1 Samuel 3-5; Psalm 23; Acts 6

1 Samuel 3-5 There is so much to learn from these three chapters which time will not permit us to cover them all. Here we see the beginning of Samuel ministry and how he learns under Eli’s mentorship. God calls out to Samuel and reveals certain plans about the future and how judgement is going to fall on Eli and his family. “For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; HIS SONS BLASPHEMED GOD, and HE FAILED TO RESTRAIN THEM.-1 Samuel 3:13 (NIV) In bold is the reason judgement was coming on Eli and His children. The lesson to learn here is God expects us to bring up your children in the ways of the Lord and this may require sharp rebuke in love when they do wrong.

The LORD was WITH SAMUEL as he grew up, and he let NONE of SAMUEL’S WORDS FALL TO THE GROUND.- 1 Samuel 3:19 NIV -.I learn here that when God is with you, He will honour your word because He knows you are in sync and in tune with Him like Samuel was here

The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he REVEALED HIMSELF to Samuel THROUGH HIS WORD.-1 Samuel 3:21 NIV – here I learn once again that when we read God’s word regularly He reveals His true nature to us..we begin to learn from His word His mindset and how He acts and thinks

Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd therefore I shall not want for direction neither shall I lack nothing because He will show and reveal to me His abundance as He leads me besides the quiet waters which symbolizes peace

He has promised in Psalms 23:4 that in the darkest Valley He will be there with me so I need not be afraid

In Psalm 23:5 God will display His divine abundance in my life even when the devil and his cohorts are onlookers and in verse 6 I have assurance that God’s goodness and love will be consistently evident in all areas of my life as I dwell in His house forever

Acts6 In this book I learn how important ministry to people’s physical needs back then was so important as part of the work of the church like it is today with Foodbanks spread all over the world today in my church and thousands of other churches!!.

We can see that choosing people involved in serving the people’s physical needs had to be done through prayer and seeking God’s face. So we see the likes of Stephen and others being chosen to do this great work. This is an example to leaders of churches today to always prayerfully seek God’s face when appointing people to look after various arms of ministry and also that meeting people’s physical needs is also part of what The Lord expects from us like Jesus did with feeding the five thousand.

In Christ BM

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I Samuel 1-2; Psalm 120; Acts 5

“And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. And in due time, Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said “I have asked for him from the Lord.” (I Samuel 1:19b-20, ESV)

Hannah was all too familiar with grief and sadness.  She had been unable to conceive for years.  And as she waited and hoped for a child, she watched her husband’s other wife, Peninah, give birth many times while she taunted and provoked Hannah for her childlessness.   

One of the most difficult parts of this passage for me is the phrase “because the Lord had closed her womb”.  Why was God was withholding from Hannah the one thing she wanted most? But “in due time”—when it was appropriate, and God determined that the time was right—He remembered Hannah.  He honored her faithfulness and answered her prayers.  He gave her a son, Samuel, who would himself be a deliverer for the nation of Israel.  Hannah was watching for a child, but God was watching His people and waiting for the perfect time to provide the leader He knew Israel would need. 

I am reminded that even when I think I know everything I need to know about any given situation, my knowledge is finite.  God sees the big picture; He designs every circumstance in my life to complete His perfect plan.  Occasionally, He graciously allows me a glimpse of His bigger plan but, most often, He simply asks me to trust.

In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me.  Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. (Psalm 120:1, ESV)

Psalm 120 is the first of the “Psalms of Ascent”—a collection of songs (Psalms 120-134) that the Israelites sang as they travelled to Jerusalem for their annual feasts each year.  (They were kind of like those Spotify or Apply Music playlists we enjoy on road trips!)  Each Psalm of Ascent begins with the writer calling out to God for help and ends with praise to God for His goodness and deliverance. 

The unknown author of Psalm 120 was surrounded by liars and cheaters; he begins the song by begging God to save him.  And just like the Lord heard and remembered Hannah, he heard the Psalmist.  It’s interesting (and convicting!) to me that the author doesn’t ask God to help him deliver himself.  He simply asks God for deliverance.  How often do I pray assuming God needs Jennifer to accomplish whatever it is I’m asking for?  The Psalmist knew God could handle the liars and cheaters surrounding him.  Like Hannah, when he was distressed, he called out to God asking God to do what he knew God could do…remember, deliver, answer.  My prayers don’t need to be lengthy works of poetry or perfectly curated speeches.  God longs to hear from me.  A simple “Help me.” or “Deliver me.” is beautiful to Him.

“They left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.” (Acts 5: 41-42, ESV)

In the final verses of Acts 5, after a miraculous release from prison and narrowly escaping being thrown right back in jail, the Apostles were beaten once more and sent on their way.  Just as God had delivered Hannah and the Psalmist, God delivered the Apostles.  And their response was to rejoice that they were worthy to suffer for Him and to continue—not just occasionally or once a week, but every day—teaching and preaching about Christ.

Today’s passages include various examples of God’s deliverance, but I also know that “deliverance” doesn’t always happen the way I pray that it will.  God always answers, but sometimes He answers with a “no” that I don’t understand.  Why didn’t He heal that friend or repair that relationship or provide what I thought was needed?  And I confess, in most of those situations, I don’t respond like Hannah or the Psalmist or the Apostles.  But thankfully, my sinful responses don’t change my God.  And, often, I can look back with the value of hindsight and see that what I prayed for and even thought I wanted was very small compared to God’s amazing plans for me. 

Father, thank you that You are unchanging, regardless of me.  Thank you for all the times You have taken my small, human desires and answered by delivering something so much better than I could have imagined.  Help me to be obedient like Hannah, trusting like the Psalmist, and joyful like the Apostles.  Deliver me from me, and make me more like You.  Amen.