50 day journey to Christ - Day 20

Daily Reading:

1 Samuel 16

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem because I have selected a king from his sons.”

² Samuel asked, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!”

The Lord answered, “Take a young cow with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ ³ Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do. You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate to you.”

⁴ Samuel did what the Lord directed and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”

⁵ “In peace,” he replied. “I’ve come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. ⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Certainly the Lord’s anointed one is here before Him.”

⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”

⁸ Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either,” Samuel said. ⁹ Then Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either.” ¹⁰ After Jesse presented seven of his sons to him, Samuel told Jesse, “The Lord hasn’t chosen any of these.” ¹¹ Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” he answered, “but right now he’s tending the sheep.” Samuel told Jesse, “Send for him. We won’t sit down to eat until he gets here.” ¹² So Jesse sent for him. He had beautiful eyes and a healthy, handsome appearance.

Then the Lord said, “Anoint him, for he is the one.” ¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil, anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord took control of David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

¹⁴ Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and an evil spirit sent from the Lord began to torment him, ¹⁵ so Saul’s servants said to him, “You see that an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. ¹⁶ Let our lord command your servants here in your presence to look for someone who knows how to play the lyre. Whenever the evil spirit from God troubles you, that person can play the lyre, and you will feel better.”

¹⁷ Then Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me.”

¹⁸ One of the young men answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is also a valiant man, a warrior, eloquent, handsome, and the Lord is with him.”

¹⁹ Then Saul dispatched messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” ²⁰ So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and one young goat and sent them by his son David to Saul. ²¹ When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul admired him greatly, and David became his armor-bearer. ²² Then Saul sent word to Jesse: “Let David remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.” ²³ Whenever the spirit from God troubled Saul, David would pick up his lyre and play, and Saul would then be relieved, feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

Key:  Purple - Words of God, Bold - Verse of the Day

Daily Reflection:  Todays reading leads us through 2 stories.  The first story, one of a young man, annointed as the future king of Israel, the other of a the beginning of the end of the current king.  David was the youngest of the house of Jesse, a great grandson on Boaz and Ruth.  Annoited with oil, sealed with the Spirit of the Lord.  When the spirit of the Lord was with David it left King Saul and he was tourmented.  Saul sought relief from his agony, through the playings of the lyre, the stringings of the will be king David.   

Discussion Topic: Saul used music to ease his nerves during times of spiritual torment.  Can you identify a time when you sought music out to help ease your mind or relax you?  Is it possible to be that music in someone elses life?  

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Prayer:  Father in Heaven, you are Holy, Holy, Holy.  We enter your gates with thanksgiving in my heart, and into your courts with praise.  Better is one day of service to you, than a thousand elsewhere.  Lord reveal in us opportunities to serve those around us who may be turning to things to ease there torment.  Forgive us for judging the sins of others, as we also learn to forgive those who sin against us.  Lead us away from evil and protect us as we confront torment. for Your Kingdom, in Your Power and because of Your Glory, Amen.  

Acknowledgments:  Text - BibleGateway.com HSCB, Image - Artist Unknown, Image Website - http://www.finaltrump.com/2009/03/the-three-anointings-of-david/

50 day journey to Christ - Day 18

1 Samuel 1

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

1 There was a man from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. His name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. ² He had two wives, the first named Hannah and the second Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless. ³ This man would go up from his town every year to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of Hosts at Shiloh, where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were the Lord’s priests.

⁴ Whenever Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he always gave portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to each of her sons and daughters. ⁵ But he gave a double portion to Hannah, for he loved her even though the Lord had kept her from conceiving. ⁶ Her rival would taunt her severely just to provoke her, because the Lord had kept Hannah from conceiving.⁷ Whenever she went up to the Lord’s house, her rival taunted her in this way every year. Hannah wept and would not eat. ⁸ “Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband Elkanah asked. “Why won’t you eat? Why are you troubled? Am I not better to you than 10 sons?”

⁹ Hannah got up after they ate and drank at Shiloh. Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s tabernacle. ¹⁰ Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept with many tears. ¹¹ Making a vow, she pleaded, “Lord of Hosts, if You will take notice of Your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give Your servant a son, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.”

¹² While she continued praying in the Lord’s presence, Eli watched her lips. ¹³ Hannah was praying silently, and though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli thought she was drunk ¹⁴ and scolded her, “How long are you going to be drunk? Get rid of your wine!”

¹⁵ “No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman with a broken heart. I haven’t had any wine or beer; I’ve been pouring out my heart before the Lord. ¹⁶ Don’t think of me as a wicked woman; I’ve been praying from the depth of my anguish and resentment.”

¹⁷ Eli responded, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the petition you’ve requested from Him.”

¹⁸ “May your servant find favor with you,” she replied. Then Hannah went on her way; she ate and no longer looked despondent.

¹⁹ The next morning Elkanah and Hannah got up early to bow in worship before the Lord. Afterward, they returned home to Ramah. Then Elkanah was intimate with his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. ²⁰ After some time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, because she said, “I requested him from the Lord.”

²¹ When Elkanah and all his household went up to make the annual sacrifice and his vow offering to the Lord, ²² Hannah did not go and explained to her husband, “After the child is weaned, I’ll take him to appear in the Lord’s presence and to stay there permanently.”

²³ Her husband Elkanah replied, “Do what you think is best, and stay here until you’ve weaned him. May the Lord confirm your word.” So Hannah stayed there and nursed her son until she weaned him. ²⁴ When she had weaned him, she took him with her to Shiloh, as well as a three-year-old bull, half a bushel of flour, and a jar of wine. Though the boy was still young,she took him to the Lord’s house at Shiloh. ²⁵ Then they slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli.  

²⁶ “Please, my lord,” she said, “as sure as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. ²⁷ I prayed for this boy, and since the Lord gave me what I asked Him for, ²⁸ I now give the boy to the Lord. For as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.” Then he bowed in worship to the Lord there.

Key: Bold text - Verse of the Day 

Daily Reflection:  Todays reading us brings us to a story of love and desire.  We read of a woman, who longed to have a child, and was willing to give anything to have that child and experience the joy of motherhood.  A woman who sought after God, with righteousness and long suffering.  Despite being rejected  and ridiculed by her peers, she continued to seek the Lord in humble holiness.   

Discussion Topic:  In the New Testement we learn that if we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, these things will be added to you.  Have you experienced this in your own walk?  If so share your story.  

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Prayer:  Father in Heaven, we are so grateful for your Love and Mercy.  We thank you for common grace and all the other blessing you give us.  Your Gift to us is more than we can have ever wanted or deserved, and yet you gave it anyway.  For this, we pledge to give you our lives, in humility and service.  May we bless your name with our words and actions, may we worship you in Spirit and Truth.  In your lovely name, the name above all, Jesus Messiah.  Amen.  

Acknowledgment - Text: BibleGateway, Picture: Samuel Dedicated by Hannah at the Temple by Frank W.W. Topham.  website - http://genebrooks.blogspot.com/2012/05/1-samuel-11-211-mother-named-hannah.html