Week 17 begins with the story of Ruth in the Old testament. In Ruth 1, Naomi tells Ruth to return to her mother’s house, after Naomi’s, Ruth’s, and Orpah’s husbands all died, and find a new husband. Orpah kissed her good-by, but Ruth stayed with Naomi. And then comes these beautiful verses:
For where you go i will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God my God; where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried.
Boaz buys Ruth and property from Naomi, and Ruth has a son, whom Naomi nursed for her. That child was Obed, and he was the father of Jesse, the father of David!!!!! Amazing!
We then move on to Samuel, where we read about Hannah and Elkanah having no children and she prayed and conceived Samuel. Hannah waited until she weaned Samuel and then went to Shiloh and offered a sacrifice. And when she prayed in 1 Samuel 2, the words are like the Magificat of the virgin Mary. “My heart exults in the Lord: my strength is exalted in the Lord……”
Samuel ministered to the Lord, under Eli, and lying in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was. God called “Samuel, Samuel”… and the words “Here I am Lord!” “Speak Lord, for your servant hears!” Then the disturbing news, that God was going to punish Eli’s house, because his sons were blaspheming God…..(not him)…. he just didn’t restrain them. Interesting what God has expected of us as parents. This story continues to the death of the sons, and Eli falling and dying and the Ark being taken from Israel. Many, many people died and the Ark finally returns to Israel…… and did they learn? Nope…and this cycle continues. They ask for a King, God says no and they demand a King. So, God gives them Saul. It’s important here that we revisit 8:18…
“And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves; but the Lord will not answer you in that day”
And they continued to not listen to the Lord…. and Saul reigned over Israel.
There are a couple of beautiful psalms this week… 97 spoke to me at the end:
“The Lord loves those who hate evil: he preserves the lives of the saints;he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light dawns for the righteous, and joy to the upright of the heart. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name”
and psalm 98… Oh sing to the lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things…..
The new Testament starts with Luke 14. This starts with the story of the man who invited many people to his banquet. they made excuses, and this made the man angry. So the man told his servants to go out and invite the poor and the handicapped and out into the streets so that the banquet hall will be filled. ….. “For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet” And then the story of going after the one sheep that is lost… and the one coin…..Jesus wants to be with us, he wants us to repent, and he has invited us to the banquet.
Luke 15 is the story of the prodigal son. I love that story! We have the picture on our dining room to remind us, that we will always be welcomed home to the Lord…..
Luke 16 and 17 are stories about what it takes to follow Jesus. These are the same theme as the Old Testament. What other Gods do I follow? And how hard is it to not have them, whether it be money or possessions, or whatever. God must always to first…
Luke 18 and 19 we hear about healing, and being saved….. and ends with Jesus riding onto Jerusalem on a colt, and overturning the money tables in the temple…..
I hope you are all having a good summer. Keep reading, or read and catch up. I love you all…..
The Journey Begins 