The Antidote for Discouragement.. 1Sam1

Earlier Hannah had been discouraged to the point of being physically sick and unable to eat. At this point, she returned home well and happy. The change in her attitude may be attributed to three factors

1) she honestly prayed to God

2) she received encouragement from Eli

3) she resolved to leave the problem with God

This is the antidote for discouragement; tell God how you really feel and leave your problem with HIM. Then rely upon the support of good friends and counselors.

To do what she promised, Hannah gave up what she wanted most-her son-and presented him to Eli to serve in the house of the Lord. In dedicating her only son to God, Hannah was dedicating her entire life and future to God. Because Samuel's life was from God, Hannha wasnot really giving him up. Rather, she was returning him to God, who had given Samuel to Hannah in the first place. These verses illustrate the kinds of gifts we should give to God. Do your gifts cost you a little ( sunday mornings, a comfortable tithe) , or are they gifts of sacrifice? are you presenting God with tokens, or are you presenting HIM with your entire life?

Enjoy The Loving Relationships God Has Given-Exchange Selfpity for Hope.. 1Sam1

Hannah knew her husband loved her, but even his encouragement could not comfort her. She could not keep listening to Peninnah's jeers and letting Peninnah words erode her self confidence. Although we can not keep others from unjustly criticizing us, we can choose how we will react to their hurtful words. Rather than dwelling upon our problems, we can enjoy the loving relationships God has given us. By doing so, we can exchange self-pity for hope.

Hannah had good reason to feel discouraged and bitter. She was unable to bear children; she shared her husband with a woman who ridiculed her; her loving husband could not solve her problem; and even the high priest misunderstood her motives. But instead of retaliating or giving up hope, Hannah prayed. She brought her problem honestly before God.

Each of us may face times of barrenness when nothing 'comes to birth' in our work, service, or relationships, it is dificult to pray in faith when we feel so ineffective. But as Hannah discovered, prayer opens the way for God to work.

Why did Polygamy Exist among God's People?.. 1Sam1

Although many great Old Testament leaders had more than one wife, this was not original intention for marriage (two people become one flesh). Why did the polygamy exist among God's people? First, it was to produce more offspring to helpin a man's work to assure the continuation of a man's family line. Second, in societies where many young men killed in battle, polygamy became an accepted way of supporting women who otherwise would have remained unmarriage and very likely, destitute. Nevertheless, polygamy often caused serious family problems, as we see in this story of Hannah and Peninnah.

Part of God's plan for Hannah involved postponing her years of childbearing. While Peninnah and Elkanah looked at Hannah's outward circumstances. God was moving ahead with HIS plan. Think of those in your world who are struggling with God's timing in answering their prayer and who need your love and help. By supporting those who are struggling, you may help them remain steadfast in their faith and confident in HIS timing to bring fulfillment to their lives.

Even in Our Sorrow and Calamity, God can Bring Great Blessings.. Ruth

There was almost nothing worse than being a widow in the ancient world. Widows were taken advantage of or ignored. There were almost always poverty stricken. God's law therefore, provided that the nearest relative of the dead husband should care for the widow.

Naomi had experienced severe hardships. She had left Israel married and secure; she returned widowed and poor. Naomi had felt bitter , but her faith in God was still alive, and she praised God for Boaz's kindness to Ruth. In her sorrow she still trusted God and acknowledges HIS goodness.

Ruth's love for her mother in law was known and recognized throughout the town. God's preparations for the births of David and of Jesus, the promised Mesias. Just as Ruth was unaware of this larger purpose in her life, we will not know the full purpose and importance of our lives. 

Live in the faithfulness to God, knowing that the significance of your life will extend beyond you lifetime. The rewards will outweigh any sacrifice you may have made.

They Justified Wrong Actions to Correct Past Mistakes.. Judges 20

Perhaps the leader of the tribe of Benjamin had been given distorted facts about the serious crime in their territory, or perhaps they were too proud to admit that some of their people had stooped so low. In either case, they would not listen to the rest of Israel and hand over the accused criminals. They were more loyal to their own tribe than to God's law.

By covering for their kinsmen, the entire tribe of Benjamin sank to a level of immorality as low as that of the criminals. Through this act, we get a glimpse of how thoroughly the nation's moral fabric had unraveled. The time period of the judges ends in a bloody civil war that sets the stages for the spiritual renewal to come under Samuel.

The Israelites moved from one mess to another. Because of a rash vow made in the heat of emotion, here they destroyed another town. The Israelites probably justified their action with the following argument:

1) an oath could not be broken

2) because all the women from Benjamin had been killed, the few remaining men needed wives to prevent the tribe from disappearing. To spare the unmarried women from Jabesh-Gilead seemed the right solution.

We donot know all the circumtances behind the brutal massacre at Jabesh-gilead, but it seems that the rest of Israel followed Benjamin pattern. They put tribal loyalties above God's commands, and they justified wrong actions to correct past mistakes.

when social protocol carries more authority than moral convictions!.. Judges19

Nowhere is the unwritten law of hospitality stronger than in the Middle East. Protecting a guest at any cost ranked at the top of a man's code of honor. But here the hospitality code turned to fanaticism. The rape and abuse of a daughter and companion were preferable to the possibility of a conflict between a guest and a neighbor.

The two men were selfish (they didnt want to get hurt themself); they lack courage (they didnt want to face a conflict even when lives were at stake); and they disobeyed God's law (they allowed deliberate abuse and murder). What Drastic consequences can result when social protocol carries more authority than moral convictions!

Is it True that wealth, pupolarity, or lack of suffering is an Indication of God's Blessing.. Judges18

Micah made idols and hired a priest to run his personal religion. When the men of Dan took his idols and priest, nothing remained. What an empty spiritual condition! An idols is anything that takes God's place in a person's life. Some people invest all their energy in pursuit of money, success, possessions, or a career. If these idols are taken away, only an empty shell is left.

The only way to protect yourself against such loss is to invest your life in the living God, whom you can never lose.

Just because the Danites successfully defeated Laish doesnt mean their action were right. Their idolatry showed that God wasnt guiding them. Today many justify their wrong actions by outward signs of successs. They think that wealth, pupolarity. Or lack of suffering is an indication of God's blessing. But many stories in the Bible indicate that evil and earthly success can go hand in hand.

Success doesnt indicate God's approval. Dont allow personal success to become a measuring rod of whether or not you are pleasing God.