Photo by Paul Gilmore on Unsplash
May 18 Bible Reading:
1 Samuel 1-2
Psalm 137
Acts 10
**Click to read Christine Miller’s Bible study for today.
(Note: I haven’t had time to post daily, as you have probably seen. I hope you are still reading along with Christine!)
Boker tov! I was really blessed by reading in 1 Samuel 1 and 2 this morning. My name Anne is the same as the Hebrew name Hannah, so I’ve always loved this historical account. A few things were extra special to me today.
Hannah was one of two wives, although it looks as if she was dearly loved by her husband. However, the text calls Peninnah her “rival,” which is the Hebrew word that gives the picture of a someone constantly pressing in, nagging, persecuting, and causing her to worry (Strong’s #6869).
At this time, we are going through Covid-19, and it feels like all the projects and kingdom assignments we have are constantly being pressed in upon. No matter how hard we try, the worries nag at us. We could truly trust the Father with our futures and not be afraid of death — but one quick scroll anywhere on the Internet or on social media reminds us that we are still in a tricky situation, and it is indeed still pressing in on us.
I’ve cut way back on who I follow on social media, and I’m not watching the news or paying attention to many theories, but I still try to follow the laws in our state of Michigan. But oh, the politics! Oh, the constitutional dilemmas! And if you’ve been following my blog for long, you’ll know what I mean when I say, “Oh, the frogs!”
So yes, even the most resilient of us can get trapped in her own thoughts and start to feel overwhelmed. Things press in on us even when we’re trying to keep our thoughts on Him.
“So it was, year by year, when [Hannah] went up to the house of YHVH, that [Peninnah] provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat” (1 Samuel 1:7).
So Hannah prayed.
Hannah did the right thing. Everyone else was eating and drinking, which was appropriate because it was a feast of YHVH and they were in Shiloh rejoicing and worshiping before YHVH.
Hannah wanted their joy, but the Adversary was continuing to needle her, even in the midst of a joyful feast time, even though she was a righteous, obedient woman with a loving husband.
So she went to the doorway of the tabernacle and fell on her face before YHVH. She poured out her heart to Him.
Just as Yeshua promises us today, YHVH heard her prayer.
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (John 15:7-10).
I hope this encourages you today as much as it did me! His desire is to help us bear fruit and to follow in His footsteps. Is something hindering you from that mission? He loves you! As you keep His commandments and abide in His love, rest in His love. Go to Him! He stands ready to save you.
“My heart rejoices in YHVH;
My horn is exalted in YHVH.
I smile at my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation (Yeshua)” (1 Samuel 2:1).
Did you see Hannah’s response? She truly believed that YHVH would answer her prayer.
“So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad” (1 Samuel 1:18).
May I have that trust also.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture in this blog post taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Leave a Reply