Week 13 ends with the book of Ruth, then weeks 14-15 cover the book of 1 Samuel. Several major Old Testament stories are covered in these few weeks of reading. The way I want to approach these two books is by examining and comparing the characters, which will allow us to do our own inward evaluation. It is wise for us to take an honest look at ourselves, see where we are with God and what it is that we need to allow Him to purge, to mold, to grow. So, let’s get started.
Ruth and Naomi: Two Women Worlds Apart
If you’ve not read the book of Ruth, I encourage you to take about 15 minutes to read these 4 short chapters that tell a beautiful story of faithful love; this is a story that gives us a glimpse into the redeeming love of Christ through the man of Boaz. You will also see the tragic story of a woman named Naomi and the faithfulness of a foreigner named Ruth. During a time of famine, Naomi and her husband leave Bethlehem to go to Moab. From our reading until now, you should know that the Moabite people were detested by the Israelites. This family’s decision to go to the Moabites would have been a disgrace. To make matters worse, their two sons marry Moabite women; Ruth and Orpah. Sadly, Naomi’s husband and both of her sons die while living in this foreign land. Naomi makes the decision to return to her home and her two daughter-in-laws begin the journey with her. However, she pleads with them to return to their home and people. Now, I’m sure there was good in her heart but I would also imagine that she didn’t really want to bring two Moabite women back to Bethlehem with her, either. After all, things would be hard enough as a widow. Orpah returns to her home, but Ruth displays one of the most gracious acts of love and devotions we find recorded in God’s Word. She refuses to leave Naomi. Now Ruth becomes the foreigner. Yet, through a series of submissive, vulnerable acts, she becomes adopted into this people; the Israelites. From her would come the line of David and ultimately the Messiah. Naomi is the weeping widow; her sorrow I cannot imagine but her faith is more than shaky. She assumes that she is destined for doom. Ruth, the submissive servant, brings hope and joy to Naomi’s sorrow. What’s interesting is Naomi is the one who knows God, but doubts Him. Ruth is the one who does not know God but trusts Him. I don’t want to be too hard on Naomi. She does wisely instruct Ruth, leading her to their Kinsmen Redeemer. But, it’s in the heartaches where our true faith is displayed. Naomi was able to move forward and muster up faith in God because of Ruth’s faithfulness to her. It is in the characters of God’s love story that we are able to honestly see ourselves.
Ruth and Naomi: Two Women Worlds Apart
If you’ve not read the book of Ruth, I encourage you to take about 15 minutes to read these 4 short chapters that tell a beautiful story of faithful love; this is a story that gives us a glimpse into the redeeming love of Christ through the man of Boaz. You will also see the tragic story of a woman named Naomi and the faithfulness of a foreigner named Ruth. During a time of famine, Naomi and her husband leave Bethlehem to go to Moab. From our reading until now, you should know that the Moabite people were detested by the Israelites. This family’s decision to go to the Moabites would have been a disgrace. To make matters worse, their two sons marry Moabite women; Ruth and Orpah. Sadly, Naomi’s husband and both of her sons die while living in this foreign land. Naomi makes the decision to return to her home and her two daughter-in-laws begin the journey with her. However, she pleads with them to return to their home and people. Now, I’m sure there was good in her heart but I would also imagine that she didn’t really want to bring two Moabite women back to Bethlehem with her, either. After all, things would be hard enough as a widow. Orpah returns to her home, but Ruth displays one of the most gracious acts of love and devotions we find recorded in God’s Word. She refuses to leave Naomi. Now Ruth becomes the foreigner. Yet, through a series of submissive, vulnerable acts, she becomes adopted into this people; the Israelites. From her would come the line of David and ultimately the Messiah. Naomi is the weeping widow; her sorrow I cannot imagine but her faith is more than shaky. She assumes that she is destined for doom. Ruth, the submissive servant, brings hope and joy to Naomi’s sorrow. What’s interesting is Naomi is the one who knows God, but doubts Him. Ruth is the one who does not know God but trusts Him. I don’t want to be too hard on Naomi. She does wisely instruct Ruth, leading her to their Kinsmen Redeemer. But, it’s in the heartaches where our true faith is displayed. Naomi was able to move forward and muster up faith in God because of Ruth’s faithfulness to her. It is in the characters of God’s love story that we are able to honestly see ourselves.
