Scripture text for Monday, February 15th, 2010: 1 Samuel 1:1-3:21

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“My heart rejoices in the LORD. . . . There is no one holy like the LORD: there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” 1 Samuel 2: 1b, 2

Though these chapters are rich with practical theology, especially in regards to prayer, I am drawn to this passage describing our Heavenly Father. Yet, we need to first consider how Hannah related to her Lord: “In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD.” (1 Sam. 1:10); “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. . . . I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” (1: 15, 16). Hannah endured great sorrow because of her barrenness.

Usually troubles present us with a fork in the road. We either draw nearer to God or withdraw from Him. We pursue God to help us through our struggles, or we pursue something else to dull the pain of our afflictions. Hannah pursued the Lord. She drew near to Him, and worshiped Him even in the midst of her grief (1:19). She poured out her heart to her Heavenly Father in prayer. Hannah knew from the valleys in her life that “there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” (2:2)

Scripture text for Friday, February 12th, 2010: Ruth 1:1-4:22

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In the story of Ruth and Naomi I am struck by the intimacy of the relationship between these two very different women and reminded that God seems to work in ways I don’t know that I will ever be able to fully comprehend. Ruth was so dedicated to the well-being of her mother-in-law that she left everything she knew to follow and take care of Naomi. They cried together, worked together, shared their thoughts and fears, and eventually celebrated together when their lives took an amazing upturn.

Scripture text for Thursday, February 11th, 2010: Judges 13:1-16:31

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As I read this passage I was convicted by Samson’s chosen life. While he was given clear instructions as to how to live his life as a Nazirite (do not eat/drink wine/grapes or touch a dead body, and never cut his hair), Samson from the start broke many of these vows. He had extraordinary strength from the Lord but suffered morally through his eyes in deception and sin. He had a weakness for women. Although the Lord commanded that Samson seek a Philistine wife in order for an occasion against the Philistines (14:4), God did not tell Samson to follow the Philistine’s ways. Samson seems headstrong and independent in his thinking much of the time and very arrogant in terms of creating situations where he depends on this awesome power and strength that God has given him. Is that what we do??? Many times we are faced with situations we should pray about and consult our one true God but somehow our independence takes over and we think we can do it without Him!! In 15:8 Samson cries out to God because he is thirsty and the Lord provides for him and also allowed him to judge for 20 years in the days of the Philistines. We should be thirsty for his words and be convicted to depend on him.

Scripture text for Wednesday, February 10th, 2010: Judges 6:1-7:25

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Gideon’s question makes sense to me. "If the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ (Judges 6:13)

If God is indeed with the Israelites, why do they keep getting destroyed by their enemies?

Gideon’s initial thought is to blame God for being absent. "Hey God, where did you go? Back in the day you were speaking through burning bushes and parting water. Now you are doing nothing and we are getting ravaged by the Midianites!"

Scripture text for Tuesday, February 9, 2010: Judges 4:1-5:31

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Get Ready

Have you ever been in a bad situation, waiting, hoping, that someone would do something to stop it, when you realized that YOU were that someone? A while ago I was attending a lecture, when the speaker took a surprising anti-Semitic turn. As I sat there, looking around to see who would speak up against it, praying someone would, I remember realizing, “Oh, crap! I’m the one who has to do something.” In this passage, Deborah & Jael have the courage to step up and take action when the need arises. As you read it, pay special attention to what the characters do and what God does.