1 Samuel 5, Ecclesiastes 6, 1 Peter 4

Many Christians and conservatives in the U.S. are wringing their hands over the results of our recent presidential election. I sense real fear as I listen to some acquaintances talk. But 1 Samuel 5 speaks calm and peace to me. This chapter describes how the Holy Spirit, who dwelt in the ark of God, by His very presence caused the enemy so much death and grief that they only wanted to be rid of it. The enemy is allowed the power God intends, and no more. We can trust the Lord to prevail. Yes, we have to do our part, but we need not despair. God is in control.

Solomon realized that our focus needs to be eternal, rather than temporal. Everyone dies, he says, so we'd better pay attention to "Him who is mightier" (v. 10).

Peter continues Solomon's train of thought. He tells us what our focus needs to be in practical terms: doing the will of God. Living in such a manner that lost people don't understand and persecute us for being Christians. He contrasts this new focus with our old focus - physical pleasures on earth.

If we need any motivation to keep our focus on Christ, it is the judgment that awaits everyone. Whatever happens in our country or our lives on earth, it really is not as important as our lives in heaven. So let's raise our gaze to catch a glimpse of the bigger picture and keep our eyes on it.

1 Samuel 4, Ecclesiastes 5, 1 Peter 3

First Samuel 4 is a sad chapter. The Israelites realized after a defeat by the Philistines that they needed the Lord's presence in order to be successful in battle. But the sins of Hophni and Phineas had not been confessed. This was the time of judgment the Lord had prophesied through the child Samuel.

God's people can only go so far in their reckless abandonment of God and grieving the Holy Spirit. There comes a day of reckoning. If one is doing more harm than good by remaining alive, the Lord will remove His covering of grace and death will come.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 presents a lesson we all need. Isn't most of our praying done with words? How much we need to hear! One way to hear more and speak less is to read scripture every day. Three chapters - as we practice here - provides a lot of God's wisdom and truth to chew on through the rest of the day. Choose part of the daily reading to meditate upon in quiet moments. Review it. Pull meaning and application from it. Try to memorize it. Let's let our words be few.

Verses 10-17 describe those who lust after wealth and fame. These people are contrasted with those who labor with joy at work the Lord provides, as we see in verses 18-20. These are the people who can enjoy the wealth they have because it is a mere by-product of their life focus. Not the focus itself. It's all about priorities.

If the Israelites, particularly Hophni and Phineas, had obeyed the principles Peter quoted from Psalms in 1 Peter 3:10-12, and had hearts tuned to the joy of the Lord as in Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, they'd have won the battles against the Philistines and avoided the judgment of the Lord.

If we live our lives mindful of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins, and live in such a way as to maintain a good conscience (v.16), then we will inherit the blessing. (v.9)

A word on submission: For us as women, it is simply good practice for submitting to God. Relish the opportunity. And remember the admonition men are given in verse 7.

Kathryn's Vacation

Dear Readers,

My son is getting married on Saturday, so I am taking the week off to prepare and enjoy my family. I plan to return next week.

God Bless,

Kathryn

1 Samuel 3, Ecclesiastes 4, 1 Peter 2

Samuel's Lessons. Samuel learned three things:

1. What the voice of the Lord sounded like.
2. What to do when he heard it: Listen.
3. What to do with the message: Tell it, follow through. It wasn't intended only for Samuel.

God's Blessing. Because Samuel remembered these three lessons, God used him for a great purpose and everyone knew that he was a prophet of the Lord. "So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground." (v.19)

What is Vanity? If a quest for wealth or fame is all that motivates a person, it is "vanity and grasping for the wind." (v.16) The one thing Solomon says has any value is friendship with one or two companions.

What's Our Purpose? Peter concurs. The only prize worth living for is eternal life. The way to bring others along is to live out the word of God in front of them and share the gospel.

The Real Path to Greatness. Obedience to the voice of God, following through for the good of others instead of ourselves, is the path to greatness. All else is vanity.

1 Samuel 2, Ecclesiastes 3, 1 Peter 1

Reading 1 Samuel 2 is like looking into a camera lens while it zooms out to a panorama. This is the big picture God had in mind when He withheld a child from Hannah. He needed her to come to the point of willingness to give her first-born son to the Lord. The priesthood was in tatters. Eli's natural sons could not carry it on. The whole nation's future was at stake. God needed the man He would create as Samuel. Compare verse 26 with Luke 2:52. This chapter points straight to Jesus. The sins of Eli's sons were as grievous as those of the Pharisees in Jesus' day. Samuel became a priest. Jesus became both our High Priest and perfect sacrifice.

Solomon is right when he says there is a time for everything. He also makes the point that humans can't see the big picture of what God is doing. So we need to trust Him and enjoy what He gives us. It can seem that evil prevails now, just as it seemed in Eli's time and Solomon's. But God doesn't allow evil to go on without end. He brings all to justice.

Peter's words echo Solomon's and highlight the arrow pointing from the Old Testament to Jesus Christ. We, who live with the benefit of reading the Bible as a whole, should heed Peter's instructions readily. Treasure our inheritance in heaven and live our lives in a manner worthy of the Spirit who dwells in us.

1 Samuel 1, Ecclesiastes 2, James 5

Reading Hannah's story makes me cry. Her inability to conceive brought shame, scorn and ridicule. She lived daily in misery, each month fresh with disappointment. For years. And prayer changed everything. Prayer changed everything for her personally and for her nation. She was not only a woman of prayer, but of her word. When the time came to relinquish her son, she didn't back out.

Hard things drive us to prayer. It is when life eases up that we find out if we meant what we prayed.

Solomon discovered that accumulating things didn't bring fulfillment. Not even wisdom was able to make him content. He failed to recognize two things. In the words of John Maxwell,  "All . . . have two major voids:

1. The God-sized vacuum inside their heart; only the Lord can fill it.
2. The life-sized vacuum inside their heart; only their life mission can fulfill it."

James recognized the vacuums. He addresses them here. Accumulating things not only leaves a void, but also leads to sin. Solomon worried that his descendants would do foolish or sinful things with his wealth. And he searched for the meaning Hannah found. A life mission. James found it, too, and encourages his readers. He instructs us how to live while we wait for the ultimate fulfillment--the return of Christ.

Ruth 4, Ecclesiates 1, James 4

The story of the redemption of Ruth is powerful. The whole concept of the rite of redemption was instituted by God to show us what Jesus Christ would do for us: buy us back. Boaz bought Naomi's property back, and that included Ruth. He was not the closest relative, so he was not obligated to do it. But he wanted to. I think he loved Ruth. Jesus Christ didn't have to redeem us either, but He wanted to because He loves us. Boaz and Ruth became the great-grandparents of King David, who was an ancestor of Jesus.

Solomon's perspective as he wrote Ecclesiastes sounds hopeless. And it was, as long as he focused on earthly pleasures and systems. Only in looking above and beyond what we see and experience on earth do we find purpose and meaning. Ruth found purpose in following God. Solomon should have followed her example.

James draws the conclusion Ruth drew and Solomon ultimately did. Focus on the world and ourselves leaves out God and is worthless. Waiting on God and trusting Him for the outcome is priceless.