I Samuel chapter 2. Samuel is doing very well spiritually but the priests sons are wicked. God prophesies against them and then prophesies of the coming priest, Jesus, who will be a faithful priest and obedient to God!
Our culture and world are dying in their sin and are not pursuing the heart of God. God's judgement will come against all acts of evil and disobedience. God's desire is to raise up people who will be faithful and obedient.
Am I worthy? Am I faithful? Am I obedient? Lord forgive me of my sins and use me to help change the world and build your kingdom. In Jesus name, amen!
Eli’s sons and the consequences for their actions reminded me of what we read about in Romans 1:18-25.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”
May we never turn away from God, but always honor Him and give thanks to Him.
As a woman, I love Hannah’s story. Hannah’s song of thanksgiving is about her confidence in God’s sovereignty and her thankfulness for everything that He had done. Mary’s prayer in Luke 1:46-55 after she learns she will have a Son is similar. (It shows that Mary had heard, absorbed, and treasured the Word she learned in the synagogue.) Hannah’s honesty in her prayer – about her rival – is refreshing because after all, the Lord already knows what’s in our hearts (see Hebrews 4:13). It encourages me to be honest and open before Him. Another take away for me is that Hannah gave one child to God and received 5 in return. We can’t out give God. When we give Him what is His, we get back more than we can ever imagine!
God is in control. He’s the One who holds everything together. The One who works everything out. Thank you, Lord.