The loss of life is horrific and its pain is beyond description. After the loss of 30,000 foot soldiers, a man of Benjamin fled from the battle to Shiloh. Eli’s heart trembled out of concern for the ark of God. When he asked the man how things had gone, he told Eli Israel has fled from their enemies with a great slaughter of her people, his two sons are dead, and the ark of God was 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, for he was old and heavy…” (18a & b). When his daughter-in-law heard the ark of God had been taken, being pregnant, she gave birth and died. “And she called the boy Ichabad, saying, ‘The glory has departed,’…………………….. She said, ‘The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God was taken.’” (21-22). While the loss of life is tragic, the loss of God’s manifest ruling presence is the greatest loss of all. May we always treasure God’s manifest ruling presence in our local expressions of His church! The loss of God’s manifest ruling presence will disable us to accomplish what God has called us to do.