Introduction:

Come Thou Fount

We are bent towards failure and rebellion.  Many in this room have slowly wandered away from being close to God.  Today, everyone of us ought to take heed to the fact that it is possible and even probable to suspect that we are not as close to God as we ought to be.

1. STEPS TO DEPARTURE OF GOD'S GLORY
1. The Famine of God’s Word (1 Samuel 3:1And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
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1. The word of the Lord was precious in those days – this means it was of great worth…..
2. There was no open vision – hence the reason for the preciousness of God’s word, because they were not hearing much of God’s word
2. Failure to Do What You Know (1 Samuel 3:11-14 [11] And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. [12] In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. [13] For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. [14] And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
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1. Eli failed to restrain his sons (1 Samuel 3:13For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
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2. This was a sin that Eli knew about (1 Samuel 3:13For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
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3. Going Through the Motions (1 Samuel 4:4-8 [4] So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. [5] And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again. [6] And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp. [7] And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore. [8] Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.
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1. Problems unrecognized by God’s people (1 Samuel 4:4-5 [4] So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. [5] And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.
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2. Problems unrecognized by the world (1 Samuel 4:6-8 [6] And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp. [7] And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore. [8] Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.
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2. LIFE IN THE ABSENCE OF GOD'S GLORY
1. Suffering Great Loss (1 Samuel 4:10-18 [10] And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. [11] And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain. [12] And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head. [13] And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out. [14] And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli. [15] Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see. [16] And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son? [17] And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken. [18] And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
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1. Thirty thousand footmen of Israel (1 Samuel 4:10And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
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2. The ark of God was taken (1 Samuel 4:11And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
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3. Hophni (1 Samuel 4:11And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
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4. Phinehas (1 Samuel 4:11And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
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5. Eli (1 Samuel 4:18And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
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6. Phinehas’ wife (1 Samuel 4:20And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.
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2. Loss of Natural Joy (1 Samuel 4:20-21 [20] And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it. [21] And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.
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1. The attempt to comfort the mother (1 Samuel 4:20And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.
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2. The lack of response from the mother (1 Samuel 4:20-21 [20] And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it. [21] And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.
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3. Continuation of Spirituality (1 Samuel 7:1-3 [1] And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD. [2] And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. [3] And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
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1. The ark had been with the Philistines for seven months (1 Samuel 6:1And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months.
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2. In the absence of the ark the people were worshipping strange gods and Ashtaroth (1 Samuel 7:3And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
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3. THE RETURN OF GOD'S GLORY 
1. Undivided Allegiance to God (1 Samuel 7:3And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
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1. Return unto the Lord with all your hearts
2. Prepared hearts unto the Lord
3. Serve Him only
2. Sacrifice (1 Samuel 7:5-11 [5] And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD. [6] And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh. [7] And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. [8] And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. [9] And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him. [10] And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. [11] And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.
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1. Yielding of self – drew water and poured it out before the Lord (1 Samuel 7:6And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
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2. Denial of self - fasting (1 Samuel 7:6And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
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3. Inadequacy of self – Cease not to cry unto the Lord (1 Samuel 7:8And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.
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3. Confession of Sin (1 Samuel 7:6And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
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4. Recognition of God’s Help (1 Samuel 7:12Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.
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1. A stone set up in Ebenezer
2. Ebenezer meaning, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us”
5. Some Things Never Return
1. The ark of the covenant had been at Shiloh (1 Samuel 4:3And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.
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2. It never returned to Shiloh
3. It was later brought into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:1-2 [1] Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. [2] And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.
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4. This was God’s doings (Psalm 78:56-64 [56] Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies: [57] But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. [58] For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images. [59] When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel: [60] So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men; [61] And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand. [62] He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance. [63] The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage. [64] Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.
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Conclusion:  Are you willing to take the necessary steps to return to God?  Are you willing to make sacrifices to God and deny yourself to make the trip?  Is anything in your life more important than undivided fellowship with the Lord?  Do what you need to do and do it now.

Come Thou Fount