I will return again to My place till they acknowledge their offence. Then they will seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”
Hosea 5:15 NKJV
God never desires for His glory to depart from a person, a people, or a place. His will is always communion. He desires to dwell among His own, to be their light, their covering, and their source of strength. Yet, God is holy. He cannot dwell where sin is welcomed or defended.
The journey to Ichabod begins when iniquity is embraced and divine warnings are ignored. Scripture tells us that God has purer eyes than to behold evil. When His people, especially those in leadership, choose rebellion over righteousness, His presence may lift.
Israel’s history is a mirror for us. Their downfall did not happen overnight. It followed a slow, deliberate drift from obedience. We must therefore ask ourselves hard questions: Are we walking in true righteousness, or just keeping up appearances? Do we respond when God convicts us, or do we delay repentance? Have we replaced pursuit with routine?
The glory of God is not a sensation or a song—it is the manifestation of His presence. Where His glory rests, change happens. Where it departs, confusion enters. Yet, even now, God speaks. He still calls. And He still waits for us to return.
The name Ichabod is a warning. It marks the moment when Israel lost what made them different—the presence of God. But that name also calls us to vigilance. We are not owners of God’s glory. We are stewards, charged with guarding it through reverence, obedience, and daily surrender.
God’s glory departs only when consistently grieved. But before that happens, He sends warnings, gives time, and opens the door to return. If we seek His face, He draws near. If we ignore His voice, He may withdraw. This is not a threat—it is mercy extended.
Living It Out
The glory of God is not guaranteed to remain where hearts grow cold. But He is always ready to return when we return to Him. The warning of Ichabod is not final—it is an invitation to repentance and restoration.
Ask yourself today:
Have I become content with appearances while neglecting His presence?
Have I exchanged true worship for routine religion?
Now is the time to seek His face—not just in moments of crisis, but in daily devotion. Let your heart be the altar where His glory dwells again.
Spend time this week in honest prayer and reflection. Ask the Lord to search your heart, reveal any offence, and reignite your hunger for His presence.
Don’t just be familiar with His Word—walk in obedience to it. His glory returns where surrender begins.