Year 1, Week 29, Day 1 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 29, Day 1

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Ruth 4; 1 Samuel 1.

Today’s reading concludes the story of Ruth and begins the Book of Samuel. The historical eras of these two books overlap. The story of Ruth occurred during the time of the Judges and the Book of Samuel picks up somewhere on the tail end of the Judge and transitions to the start of Israel’s era of kings. Ruth 4 completes the story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. Boaz marries Ruth claiming kinsman redeemer obligations for Naomi. The Book of Ruth ends with a genealogy record. Ruth and Boaz would become the grandparents of David, who will emerge in the Book of Samuel. 1 Samuel 1 opens with a lady, Hannah, who is unable to bear children. Eli the priest assures Hannah that she will have a child: “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” (1 Samuel 1:20). Hannah entrusts her son to Eli the priest. Samuel, the last of the Judges, will be used mightily by the LORD in the years leading up to the era of the Kings.

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is the LORD’s desire to work in bleak, hopeless, weak and unlikely situations to bring about His plans and purposes: “He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children” (Psalm 113:9). In the midst of the moral chaos during the period of the Judges, the second segment of today’s reading zeros in on a barren wife. Hannah is greatly distressed in her barrenness. The other wife of Hannah’s husband, “used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat” (1 Samuel 1:6-8). But Hannah took her pain and sorrow to the LORD: “She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head” (1 Samuel 1:10-11). In fact, the intensity of her prayers led Eli, the priest, to think she was drunk: “As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman” (1 Samuel 1:12-13). But Hannah explained herself: “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation” (1 Samuel 1:15-16). The LORD is overseeing a nation that is extremely unfaithful to Him, but He has a profound interest in the sorrows of a relatively unknown woman who is unable to bear children.

In fact, it is through this unlikely woman that the LORD would work mightily. The LORD shows great care for Hannah, but He also commits to do a great work through her. The LORD remembers Hannah: “And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her” (1 Samuel 1:18-19). And when her son was weaned, she honored her vow: “For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD” (1 Samuel 1:27-28). Samuel was given to the LORD. From a barren woman, overwhelmed with great sorrow, came one who would be a courageous Judge, a true prophet, and a faithful priest in Israel. With the cause seemingly hopeless, the LORD stepped in and began a mighty work. From Samuel would come the LORD’s confirmation to anoint the grandson of Ruth and Boaz as Israel’s king: “And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah” (1 Samuel 16:12b-13). Of course that’s jumping ahead several years in the storyline. It is early in the unfolding plans revealed throughout 1 Samuel. All we know thus far is that the LORD has heard the prayers of a sorrow-filled, barren woman. It is important to remember that the LORD’s mighty works begin in small, often unnoticeable ways; but also that the LORD’s mighty works deploy through hopeless, often insignificant people. The LORD is not dependent upon the strong and loud; in fact, He chooses to bypass the strong and loud, and He is pleased to work through the weak and unimpressive.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe