had options. They were they were priests themselves. He could have removed them, but instead he allowed them to continue in what they were doing. And because of this, God said he's going to bring judgment upon Eli's house. In chapter 2, 31, we saw how he had said, "Behold, the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father's house, so that there will be there will not be an old man in your house." In chapter 2 verse 24 he had said there shall this shall be a sign to you that you will uh to you that will come upon your two sons on Hofne and Phineas in one day they shall die both of them. The Bible tells us in Psalm 37:38 transgressors shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off. And so God had made it clear he would bring judgment because of their sin. Not only was their sin affecting those whom they were sinning against in particular in terms of those who were coming and having relationship in what term or another with them. Uh he was he was the sin was so great it was involving all of Israel because as mentioned before uh they before they would give their offerings but now unbelief began to fill the land and judgment had to come. So, it's going to be on his sons, and it's not only going to fall on him and his sons, but it'll be falling upon future generations because God is bringing judgment on the house of Eli. At the same time, he's raising up a young one, a man by the name of Sam, a young man named Samuel, to be a judge in Israel. Now, as I was preparing this, I said to myself, well, I probably ought to say a couple of things about some of the basics here because he's going to be what is called the last judge, the last judge of Israel. When you read your scriptures, there were 14 judges in the nation of Israel prior to Samuel. And he would be the last one. And so, God is raising this young man up as a prophet and as a judge. and he will be the last judge because God is going to have kings after Samuel. And so what we had done is we had closed in chapter three with the call of Samuel in verses 19 through 21. I'll read it to you in chapter 3. It said, "Samuel grew. The Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. All Israel from Dan to Beersa knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord appeared again in Shiloh. For the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord. And so notice how it it is speaking and uh commentators have stated that this particular verse actually is a continuation of the last verse that we call chapter 3. Remember at one time there were no chapters and verses. And so when it says the word of of uh Samuel came to all Israel, it's more than likely a continuation of what we had just read in verses 19- 21. And so what is happening here is uh the Lord is doing a move. He's moving in the nation. Samuel's word, in other words, is being recognized as authoritative by the people of Israel. He has become a prophet of God. He's the judge, the last judge in the nation. Because as mentioned soon there will be kings that are over the nation of Israel. And so God is moving. Now the word of Samuel came to Israel. Israel went out to battle against the Philistines and encamped be beside Ebenezer. And the Philistines encamped in another place called Aphek. And so I'll give you a couple geographic things in a little history here to develop this. when it says in verse two um the Philistines put themselves in battle array against Israel and when they joined in battle Israel was defeated by the Philistines who killed about 4,000 men of the army in the field. What we're having is a picture of what took place here in battle. Um it gave to us uh a location. Notice it says they encamped beside Ebenezer. The word Ebenezer means the stone of help. It was if you were looking at a map of Israel and you saw this city of Jerusalem is down a little past the center of the nation Israel down south a little bit. It would be off to the to the northwest about 40 or 50 miles. That's a general location of where this is taking place. But I want you to notice and I'll point this out. It says Israel went to battle against the Philistines. We've known though that word for a long time. You know before people were even Christians. They say you're a Philistine. You know because it spoke of someone who was a pagan. That's what the word Philistine is usually generally at least during [snorts] my day when I was growing up. That's what we would say this guy's a Philistine. That means that he's he's he's unsaved and all of that. Well, the Philistines, let me give you a little history of the Philistines. They're mentioned around 286 times in the Old Testament. The first time the word Philistines, speaking of these people, is mentioned is all the way back in the book of Genesis in chapter 10:14. It's estimated that they were in Israel from 1,200 BC to around 730 BC. So they were there for a few hundred years. And Judges 13 specifically speaks of how Samson had to deal with them. And so the Philistine, the word Philistine means a migrant or a wanderer. It can also be used to describe someone who divides. Philistines can be translated as the sea peoples or people of the sea. One commentator said, "It's been suggested that the Philistines formed part of the great naval confederacy called the Sea Peoples who wandered at the beginning of the 12th century BC from their [snorts] homeland in Cree and the Aian Islands to the shores of the Mediterranean and repeatedly attacked Egypt during the later 19th dynasty. Though Pharaoh Ramsy's III eventually repulsed them, he finally resettled them. And according to the theory to rebuild the coastal towns in Canaan. Now these towns included cities that perhaps you've read in your scriptures, Ashdod, Ashcolon, Echron, Gath, and Gaza. Does that sound familiar? So you know the location of Gaza and where the Philistines were. It's on the coast south of Jerusalem. The Romans renamed