The Glory of God, his presence and providence, has departed from the nation, and all nations. Only God can save humanity from itself now. "Its either Immanuel, God with us: or Ichabod, the glory has departed." This Sermon by Rev. Roger Higginson of Coleraine Free Presbyterian Church in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, explains the concept of Ichabod in the original Biblical context of Israel during the time of the prophet Samuel, and illustrates how it reflects the condition of the western Christian world today. "And there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken...

And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her. And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son.

But she answered not, neither did she regard it. 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. And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken." (1 Samuel 4:17-22).

The original sermon and others from this congregation and the reverend Higginson are available on SermonAudio here http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=610151342224

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