Scary Words 1 – Ichabod: The Glory has Departed   Welcome to Redemption Church in Plano Tx. I am happy to see everyone here.  I am also happy for everyone tuning into our podcasts, livestream, and youtube videos. God bless you all. You know it is October in Plano Tx when…The Texas Rangers baseball season ends… andThe temperature drops below 100 degrees and everyone says wow…The Dallas Cowboys have a quarterback controversy…And it must be October when Redemption Church starts a spooky sermon series.  Welcome to our brand-new Spooky Sermon Series – Scary Words Scary Words We have a great tradition of spooky series. We have talked about monsters like the blob, vampires, and zombies, as well as Biblical horror stories, costumes, fear, and darkness. I am excited to present to you the scariest words in your Bible. There are scary stories in your Bible.There are scary themes in Scripture.This month we are going to go cover to cover to bring you the scariest words from God’s Word. I want you to join us for every installment of this interesting and challenging series. Before we jump into today’s word, I want to know what you think. What is the scariest word in the Bible?  Text us – 214-856-0550 This is our anonymous text line, and you can ask us anything about life, Jesus, or Redemption Church.  Please text me what you think is the scariest word in your Bible. Today we are going to be looking at an often-overlooked story in 1 Samuel 4. Some context to the story… Israel – the people of GodPhilistines – enemies of IsraelEli – The High Priest of IsraelArk of the Covenant – the manifest presence of God 1 Samuel 4:1-17 (NIV) 1 Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek. 2 The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield. 3 When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh, so that he may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.” 4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 5 When the ark of the Lord’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. 6 Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?” When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid. “A god has[a] come into the camp,” they said. “Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before. 8 We’re doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. 9 Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!” 10 So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died. 12 That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust on his head. 13 When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching, 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. 14 Eli heard the outcry and asked, “What is the meaning of this uproar?” The man hurried over to Eli, 15 who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes had failed so that he could not see. 16 He told Eli, “I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day.” Eli asked,