Judea Palestine. Why are they called Palestinians? Because the Romans renamed Judea, which is Israel in in 135 uh in the year 135, there was a revolt called the Barulba revolt. And what it was, it was an attempt to resist the helenization of the Jewish population. And so that was part of an effort to suppress Jewish identity and connection to the land that took place early in the history of Israel, which is an attempt to say that Israel should not be owner of that particular portion of land. And to this day, it's called the land of Palestine for a reason, which is specifically speaking of the Philistines. When you go to Israel, it's one of the one of the things your guide will tell you. He'll say that the Romans renamed Israel and they named us Palestine because Palestine is a is is a way that you would refer to Philistines. And so they're trying to say that Israel had no right to the land. They've done that for centuries. That's something you hear today in the news where people are arguing about Gaza and that it belongs to the Palestinian people, which is a people that really didn't exist. It's a word that is given to describe a portion of land where people have settled. And so even from way back then there was problems and they are plaguing Israel. The Philistines were plaguing Israel and Israel responds aggressively. And so the Philistines put themselves in battle array against Israel. So the two armies, the army of the Jews, army of Israel are enjoining battle with those who are the Philistines. Verse two, and it says Israel was defeated by the Philistines who killed about 4,000 men of the army in the field. So they were engaged in combat and you see a loss of 4,000 men. Well, verse three, when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Shiloh to us, and when it comes among us, it may save us from the hand of our enemies." And so the people sent to Shiloh that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts who dwells between the cherubim and the two sons of Eli, Hoffne and Phineas were there with the ark of the covenant of God. And so what had happened is the Jewish people had expected victory. And so the fact that they had been defeated caught them completely by surprise. What had happened? Well, they had gone out in self-sufficiency. They were expecting God to do something on their behalf and they didn't seek the direction of the Lord. Now early in their history, let me explain what had happened. Early in their history, God had made it very clear to their fathers that he would reject them if they rejected him. In Deuteronomy 28:15, it reads, "If you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God to observe carefully all his commandments and his statutes, which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you." And then a list of curses come. And he goes on into verse 25 and says, "And the Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies." So they were not being obedient to the things of the Lord. They had ceased giving their offerings. They had unholy priests and all. And so God was actually bringing judgment. Well, because this had happened, they now are beginning to wonder why. And so they devised a plan. And in verses 3 and four, they said, "Well, let's bring the ark of the covenant." So they're surprised that they have been defeated. They thought that they were the people of God. They thought that victory would be inevitable. In the past, God had given them victory over their enemies. Why wouldn't he do it now? And so they're very surprised because they would look at their history and they'd say that God has been with us and God has worked through us and God has given us victory. I mean, we can look all the way back to the time of Joshua when Joshua had entered into the land and and it was God who had given Israel to the people. And so they're thinking that way. They had been given the land and when they they came into the land, they actually displaced what were called seven nations that were distinctly greater than Israel. And so they had been given instructions when they entered in to this promised land. It's found in Deuteronomy 7:es 1-4. This is going to give an explanation of what is taking place. And it says, "When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess it and drives out before you many nations, Hittites, Gegosites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, Jebusites, Outites, Cellulites. I mean, there were a lot of itites. I say that every time." And you guys still laugh. That's very funny. >> [laughter] >> and the uptights. [laughter] They are seven nations larger and stronger than you. When the Lord your God has delivered them over to you, and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them. Show them no mercy. Do not intermar with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Why? They will turn your children away from following me to serve other gods. And the Lord's anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you. When Joshua entered in according to Joshua 12:12, under his leadership, Israel defeated 31 kings. Now Joshua would remind the people of what God had done. Again, this goes into the explanation as to why are they thinking these things? Why isn't God with us? Because Joshua had reminded the people what God had done in the book of Jo Joshua 23:3. You have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations because of you. For the Lord your God is he who fought for you. The Philistines had defeated them. And they're wondering why. One thing they knew, their enemies hadn't defeated them. God had. Why did God allow this to take place? Why did he allow this defeat? And so instead of asking God what they did wrong, they took matters into their own hands. They went out and they got what is called the ark of the covenant or the ark of the testimony and they brought it to the battlefield. It was like a chest and it contained