Hannah: A Humble Heart
The book of 1 Samuel begins with the story of a precious woman named Hannah. What a picture of what it means to be a Godly woman. She brought her sorrow to God and poured it out at His feet. She pleaded with God and made a promise; but not just any promise, the most difficult promise. And when it came time for her to bail on that promise, she actually followed through. She gave up her son, a toddler, to a priest who had proven himself not to be the greatest father. Now he would raise her son. She was not afraid to give God her heart, her dream and her greatest treasure. The day she took her son to the temple was a day of joy, not sorrow. She rejoiced rather than recoiled. She praised rather than pouted. Her blessing would be that her son would grow to be the greatest judge Israel ever knew. How I long to have a heart like Hannah; a heart that holds nothing back from God.
The book of 1 Samuel begins with the story of a precious woman named Hannah. What a picture of what it means to be a Godly woman. She brought her sorrow to God and poured it out at His feet. She pleaded with God and made a promise; but not just any promise, the most difficult promise. And when it came time for her to bail on that promise, she actually followed through. She gave up her son, a toddler, to a priest who had proven himself not to be the greatest father. Now he would raise her son. She was not afraid to give God her heart, her dream and her greatest treasure. The day she took her son to the temple was a day of joy, not sorrow. She rejoiced rather than recoiled. She praised rather than pouted. Her blessing would be that her son would grow to be the greatest judge Israel ever knew. How I long to have a heart like Hannah; a heart that holds nothing back from God.
Eli and Samuel: A Pitiful Priest and A Just Judge
Eli wasn’t all bad, but he failed in one primary roll; he didn’t pass down his faith to his sons and allowed them to disgrace the Temple. In fact, God tells Eli that he has honored his sons more than God. Remember, this is the priest with whom Hannah entrusted to raise her son, Samuel. She would have known the kind of priest he was. Sadly, he wasn’t necessarily a corrupt priest himself. He just overlooked the sins of his sons. He allowed disgrace in the temple. He didn’t pass down God’s instructions or teach his sons to fear God and revere their position as temple servants. Both of his sons and Eli experience tragic deaths. It doesn’t matter who we are, we must fully give everything to God. We don’t get to escape the consequences. Eli withheld his sons from God. Ironically, he raised the son that Hannah did not withhold from God. I pray that I’m a mother like Hannah rather than a parent like Eli. We see throughout the book of 1 Samuel that Samuel consistently and persistently follows God. He is a wise, honest and faithful judge. This Just Judge is simply not good enough for the Israelites, though. They want a king so God gives them what they want which proves to be more than they bargained for. Samuel is such an incredible example of simply following God. He doesn’t waver or doubt. He doesn’t pout or whine. He trusts and obeys. I pray that I raise my sons to be men like Samuel.
Eli wasn’t all bad, but he failed in one primary roll; he didn’t pass down his faith to his sons and allowed them to disgrace the Temple. In fact, God tells Eli that he has honored his sons more than God. Remember, this is the priest with whom Hannah entrusted to raise her son, Samuel. She would have known the kind of priest he was. Sadly, he wasn’t necessarily a corrupt priest himself. He just overlooked the sins of his sons. He allowed disgrace in the temple. He didn’t pass down God’s instructions or teach his sons to fear God and revere their position as temple servants. Both of his sons and Eli experience tragic deaths. It doesn’t matter who we are, we must fully give everything to God. We don’t get to escape the consequences. Eli withheld his sons from God. Ironically, he raised the son that Hannah did not withhold from God. I pray that I’m a mother like Hannah rather than a parent like Eli. We see throughout the book of 1 Samuel that Samuel consistently and persistently follows God. He is a wise, honest and faithful judge. This Just Judge is simply not good enough for the Israelites, though. They want a king so God gives them what they want which proves to be more than they bargained for. Samuel is such an incredible example of simply following God. He doesn’t waver or doubt. He doesn’t pout or whine. He trusts and obeys. I pray that I raise my sons to be men like Samuel.
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