Verse of the Day 4/9

Through the Bible - 1 Samuel 3-6, Luke 13:1-21

Good morning,
In yesterday's passage Naomi had changed her name to Mara which means bitter. In time, God turned things around in her life for the good of all people.
Today we'll move ahead to 1 Samuel where Hannah "was in bitterness of soul" and "wept in anguish" over her situation. She desired a child and to this point had not been able to conceive. She kept on praying and went to the tabernacle to seek after God where Eli and God heard her prayers.
Today's verse shows her rejoicing in the birth of a son.
1 Sam 1:20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked for him from the Lord." NKJV
Can you look back in your life where you desired something of the Lord and He delivered it "in the process of time", His time?
Regarding Samuel, MacArthur writes, "the name literally meant "name of God" but sounded like "heard by God". For her, the assonance was most important, because God had heard her prayers.
The story doesn't end there. She dedicated Samuel to the Lord. God blessed her with more children. Samuel went on to be the last Judge of the people of Israel until they chose a king to be over them. Samuel continued to play an influential part through the reign of Saul and God's choosing of David to be king.
God had worked through Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz as David came from that lineage. Samuel ended up annointing David as the king. He would go on to be the greatest king of Israel.
All this He worked through the lives of two women who were in "bitterness of soul" but still prayed, still clinged to the God of their salvation.
Many small groups in our church are going through a series on prayer. We may not see the answers in the here and now, but these two passages show that God does listen, hear, and "in the process of time" answers our prayers.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com/
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
1 Sam 1:19-2:12

Samuel Is Born and Dedicated
19 Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked for him from the Lord."
21 Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there forever."
23 So Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the Lord establish His word." Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
24 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, "O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. 28 Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord." So they worshiped the Lord there.
Hannah's Prayer(cf. Luke 1:46-55)
2 And Hannah prayed and said:
"My heart rejoices in the Lord;My horn is exalted in the Lord.I smile at my enemies,Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
2 "No one is holy like the Lord,For there is none besides You,Nor is there any rock like our God.
3 "Talk no more so very proudly;Let no arrogance come from your mouth,For the Lord is the God of knowledge;And by Him actions are weighed.
4 "The bows of the mighty men are broken,And those who stumbled are girded with strength. 5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,And the hungry have ceased to hunger.Even the barren has borne seven,And she who has many children has become feeble.
6 "The Lord kills and makes alive;He brings down to the grave and brings up. 7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;He brings low and lifts up. 8 He raises the poor from the dustAnd lifts the beggar from the ash heap,To set them among princesAnd make them inherit the throne of glory.
"For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,And He has set the world upon them. 9 He will guard the feet of His saints,But the wicked shall be silent in darkness.
"For by strength no man shall prevail. 10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces;From heaven He will thunder against them.The Lord will judge the ends of the earth.
"He will give strength to His king,And exalt the horn of His anointed."
11 Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah. But the child ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest.

NKJV