the tablets of the commands and a pot of mana, Aaron's rod. And so they brought it. Now this ark that they're bringing symbolizes the presence of God and God's power. In Exodus 25:22, God had said concerning this ark, "There I will meet with you. I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim, which are on the ark of the testimony about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel. You see, when their fathers had had entered into the promised land, they brought along with them the ark of the covenant. They crossed over the Jordan River. They entered in and the priests were carrying the ark. In Joshua in chapter 3:es 14-16, it says, "So it was when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people. And as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feed of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water, for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest, that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, rose in a heap very far away from Adam, the city that is besides Arton. So the waters that went down into the sea of the Arabah, the salt sea, failed, were cut off and the people crossed over opposite Jericho. So they remembered the miracle of entering in when the priest touched the water. They're remembering that God brings victory. They were associating the victory with the ark of the covenant. And they knew that the ark symbolized the presence of God amongst the people. But what it was was really more of an act of superstition than faith because they were going to use the ark like a good luck charm. They weren't understanding what a relationship with God really is. And so they're thinking if we get this ark, God will be with us and we're going to have victory. Well, verse four, it says, "The people sent to Shiloh that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts who dwells between the cherubim, the two angels covering angels and the two sons of Eli, Hafne and Phineas were there with the ark of the covenant of God." So, it speaks about these these um rogue priests, if you will. They're the guardians of the ark. In fact, the rejected priests, but this goes along with the carnal actions of the people. And what this is reminding us of is that they're going to die at the same time, even as God had said. Well, in verse 5, it says, "When the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook. The people were shouting with joy. God is with us. The ark is being brought into the camp." And it's an anticipation of victory. It's a shout. It's loud. It's thunderous. It's huge. Like a pep rally. I don't know the loudest sound you've ever heard of shouts. I I was The last time I went to a Dodger game was a long time ago. 1988. Yeah, I know. Ancient history. Let me give you a story. I was at the Dodger game when Kirk Gibson hit that home run. >> There you go. I connected I was in um in the right field uh just past first base. One of the guys in the church had box seats and he took me to the World Series when played Oakland. It was great. And I was there and when [snorts] Gibson hit that that ball, it went past us and you could see it going up and it was just an incredible rush to see that. And when it dropped into the bleachers into the stands, you should have heard the stadium erupt. And it they did not stop shouting. We were there for 10 or 15 minutes and it continued and the whole place is shaking. So I kind of get the emphasis he's making here about how everything it was so loud and so joyful. God is man, they're just really making a lot of noise. is thunderous and all of that because the the ark and they're saying we got it. We're going to win. That's what they're doing. God is with us. God is with us. Well, when the Philistines heard the noise, verse six, of the shout, they said, "What does the sound of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" Then they understood that the ark of the of the Lord had come into the camp. So the Philistines were afraid for they said God has come into the camp and they said woe to us for such a thing has never happened before. Woe to us who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods. These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. And so they're aware of some of the history of Israel. And so they hear this shout. Now remember the pagans worshiped tribal gods. Each peoples, the Canaanites, parasites and all, they had their own series of gods that they worshiped. And so they thought that the Jews had a god that was greater than their own god. They had heard of what God had done. The the word of what God had done centuries before caused them to fear. It reminds me a bit of what happened when Rahab in the book of Joshua when the two spies had come into into Jericho and Rahab had hidden the two spies. You remember that story? And and when she hid those spies and all to protect them and all, she began to speak to them in Joshua 2:es 9-11. And she said to these two spies, "I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and all the inhabitants of the land are faint-hearted because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and and what what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan. and an og whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted. Neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you. For the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. We've heard of what you've done and these Philistines. So, what are we going to do? This great God has come upon us. How did they respond? This is really interesting. Verse nine, how they responded? Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Conduct yourselves like men and fight. So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter. There fell of Israel 30,000 foot soldiers, and the ark of God was captured. And the two sons of Eli, Hoffne and Phineas died. How do they react? God has come into the camp. They had said, "Woe unto us. What are we going to do? Who's going to deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? We have heard of this. These are the the these are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues." How did they react? They said, "Conduct yourselves with courage and fight to the end. Exert yourself to the uttermost." Their fear of becoming slaves to Israel gave them the will to fight and gave them the will to win. As I was preparing the study, I wrote a note to myself that I'll read. Say, "Sometimes pagans can be more committed to their cause than believers." And I think we see that in our day. They're more committed to their cause than believers. They're more committed to teaching our children certain things, doing certain things in our in our country, allowing certain things to happen, legalizing other things. They are more committed to that than believers are when it comes to fighting against those things. They're committed to their cause. And sometimes Christians don't seem to be. They knew what they were fighting for and they fought with all of their might. Now, taking one more step back into the history, Israel had been commanded to uproot all the inhabitants of Canaan. God had said, "Wipe them out." In Deuteronomy chapter 9:4, "Do not think in your heart after the Lord your God has cast them out before you, saying, Because of my righteousness, the Lord has brought me in to possess his land. But it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out from before you. I don't want you to be part of the wickedness that they practice. Drive them out. Deal with them. Have no dealings with them is what God said. He had said no dealings with them. But they disobeyed. God had given commands all the way through their history in Leviticus 20 23. You shall not walk in the statutes of the nation which I am casting out before you. They commit all these things. Therefore, I hate them. I abhore them. In Judges 2:es 2 and 3, God said, "You shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land. You shall tear down their altars, but you have not obeyed my voice. Why have you done this? Therefore, I also said, I will not drive them out before you. They shall be thorns in your side. Their gods shall be a snare to you. And the psalmist Psalm 106:es 34-36, he says it like this. They didn't destroy the peoples concerning whom the Lord had commanded them. They mingled with the Gentiles and learned their works. They served their idols which became a snare to them. Be very careful that you don't mix your biblical belief with the philosophy of the world. Be very careful that you don't. I see it happening more and more today than I've had and I've seen in recent years where Christians begin to identify certain things that the world does and says is okay. And Christians I've had the conversations um are thinking there's nothing wrong with that. And you're actually harsh and judgmental if you don't practice those things or at least accept the fact that they're there. And so there's a mingling of the truth of God with the error of the world and it dilutes the message of the gospel and it causes us to not have an impact. These pagans, by the way, are a type of the flesh. That old unregenerated rebellious nature. And so the point is if the flesh isn't overcome, it rises up and overcomes you. If the flesh isn't put to death, it rises up. So you don't make a compromise with your flesh, you put it to death. In Colossians chapter 3:es 3-6, Paul says it like this. He said, "You died, your life is now hidden with Christ in God." And he says, "When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Therefore, he says, "Put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature, sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming." There are quite a number of Christians who are still walking in the flesh. What are we supposed to do? Are we supposed to cater to it and feed it? No. Bible says, "Put it to the to death." I'll be looking at that with more detail this upcoming Sunday. But the fact is, if we don't make compromises with our flesh, and that's what Israel had done. They had rejected their offerings to God, they had been influenced to reject him by evil in the priesthood. And as a result of that, they had given themselves over to superstition, thinking that God was going to be with them when in fact God was bringing judgment and using the Philistines to do that. And so as this is taking place, verse 12, a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line the same day and came to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. Now when he came there, when he came, there was Eli sitting on a seat by the wayside watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told it, all the city cried out. And Eli heard the noise of the outcry, "What does the sound of this tumult mean?" And the man came quickly and told Eli. Eli was 98 years old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see. The man said to Eli, "I am he who came from the battle. I fled today from the battle line. What happened, my son?" Well, the messenger answered and said, "Israel has fled before the Philistines. There's been a great slaughter among the people. Also, your two sons, Hoffne and Phineas, are dead. The ark of God has been captured." It happened when he had mentioned the ark of God that Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died. For the man was old and heavy and he judged Israel 40 years in in spite of their attempts. Israel was defeated. God allowed the ark to be taken. The messenger comes, informs Eli. Now, one thing to point out though Eli had failed to discipline his sons, his real concern was for the ark of God. And what happens in verse 18 is after he upon hearing that he had been captured, he fell back. He broke his neck. It's interesting how he took the news of his son's death, but he died when