Song # 1761.1 from Our Gospel In Song Collection by Col Johnston. We read in the Book of 1 Samuel in chapter 4 that Eli’s two wicked sons were killed in battle on the same day as had been foretold. Eli was ninety eight years old and when he heard the news he fell off his chair and broke his neck and died.
A Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh, his clothes were torn and he had dust on his head (1 Samuel 4:12). When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair by the side of the road, waiting, because his heart feared for the ark of God. When the man entered the town and told what had happened, the whole town sent up a cry (1 Samuel 4:13). Eli heard the outcry and asked “What is the meaning of this uproar?” The man hurried over to Eli (1 Samuel 4:14), who was ninety eight years old and whose eyes were set so that he could not see (1 Samuel 4:15). The man said to Eli “I have just come from the battle line. I fled from it this very day.” Eli asked “What happened, my son?” (1 Samuel 4:16). The man who brought the news replied “Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured” (1 Samuel 4:17). When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backwards off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man and heavy. He had led Israel for forty years (1 Samuel 4:18). 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 labour and gave birth, but was overcome by her labour pains (1 Samuel 4:19). She gave birth to a son (1 Samuel 4:20), and she named the boy Ichabod (1 Samuel 4:21), and as she lay dying she said “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured” (1 Samuel 4:22).
Thought for today: plan for your eternal future today, put your trust in God.
Thought for the future: a Christian’s inheritance is “for ever” guaranteed. Where will you spend your eternity?