I Samuel 3:1-4:1a

Dear RTB’ers,

Today we meet Samuel, beyond what we have already read of his birth. It’s an interesting story of the Lord calling three times and Samuel going to Eli each time, with Eli recognizing on the third call that it must be the Lord. So then the Lord speaks words regarding Eli and his house, confirming what we already know from yesterday.

To me the important words in today’s reading are in verse 19: And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. With these words Samuel is confirmed as a prophet of the Lord. We need to go back to Deuteronomy to see the origin of this claim. Here is the full passage, first with the Lord speaking to Moses: “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. … But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.” [Then Moses speaks to the people.] And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. (Dt. 18:18-22a)

So, as we move forward, we know that none of Samuel’s words will “fall to the ground.” He is a prophet, and this is known universally in Israel: And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD. (v. 20) Dan is in the far north and Beersheba is in the far south. So whenever we read “from Dan to Beersheba”, we know that the author is speaking of the entire nation of Israel. Samuel – more than a judge, a true prophet!

Blessings!

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See also: March 21 (2023) / I Samuel 1-3.

I Samuel 2:12-36, 3:11-14

Dear RTB’ers,

We met Samuel yesterday, but he has not yet risen to the place where he will become Israel’s “leader”, the last of the judges, if you will. So we are still dealing with “Every man did what was right in his own eyes.” Hophni and Phineas are certainly doing what they wish, although I daresay that they do not imagine that what they are doing is “right”. Their sleeping with the tabernacle servants is bad enough, but their greater sin is abusing the Lord’s offering: Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the LORD, for the men treated the offering of the LORD with contempt. (v. 2:17) In the one bright spot for Eli, he responds to their activities with a serious condemnation: If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him? (v. 2:25a) God indeed will bring about His justice on Eli’s family (the Lord speaking): And this that shall come upon your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, … both of them shall die on the same day. (v. 2:34) Down the road we will see that Eli will have a descendent, Abiathar, God fulfilling His promise of verse 2:33.

With all that we read of Eli, Hophni, and Phineas, the author still keeps us appraised of Samuel: And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the LORD. Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and also with man. (vv. 21b, 26 ) Looking forward to tomorrow…!

Blessings!

I Samuel 2:1-11

Dear RTB’ers,

I suspect that many Bible readers are familiar with “Hannah’s prayer” primarily because of it being cited in relation to Mary’s prayer, “the Magnificat” in Luke 1:46-55 (as our STS note mentions). That result is not unexpected, in that most of us spend more time in the New Testament than in the Old Testament, so we would be reading Mary’s prayer more often, especially around Christmas-time.

That said, however, Hannah’s prayer/song is itself worthy of serious reflection. The one item that strikes me most in this prayer is that there is no mention of Samuel’s birth. This is not a typical prayer of thanksgiving, because his birth is never mentioned. Her prayer is straightforward praise to God for who He is and what He has done. Just now I read Mary’s “Magnificat” and saw parallels between her prayer and Hannah’s prayer. Mary’s prayer is also straightforward praise to God. I encourage you to read it, Luke 1:45-55, then come back and read Hannah’s prayer. A good morning activity…!

Blessings!

I Samuel 1

Dear RTB’ers,

Today as we begin I Samuel, we are beginning that period of Israeli history known as the monarchy. We’ll meet Israel’s first kings, Saul and David; Solomon and others will come later. But first, the books known as I and II Samuel naturally begin with Samuel.

I’m impressed with Hannah. She was barren; she wanted children and was doubly tormented by taunts from Elkanah’s other wife, Peninnah. The author offers one sentence that reflects her feelings for her situation: She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. (v. 10) Distress (especially Peninnah’s taunting) could easily lead to bitterness, but Hannah’s first response is weeping and prayer. Her second response is unexpected: And she made a vow and said, “LORD of armies, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your bond-servant and remember me, and not forget Your bond-servant, but will give Your bond-servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.” (v. 11) A vow, and not just a simple vow, but an extended vow covering her situation and her son’s entire life! Praying for a son with a willingness to give him to the Lord all the days of his life. Impressive! And she does just that, after his weaning period. …then I will bring him, so that he may appear before the LORD and stay there for life. … So I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD. (vv. 22b, 28)

A good introduction to I Samuel! Makes us want to read on…!

Blessings!

Ruth 3-4

Dear RTB’ers,

Today we finish Ruth, only one day after we began. We had a great discussion of Ruth at yesterday’s RTB gathering. The clear, central topic in Ruth is redemption – Boaz’s redemption of Naomi’s land and his taking Ruth as his wife, all of which led to King David as Boaz’s great-grandson and, eventually, for us, to Jesus. We see God’s hand at work in all these events, both the sad and the happy – in Naomi’s loss of her husband and her two sons; in Ruth and Orpah choosing different paths; in Boaz’s kindness to Ruth; in the nearest kinsman’s rejection of the redemption opportunity; and in Boaz’s generosity in continuing Elimelech’s and Mahlon’s name.

