God's Presence Departs A Nation, A Region, A State, A City, A Human Being
Think with me regarding the following two terms. The Kavod/Chavod כָּבֹד or Glory and the Ikavod/IChavod אִיכָבוֹד or the glory has departed. The word Kavod in the Hebrew alphabet is spelled Khaf, Vet, Dalet and the 'O' sound is a long 'O' sound Ka-vode. The word Ikavod is commonly pronounced with a long ‘E’ sound ee-ka-vode, despite the actual spelling 'alef, yode, kaf, vet, vav, dalet’ and not pronounced a-ya-ka-vode.
There was a sad time in Israel's history around 1180 BC when the Ark of the Covenant was stolen by the indigenous people of the Gaza region that was so emotionally devastating the High Priest Eli fainted and died when he heard the news. This was a big deal. The Ark was God's earthly dwelling place at that time. Eli's daughter-in-law was in labour at the time the news of the stolen Ark arrived and before she died in childbirth she named the child as a memorial to the catastrophe. She named her son Ichavod meaning the 'Glory Has Left.' In 1 Samuel 4 "She named the boy Ichabod,saying, “The Glory has departed from Israel”—because of the capture of the ark of God."
The Hebrew word Chavod/Kavod is used over 600 times from Genesis to Malachi and King David seemed to have understood the importance of the spiritual Kavod for mankind, his mantle as King, his person, his kingdom and Israel more than most.
When God created Adam and Eve both were created to live forever, living on a higher level and were immortal - incapable of death. Recorded in Genesis 2:17 when God said "but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die," man would immediately change from immortality to being mortal, Yerida - stepping down to the lowest level of living full of great toil and struggle - subject to death. The Glory of God was initially introduced into the earth at creation and introduced to man when God sent His Light which was part of His very person into a clay body He created from the loose top soil in the Garden of Eden. He covered Adam and Eve with His glory.
We see in Gen 2:7 NIV
“Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” God placed His Light into a clay vessel, Adam's body. Adam received God's divine light into a vessel, made of clay and when Adam sinned God's light departed. At salvation God's divine light returns to the human spirit and we Allyah step back up or ascend to the higher form of living God intended. Jesus is the Light and asking Him into our heart, we receive the benefit of His Light. Jesus' light removes all darkness!
Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works.." KJV Bible
"While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
King David said, "The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear?" Psalm 7:1
The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 6,7
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
Peter's shadow that healed the sick just by being in close proximity to Peter's body was the Kavod burning brightly in and on the Apostle Peter. Don't miss the complete impact and implications provided by the reporting of Peter's shadow healing the sick. According to a Christian's faith the radius and the reach of our personal Kavod can influence those an arms length away, or an entire congregation, an entire city, state, nation or the entire earth. Joshua’s faith extended beyond earth to the sun in our Milkyway Galaxy and Elijah the Prophet’s faith extended to the atmosphere above the earth where condensation occurs. The Kavod provides tangible work and tangible protection. God is the Kavod!
True Christians who belong to Jesus comprise a collective Kavod on earth and if Christians weren't on the earth there would be a constant spiritual atmosphere of Ikavod.
So what causes an Ichavod/Ikavod? A repeated, determined, settled, self importance, and a high-handed sweeping God to the side attitude. As humans we can indeed offend God. Also uninformed foolish actions that violate God's laws will cause His presence to lift. A permanent departure of His life sustaining glory comes about by egregious behavior before God. Sadly for many, God's glory departs without us being aware of it. WE ARE APPROACHING IKAVOD for some and already at IKAVOD for others with only pockets of Kavod on the earth like an oasis in the desert. Ikavod occurs when a population becomes skilled and sophisticated at doing evil. Why would God continue to stay where He is vehemently not wanted and discarded?
America is forcing this corresponding act of God upon itself as a result of its chronic anti-Christ and anti-God attitude. America is forcing God to remove His Kavod and to enter a state of Ikavod, a country with His departed presence. God's light has already departed other regions of the earth. Think! Turkey once thrived with God's Light when Jesus addressed the 7-Churches of Asia Minor in the Book of Revelation. Today Turkey is 99% Islamic. In 1904-1905 there really was a Welsh revival but today the Light has gone out of Wales, the UK and the EU for the most part except for pockets of fervent Christians.
It is a sad day when God's Light leaves a man, woman, country or region just as it was a sad day when God's Light left Adam and Eve. When God's Light leaves a person it leaves quietly without fanfare, without any sound and this is the danger. God's Light may have already departed from many who are not aware. Samson the Judge of Israel lost the Kavod without being aware. Judges 16:20 reports “Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the LORD had left him.” We can be in the middle of unprecedented growth, material and financial success thinking God is with us as we build in our own strength when in fact the presence of God departed a Church, ministry, person or nation years ago, months ago or days ago!
Israel, is not immune to the departure of God's Light especially if non observant Jews, or neo-modern Reform Judaism reject the existence of the only protection Israel has, the Kavod v' Shekina. Pride and arrogance may cause this precious gift to Judaism to be stolen away. Also the worship of Tel Aviv talent as idolatry instead of the worship of precious Adonai who has blessed Israel. The remedy for Israel as it is for each of us is Tshuva, meaning 'to return,' to return to God's Law, to repent, to return to our first love and to love God intimately. In Judaism the term is "to do Chuva" to repent.
For some, the Light of God, the Kavod can return as it did for King David, the Patriarch Jacob, the Apostle Peter, the Apostle Thomas but not for Aaron the brother of Moses who never really had a deep love relationship with God. If God's Kavod is to return to a life, that person must have had a meaningful, established, mutual love relationship with God before the departure of God's Kavod. There has to have been a mutual deep love relationship established to which we can return.
There is a caveat. Hard times by themselves are not always the symptoms of Ikavod. Our Light
can and will shine during the worst of times. Joseph, son of Jacob and Rachel kept the light of God burning brightly while suffering in prison. God considered Joseph ultra blessed in the 'pit' and in the 'prison.' Genesis 39:2 records “The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered.” The corresponding human action for this exception is 'to have faith in God' as we wait on change with expectation.
The Apostle Paul wrote “God made His Light to shine in our hearts..” Jesus said, “let your light so shine.”
