29 June

I have started on 1 Samuel today.

My objective is to learn from the people whose heart trusts in God.

Hanah.

Her bitterness of the soul is emphasised by the repetition of the phrase "she wept" twice.

This shows how much she wants a child.

The passage says

12And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

"And it came to pass" tells me that everything is planned in God's hand long time ago. Everything is in God's plan, tho at many times we may not understand His purpose.

Hanah cried unto the Lord and "the Lord remembered her". This phrase appears after "she poured out her soul before the Lord".

I learnt that we should always pour our hearts unto God who hears and cares for us.

Hanah's commitment to the Lord is shown by giving Samuel to the Lord once she weaned him. Being a mother myself, I know how much Samuel means to her. But she kept her promise all the same.

I learn to keep vows to the Lord at all costs. And dont make vows easily with the Lord!!

Hanah honours the Lord. Besides giving Sam, she also gave

"she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine,".

This shows a heart which worships and give thanks to the Lord.

In summary, hanah pours her heart to God, trusts in God to have heard and remembered her, keeps her vows despite pain, honours and gives thanks to the Lord.

The comforting part is that God gives her even more children after Sam.

God is good to us. Amen.

Ruth

12The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

Ruth 3: 12

I learnt from Ruth's example of trusting in the Lord. Her actions of leaving her familiar grounds to enter a new place with her mother in law is similar to Abraham who left his home to a place where he knows not where.

It seems that people who trust God shows it through their lives and not words. They show it through going through the unknown with a quiet trust in God.

Ruth is rewarded. Her son with Boaz is the forefather of Jesse and David. And Jesus came from this line.

Let us believe that Jesus is worthy to be trusted.

GOd grant us a childlike trust in You. We worship you by trusting you.

Love you Jesus.