1 Samuel 1-2 “Lessons from a Godly Mother”

In recognition of Mothers’ Day, we stepped away from Ephesians and considered this passage concerning Hannah, the mother of Samuel.

 

S = 1 Samuel 1:12-18 “As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 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. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 15 But Hannah answered, “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. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” 17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” 18 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.”

 

O = Hannah had experienced the bitter disappointment of infertility (much greater stigma and shame in that culture), had been severely provoked for years by a rival—her husband’s other wife (thankfully not usually an issue in our culture). She had also been misunderstood and falsely accused at the hands of a religious leader (Eli—who was not known for discernment) when she was pouring her heart out to God. Yet upon realizing his error he prayed for Hannah and the issue was as good as settled for her. She left in peace, before any of her circumstances changed, her heart followed her faith. Chapter 2 is a psalm of trust in the LORD that Hannah sings after keeping her promise to the LORD.

 

A = What I love about Hannah, whose name means “graciousness”, is that when tested to the breaking point she poured out her heart to the LORD rather than settling for something less or taking things into her own hands. She claimed the promise in Eli’s prayer and began to act as though it were true (she believed)—she went her way, ate, and “her face was no longer sad.” And while making deals with God would not be something I would recommend (1:11), she actually kept her promise and lent Samuel to the LORD (1:24-28). Hannah’s example provides me with at least three challenging lessons to apply to my life this week (even though I am not a mother):

• Will I choose to avoid the twin errors of either settling for less than God’s will for my life or taking things into my own hands?
• Will I “take every imagination [and emotion] captive unto the knowledge of Christ” as I act in accordance with my faith in Jesus or will I continue to miss out on the joy he gives?
• Will I keep my promises to the Lord, after he grants my request?

 

P = O Lord, thank you that no one is beneath being helped by you…for you are near to the discouraged, afflicted, and powerless. Your plan may not be something I always understand nor something that happens on my timetable…but Lord God I pray that I may always trust Jesus in the storm and not slip beneath the waves of self-pity; that I may always rejoice in Christ’s promises to me rather than wavering in doubt; and that I may always follow through on my promises to you Lord, surrendering every one of my precious things to your plan, rather than holding back! And as a result, I pray that your children may be encouraged by my example to worship you! Amen.

Ephesians 4-D "Steal No Longer"

S = Ephesians 4:28-29 “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

O = This passage strongly puts the thief in a parallel position with the liar or the one who speaks corrupting things. Just as the thief is told to stop stealing, the reader is told to stop speaking that which does not build up. As the former thief is to work with his hands in order to give to others, so the corrupt speaker is only to speak what builds up. Instead of taking comes giving, instead of tearing down comes building up. Having received the grace of God we are to become personal grace-dispensers. Because we have been forgiven, we must practice it. We have received the kindness of God, so we must share it. Verses 31-32 descriptively lay out what this looks like in word and deed.

A = My hands may not steal, but are my words stealing something from others (e.g., peace, love, trust, hope, thankfulness)? God has spoken his grace into my life and it is only right that I should pay it forward in the church, my family, and in the marketplace. May my words as well as my hands give to others this week, building something for God, as I impart his love and his grace to other people. But what does this look like? This week I will speak kind words not cutting, honoring words rather than treating people like objects, compassionate words instead of being insensitive, gratitude in place of grumbling and complaining. I have a feeling I will be more joyful as a result…and maybe it will be infectious.

P = O Lord, may my words steal no longer, discourage no longer. May I not grieve the Holy Spirit by resisting his work in my heart. As I have heard you forgive me may I not fail to speak that to those who have sinned against me in ways big and small. And Lord, please keep me from becoming hard-hearted towards you, and towards others. Amen.