he heard of the ark's capture. So again, I made a note with all his faults, he cared for the things of God and the ark's capture was the greater heartache. They took the ark of God and he died. So even as God had said, his sons and he died. Now verse 19, his daughter-in-law, Phineas's wife, was with child due to be delivered. When she heard the news that the ark of God was captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth, her labor pains came upon her. And about the time of her death, the women who stood by her said to her, "Do not fear, for you have borne a son." But she did not answer, nor did she regard it. She named the child Igabad, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel." because the ark of God had been captured. Because her father-in-law and her husband, she said, "The glorious departed from Israel, the ark of God has been captured." What a horrible day for that family. Not only did Eli's sons die, Eli died, but the daughter-in-law died, too, giving birth. She lost her father-in-law. She lost her unfaithful husband. Remember her husband was sleeping with the women. She lost her unfaithful husband. But her greater sorrow was the capture of the ark. Verse 21 says, "She named the childcad." Okay, I'll tell you. Every time I see the name Kabad, I guess we all know R. R. Ree. I was talking to R not that long ago and he makes me laugh and he doesn't mean to. We we traveled together somewhere. We're in a meeting together and so we were traveling and he was talking he's a very serious man and I love him to peace. his very dear friend. But he always calls Kabad ikibbad. He always does. And anyway, it just came to mind. Every time I seekabad, I think, no, no, no, it's ikibbad because that's all. He says, "You know what?" He says like, "You know what? It's ikibbad." And I said, "Yeah, I know it is." But anyway, I'll get back. That was making me laugh. The glory has departed. Let's develop that for a moment and close. The glory has departed. How does the glory of God depart in a practical way in our day? Let me be practical as I close this portion of our study. The glory of God is intended to inhabit the people of God. The people of God when we gather together are intended to worship God and bring him glory. So the glory of God is with us in a very personal sense and we give him glory as we worship him for who he is. So how could it be quenched or how could the presence of God cease to have his cease to have its impact on us? Well, one the glory of God is not going to be experienced when God's word is not first and foremost taught in in the church. If God's word is not being taught, if the word of God is not being presented, and I'm not talking about because sometimes people will say, "Well, the Bible is being taught and and no, what the Bible is being is the Bible is being read." There's a difference between reading a passage and teaching the passage. And that may be to some it's kind of a boring subject. And I don't want to belabor it. If I were speaking to pastors, this is what I'd be saying to them. I'd be saying, make sure you teach the word of God, not just read it. Because sometimes a pastor may read that passage and then he goes off in some other place that this passage is not saying that. And he gives a study and it may be something very interesting and it may capture people's attention and and all of that, but that's not what that passage said. And so, it's not really being taught. It's being read, but not explained. And one the way that the glory of the Lord is going to be muted in a church is when the word is not being properly taught. That's one of the things. Another thing is when true worship is not occurring when the worship that takes place is more entertainment when it's more a band and not a worship team. I was just speaking to the uh national worship conference and I was mentioning that to to the people that the worship teams the the people who are leading the worship are not there to entertain the people. They're there to exalt Christ. They're there to sing about Jesus so that we all join together worshiping him. So it's not liking the band. It's it's joining in the flow of worship to God. And the worship team is a worship team, not a church band. We need to understand the difference between that because sometimes there are people and I could tell you stories. I won't but I can tell you this. I'm aware of these things that there are groups of people together who do music but are not leading worship. They're singing songs about God but they're not entering into the kissing of the face of God. Worship procono means to be pro pro to put yourself on your face before God in an intimate fashion. It can also be spoken of having it's been said that worship is kissing the face of God. It's speaking of adoration and love for God himself. And so when you're singing songs, it's not the catchiness of the tune, though I enjoy it, and it's not the the e excellence of the band, though I appreciate it because it doesn't distract. It's presenting God to us so that we worship him. And so, one, if you don't have the word of God, and two, if you're not worshiping in spirit and truth, the glory of God is not there. What you have there is human emotion. That's what you have. And so, we have to be careful about those kinds of things. And sometimes when people are teaching, they may be saying things that we like to hear, but they're not teaching the truth. And therefore, another thing that causes the spirit of God to be quenched in a church is when bad doctrine becomes welcome. Because there are those who will welcome bad teaching because it appeals to their flesh. It does. They're saying things that you want to hear and there's no conviction at all. Conviction is rejected. I don't want to feel bad about myself. I want to feel good about myself. I'm telling you that that spirit has invaded the church. And there are a lot of places that and I could name that they're not teaching the word of God. They're entertaining the people. Uh what was it that Spurgeon said, paraphrasing, he said, "The day will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep, clowns will be entertaining the goats." And I think that's happened. Clowns are entertaining the goats. Instead of somebody walking out saying, "I saw God clear today. I want to worship him." They walk out saying, "I feel pretty good about myself. I had a good time today." Worship isn't about you. It's it's about him. The word of God is to instruct us how to worship you. We have to be careful with that. And conviction, though, it's it's not always pleasant. conviction is is good for our souls because we can turn from those things that keep us from God. So, how does God's glory disappear in the church? The word isn't taught. Worship isn't inspired. Doctrine is welcome. And conviction is rejected. That's what happens. God's glory departs when our first love is replaced with busy religious practice. God's glory departs in a practical way when we leave our first love. I uh I I will close with a couple thoughts. do your best in the Lord if you if you have a testimony that allows for this because some of you were raised in homes that were godly and and so if I were to say do you remember when you got saved you would say I don't remember I know there was a time when I wasn't but no I I slid into if you will my walk with God in a very natural way because mom and dad loved Jesus served God gave us devotions But there are others who can say, "Oh, yeah. I remember. I remember what it was like to not know Jesus." Oh, I remember. I remember what it was like. I was sharing this with some people. Forgive me. I'm just I'm just telling you what I was sharing with some the other day. Uh I I said this and it's not intended to do anything other than to try and make a point. I remember waking up in my own vomit. I remember that. I remember waking up in in a shed somewhere with black widows that I had passed out. I didn't even know how I got in there the night before. I remember things like that. I remember things like that before I knew Christ. Things that were were sinful. I remember watching my mom cry over me. My father angry at the way I was living. My dad having to come and pick me up in LA County Jail to bring me home. I remember those things. I haven't forgotten them. I know what kind of scum I was. I know what kind of sinner I I was. And so when the Lord saved me, I remember the joy of salvation, too. I remember what it was like when the the weight of that sin rolled off of my shoulder. I could almost feel the weight leave and the joy of God replaced the pain that I lived with. I remember that. I never want to walk away from that place. What is it that kept me close to the Lord all of this time? The word of God, the worship of God, the fellowship of believers who love Jesus and telling other people about him. That is what has kept me solid. And I don't want his glory to no longer be sensed in my life because I got caught up with superstitious or something that didn't matter. I want to always follow him, always know his power, always know his joy, always know his strength. And I don't want to do anything to quench the Holy Spirit. These people will rely on religious superstition. Oh, the ark is here. God is with us. The Philistines said, "We're going to lose. So, fight like fight like like crazy because we don't want to be the servants of the Jews." And they ended up defeating the nation of Israel, defeating the people. Thousands died. But it wasn't simply because they were such a great military force. It's because the Lord allowed it to take place because he was bringing judgment on a on a nation that had walked away from God. And that's why she says, "Icabad, the glory has departed and it broke her heart." What do we do? May we always remember where we were, not to go back, but not to forget. And when we're walking away from the Lord, what should we do? We should repent. And then thirdly, we should return. Remember from whence you've fallen. Repent and do the first works. Come back and watch what God will do. We don't want I don't want to quench the spirit of God. I want his glory to always fill this place. And that happens through his word, by his spirit, and a willingness to obey. May God help us to do that. Lord, I ask that you would work in such a way in us that that would be more than something something that are just words that are being spoken. May that be something real in our lives. And Lord, we just yield to you right now. And I ask that you would just work in us in that way. Even as our eyes are closed, our heads are bowed, there may be some right now in this room who need to get right with the Lord. And I want to lift up my wife right now. I can hear her, Lord. And I know that she's having trouble breathing lately. So I ask that you would touch her, Lord, right now. And I ask that you would work in us, Lord, too. May my eyes be on you now. And I ask Lord that you would just minister to us. And if there are any in this room who need to get right with the Lord even now and you need prayer, would you raise your hand and let me pray for you right where you're at. If you know the spirit of God is saying you need to get right with me. Raise your hand. Let me pray for you. Lord, you see these hands. You know the reason why they're being raised to you. In Jesus name, I ask that you would reach down now and touch them and that you would have your work done in them, Lord. Wash them and cleanse them. Fill them with your presence, Lord, and do your work in them as they yield to you now. And we bless you and we thank you. Thank you, Lord. You can put your hands down. And Father, as we prepare our hearts now to receive communion, I pray that you would meet us in a very special way. And I pray this now in Jesus name. Amen. Amen.