Ichabod

1Sa 4:3 And 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. 

1Sa 4:11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

1Sa 4:18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he (Eli) 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. 
1Sa 4:19 And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.
1Sa 4:20 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.
1Sa 4:21 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.
1Sa 4:22 And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.

The ark of the covenant was the presence of God in Israel. Some loosely say that it was like God in a box. The ark was a point of contact with the presence of God, as was the temple that it was housed in. The temple had been defiled by the two son's of Eli and was taken by them into battle. Israel lost the battle, the ark was taken captive and judgement and death fell on the family of Eli the high priest.

Applying this to our nation, the flag may be a symbol to many of God who blessed America and fought with us. The flag alone cannot guarantee a victory. The people must be committed to God. In Israel part of the problem was the lack of respect for God in the house of God. The priests were whoring around like the worst in the world. Some of the blame for the removing of all references to God in our nation is that the church was like the world, letting anything happen. God is not gone. He lives in the hearts of the Remnant who follow him faithfully. Israel had the prophet Samuel and the ark was eventually returned. God will return to America when America turns to God. It starts with the church.

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
1Pe 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.