The Lord Answers Hannah’s Prayer

A search of I Samuel 1 (KJV):

Elkanah, who was from Ramathaim-zophim of mount Ephraim, had two wives.  One wife was named Hannah who had no children.  The other wife was named Peninnah who had children.  Yearly, Elkanah went to Shiloh for worship and sacrifice to the Lord.  When Elkanah offered, he gave his family their portion also.

Hannah was provoked yearly by her adversary because ‘the Lord had shut up [Hannah’s] womb’ (v. 6).  The provocation caused Hannah to weep and she would not eat.  Elkanah wondered why she weeped and he tried to console her.

In her bitterness, Hannah turned to the Lord in prayer to request a male child.  Hannah vowed, if given a male child, she would ‘…give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head” (v. 11).

Eli, the priest present while Hannah prayed, said for Hannah to “Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him” (v. 17).  Afterwards, Hannah ate and was no longer sad.

The Lord answered Hannah’s prayer by giving her a son who Hannah named Samuel.  Hannah told her husband that she would not go to worship until Samuel was weaned and then she would “…bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide for ever” (v. 22).

“And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh: and the child was young.  And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.  And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord.  For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath giveth me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord.  And he worshipped the Lord there” (vs. 24-28).

Boaz Takes Ruth as His Wife

A search of Ruth 3, 4 (KJV)

The events in chapter 3 lead up to the decision between two kinsman of Ruth who would ‘do the part of a kinsman to [her]’ (C. 3, v. 13).  The process involved the buying/selling exchange of land that belonged to a deceased relative.  In Ruth’s case, Naomi was selling land which was that of her deceased husband, Elimelech.  There were only two relatives who qualified to be the kinsman to buy the land—Boaz and another relative.  Whoever purchased Naomi’s land was also required to purchase land from Ruth who was the widow of Mahlon.

The one kinsman could not redeem the property for fear it would blemish his own inheritance.  “Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.  Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee.  So he drew off his shoe.  And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.  Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day” (C. 4, vs. 7-10).

“So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son.  And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.  And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.  And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it” (C. 4,vs. 13-16).

“And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.  Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab, And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon, And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David” (C. 4, vs. 17-22).

Ruth Rewarded for Her Good Toward Naomi

Ruth 2 (KJV)

In my search of the scriptures in chapter 2 of Ruth, I saw where God is working things out for Ruth’s good for trusting in Him.

Ruth was to only glean in Boaz’s field.  Naomi inquired of Ruth’s work to find out that Ruth was working for Boaz, a relative through Elimelech.  Naomi recognized the good for Ruth to only glean in Boaz’s field.  Ruth gleaned in Boaz’s field throughout harvest and lived with Naomi.

Ruth Remains Loyal to Naomi

Ruth 1 (KJV)

The judges ruled that there was a famine in Judah which caused Elimelech to move to Moab with his wife, Naomi, and two sons, Mahlon and Chilion.  The family remained in Moab.  The time came when Elimelech passed away and left Naomi with her sons.  Mahlon and Chilion remained in Moab where they took Orpah and Ruth from there as their wives.  They lived there around ten years.  The time came when both of the sons died.  Naomi was left without her husband and sons.

“Then [Naomi] arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread” (v. 6).  Naomi left Moab with Orpah and Ruth to return to Judah.  “And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.  The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband.  Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.  And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people” (vs. 8-10).

“And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband.  If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me” (vs. 11-13).

“And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.  And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.  And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.  When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her” (vs. 14-18).

“So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem.  And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.  I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley harvest” (vs. 19-22).

Two Beloved Ladies Named Ruth

As I come upon the book of Ruth, two dear and special ladies that I knew by the name of Ruth come to mind.  I’ll refer to them as Ruth O. and Ruth N.  I knew Ruth O. in my early childhood years as a church friend of my mother’s.  I later met and befriended Ruth N. at work.  I have fond memories of Ruth O. and Ruth N. as good Christian friends in their respective settings.

Ruth O. was a country woman who dressed in modest apparel and wore her long red hair in a beehive style.  Ruth O. was a woman who exuded kindness and peace.  A kindness and peace shared with her brothers and sisters.  A kindness and peace shared with God.  Ruth O. was a true spiritual woman of God who I loved to be around.  I especially loved to hear her sing in church.  Ruth O. wrote songs and sang them in front of the church.  I can visualize how she shared her testimony with the congregation as she unfolded the paper with the song words.  Music was played.  The Holy Spirit would overwhelm Ruth O. as she sang.

Ruth N. was a dear work friend.  We often shared our break times together where Ruth N. would joke me about being her boyfriend and wondered when I was going to take her on a trip to Hawaii.  We shared many laughs over the ongoing joke of the time.  Ruth was a fun person to be around who was always hospitable as well as concerned about the welfare of others.

Before journeying into the book of Ruth in the bible, I wanted to briefly share with you two Ruths in my life.  Two unique and special people who will always be remembered.  Is there a beloved Ruth in your life?

Final chapters of the Book of Judges

Judges 19-21

For those of you who follow this blog, continue to read the last three chapters in the book of Judges.  I’ll  begin the book of Ruth tomorrow!

Danites Take Man-made gods; Land of Laish

Judges 18:14-31

On their way to conquer Laish, the Danites stopped at Micah’s house where the five men who searched out the land informed their brothers of the ephod, teraphim and images that were there.  The brothers who numbered six hundred were armed and decided to take the items from the house.  The priest was there and said to them, “What do ye? And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel? And the priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people” (vs. 18-20).

The party departed Micah’s house to continue on to Laish.  “And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah’s house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan.  And they cried unto the children of Dan.  And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company? And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee? And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household.  And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house” (vs. 22-26).

“And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.  And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Beth-rehob.  And they built a city, and dwelt therein.  And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first” (vs. 27-29).

“And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.  And they set them up Micah’s graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh” (vs. 30, 31).