Author: Pastor Doug

Our scripture this morning is 1 Samuel 8:9 (ESV).

Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.

God created us with free will, and as so many times before, the people are about to follow their own way instead of the Lord’s. They have a dangerous idea that they want to be like the countries around them with a visible but fallible human king. God tells Samuel to give them what they want, but with the caveat to be careful what they wish for! God has always been willing to be our King, to provide for us and protect us. Only our selfish disobedience keeps us from His kingdom.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for our willful ways! Forgive us and bless us to be good stewards of Your gifts, sharing our faith and love with the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Samuel 7:3 (ESV).

And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”

Samuel tells the people if they want to be God’s children they must focus on Him and rid themselves of the idols they are worshipping. This is the very first commandment He gave while leading them to the Promised Land: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:2-3). God wants our full attention so that we may use the gifts He has given us for the good of creation. When we look elsewhere, we can wander off the path and become separated from Him.

Gracious God, You have given us all things for Your good work. Bless us to go in Your name to serve all our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Samuel 4:11 (ESV).

And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

Israel continues the sad cycle of self confidence and disobedience toward the Lord. In a fierce battle, they attempt to use the ark as a motivator for their troops and a weapon against the Philistines. This wasn’t what God called them to do. In a very real sense the ark had become an idol to them, a symbol of God’s power that they could wield as they wished. We know God doesn’t work that way and the Israelites are defeated. The ark is captured and in the fight Eli the priest loses two sons. The ark is nothing without God’s presence. God has never deserted His people, but we must learn that our disobedience comes with consequences.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for the times we trust our own intellect and strength instead of Your everlasting love. Forgive us, refresh us, and send us to share the Good News with all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Samuel 3:10 (ESV).

And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”

God is still reaching out to His people in different ways despite their disobedience and unbelief. In this chapter God calls Samuel, who is now the priest Eli’s apprentice. For many years God had spoken to the people through leaders like Moses and Joshua. Now God is trying again by choosing Samuel to speak to Israel. When God calls him by name, Samuel (still a boy at this point) is confused and believes the call comes from Eli the priest. Eli discerns it is God calling Samuel and tells him to respond. This begins his role as God’s voice to the people. We need to be aware of God speaking into our lives and the work He has for us.

Gracious God, we are amazed that You invite us to be part of what You are doing in creation. Bless us to be joyful in sharing Your love everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture today is 1 Samuel 2:1 (ESV).

And Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.”

Hannah’s prayer is very similar to the prayer we hear from Mary in Luke 1. These mothers-to-be rejoice in the Lord and the blessing they are expecting. Both of these births will be important in God’s plan for us: Samuel as a priest and spiritual guide to Israel’s new monarchy and Jesus as our king and Savior. These women accepted the call God placed on their lives, and believed that God would use their work for the good of all his children.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for people of faith throughout history that have passed Your love from generation to generation. Help us to continue sharing the Good News with all your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Samuel 1:13 (ESV).

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.

The two books of Samuel take us through a difficult time in the history of God’s children. They share many important lessons about our relationship with God and each other. Here at the beginning of the story, the priest Eli mistakes Hannah’s prayer for drunken babbling. However, after she explains, he blesses her. The son she prayed for will become the spiritual leader of Israel, responsible for the crowning of Israel’s first kings. This ongoing story warns about the danger of following our own ways instead of trusting in the Lord.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for the times we are willfully disobedient. Forgive us and restore us to a right relationship with You. Amen.

Our scripture today is ‭‭Ruth‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬ ‭(ESV).

“I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”‬‬

While it is a fact that we will experience bad times in our lives, God does not send these as punishment for sin. Naomi perhaps overstates the situation – they were fleeing famine by leaving the land of Canaan. She did have her husband and sons. Now returning “empty” she perhaps understates the situation – the loyal love and support Ruth gives her. Through it all, God has been with her, and her witness has brought Ruth to faith in God. She returns and follows God’s law as given for their society and finds God’s blessing for them both.

Loving Lord, we sometimes lament our circumstances, but we know You are there with us. Help us to tell the world that salvation is found only in Jesus and Your forgiveness of our sins. May we share the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture today is Ruth 4:14 (ESV).

Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel!”

This is a lesson we see throughout the book of Ruth – that God expresses His love for us using those whom He chooses. Ruth was moved to show God’s love and care to Naomi after their shared loss. Boaz was moved to show God’s love and care to Ruth because of her faith and kindness. God’s love was further given to them in that they became great grandparents to King David and began the royal line of Jesus Christ. While there may be earthly “redeemers” who do God’s work in the world, we all have one Redeemer, Jesus our Lord.

Gracious God, You have blessed us with the gift of Your Son, to save us from our sin. May we become part of what You are doing in the world, and share Your love with all. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Ruth 4:9 (ESV).

Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon.”

While the provisions for “redeeming” property and people may seem strange to us, it was the process in ancient Israel and following it allowed Boaz to do what he wanted for Naomi and Ruth. Leviticus and Numbers specify what can and cannot be done when dealing with the property of a deceased relative. Boaz being a faithful man wanted to obey God in his heart and in public by doing what was right. Like Abraham negotiating a sum for the cave in which to bury Sarah (Genesis 23) there was a price to be paid. When Jesus died for us on the cross He paid the price for our sin for all time. We have been redeemed!

Loving Lord, You sent Your only Son as a sacrifice that we might be saved. Bless us to be energetic in sharing the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Ruth 2:20 (ESV).

And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.”

The book of Ruth presents a concept we have heard from the law in Leviticus and Numbers, the idea of a “kinsman redeemer”, in action. The children of Israel followed a system where the eldest male heir received a double share inheritance to act as the new patriarch, responsible under the law to provide aid to relatives in distress. Here is a double lesson for us in this concept – first, Ruth is one from outside who has come seeking God and caring for her mother in law Naomi. Boaz is not her kinsman, but due to her love for his relative Naomi and her faith in God, he treats Ruth kindly. This shows how Israel is to be a light to other nations, and how a world under God’s love works.

Heavenly Father, You sent Jesus as our ultimate kinsman redeemer, willing to die for our failures. Forgive and strengthen us in faith that we may go to share Your redeeming love with the world. Amen.