Context: The Israelites have foolishly made the Ark of the Covenant their good-luck charm and taken it into battle with the Philistines. The Israelites were defeated. A servant has come with the news (1 Samuel 4:1-22).
Some insights I received...
1 - One of the most horrifying things to lose is someone that is close to you. Nevertheless, there is something worse...
"Then the one who brought the news replied, "Israel has fled before the Philistines and there has also been a great slaughter among the people, and your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been taken. When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell off the seat backward beside the gate, and his neck was broken and he died..."
2 - The most joyous thing for a woman during those times was to have a baby boy. Nevertheless, there is a tragedy which no joy can pacify.
"And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, "Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son." But she did not answer or pay attention. And she called the boy Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel," because the ark of God was taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband. She said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God was taken."
What would it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul? And dear Christian, what today is worth not communing with your Christ?