For me the glory in the book of Ruth is God’s work in time and space to bring about His end results. He is not limited by days or years or miles or politics. We might not be happy in current situations that we are facing, but God is aware of all of our ups and downs. He has brought us to where we are now and He will take us further to where He wants us. We need to thank Him for the trials as well as the joys.

Now, on to I Samuel, to read about this king whose ancestors we have met in these last two days!

Blessings!

Ruth 1-2

Dear RTB’ers,

If this is your first time reading the book of Ruth, I would not be surprised to learn that you continued on to read the last two chapters also. It would be hard not to go on and to see the final, complete redemption of the tragedies that fell on Naomi. But today we have only the first two chapters, each with it’s own story line – Naomi and Ruth in the first chapter, with Ruth and Boaz in the second chapter.

The first chapter has a couple of beloved lines, often read or sung at weddings: But Ruth said, “Do not plead with me to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you sleep, I will sleep. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD do so to me, and worse, if anything but death separates me from you.” (vv. 1:16-17) Precious words.

Boaz’s words in the second chapter are no less redemptive: “All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know. May the LORD reward your work, and may your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under Whose wings you have come to take refuge.” (vv. 2:11b-12) What Boaz says to Ruth is only half the story. He speaks further to his servants to make sure that she is protected and successful in her gleanings: “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not insult her. Also you are to purposely slip out for her some grain from the bundles and leave it so that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.” (vv. 2:15b-16)

If this book had ended here, we would have seen the Lord’s hand in Naomi’s redemption. But it goes on (tomorrow) and His hand looking forward is even more powerful than what we have read today!! Come join us for our RTB gathering after coffee hour!! GLORY!!

Blessings!

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See also: March 20 (2023) / Ruth 1-4.

I Peter 5

Dear RTB’ers,

Today we end 1 Peter, closing with a number of exhortations, all directed to the building up of the body of Christ. Elders, …shepherd the flock of God… (v. 2). You who are younger, …be subject to the elders. (v. 5a) All of you, Clothe yourselves…with humility toward one another… (v. 5b) Humble yourselves…under the mighty hand of God … casting all your anxieties on Him… (vv. 6-7a) Be sober-minded; be watchful… Resist him… (vv. 8a, 9a)

Finally, after having spent so many words on suffering throughout this letter, Peter closes with a word of encouragement as to the end of those sufferings: And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace … will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (v. 10) Not a bad reward for whatever we might have gone through…!

Blessings!

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See also:

• November 19 (2021) / I Peter 5:1-14
• December 23 (2023) / I Peter (again, now that we’re at the end)

I Peter 4:7-19

Dear RTB’ers,

Suffering… The word “suffer” (and its endings) occurs once in I Peter 1, four times in I Peter 2, three times in I Peter 3, six times in I Peter 4, and three times in I Peter 5. We know from the book of Acts that Paul and his fellow travelers (Barnabas, Silas, others?) suffered for their preaching at the hands of the Jews with beatings, stoning, etc., especially in Galatia, Philippi, and Thessalonica. Peter is very likely writing to these same people and is probably aware of what Paul and his companions have gone through, with an expectation that Gentile converts in those regions would be suffering the same fate. To that end, Peter reminds his readers of Jesus’ suffering and ties their suffering to His. It’s a good reminder for us also! I remember the nuns in my Catholic grade school who used to speak of difficult times with one phrase: “Offer it up.”

In addition to “offering it up”, Peter also offers his readers some good, encouraging advice: keep loving one another; show hospitality; serve one another (by the strength that God supplies); and speak as one who speaks oracles of God. (vv. 8-11) Why? …that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. (v. 11b)

Finally, my Study Bible relates Peter’s quote in verse 18 to Proverbs 11:31, but more pointedly (to me) to Jesus’ own words as He walked His path to Golgotha: For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry? (Luke 23:31) If they did these things to Jesus…

Suffering… (misfortunes, disappointments, etc.) – expect it, and offer it up.

Blessings!

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See also: November 18 (2021) / I Peter 4:1-19.

I Peter 3:13-4:6

Dear RTB’ers,

Some challenging verses today, especially … in which He went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison… (3:19) and For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead… (4:6) These verses have confused me every time I have read them and again today. So I don’t think I can clarify them to the extent that I would like. However, there is one thing that I do know, that Jesus went to hell after His death. Here is the text from our Apostles’ Creed: [Jesus] was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead… Our Apostles’ Creed clearly states that Jesus went to Hell between His death and His resurrection. These words are not in our Nicene Creed (go figure!). It simply states that He suffered death and was buried. On the third day He rose again… We pray both the Nicene Creed and the Apostles’ Creed in our worship services and we accept them both as true in our faith. We do not accept one and exclude the other. Yes, Jesus went to hell. Why? Ask Him!

Come to our RTB gathering this coming Sunday and we’ll discuss this further! 

Blessings!

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See also: November 17 (2021) / I Peter 3:1-22.