Day 138, 16th January: 1 Samuel, John and Psalms

Pressing in to God
Chris Evans, Raunds Community Church

Today’s readings
1 Samuel 1:1-2:26
John 10:22-42
Psalms 63:1-11

Yesterday we were reading about Ruth the outsider; this new book travels through the lives of some big guns, David, Saul, Samuel, and today Hannah.

But why two Books for Samuel?

When Samuel was written they used scrolls and this story was too long for just one scroll so they used two, simples!

Today’s reading in the OT is about Hannah who was childless/barren. Childlessness in Hannah’s day was the pits and she would have been looked down upon by others, which would have been made worse by her husbands’ other wife constantly sticking the knife in!
Even though Hannah’s husband loved her extravagantly, she still desperately wanted a child and took this to God in prayer, tears and by making a vow to give the child to God. God showed up and answered her prayers. Hannah was radiant (the Message), just like Mary mother of Jesus who was also filled with the Holy Spirit. Even when she gave Samuel to the Church, she was still worshipping and full of God’s Spirit!

But how is childless/barrenness relevant to the situations we are in, especially in this day and age of IVF?

Barren or “desert like” experiences in our lives occur when we are challenged or tested. But if we follow Hannah’s example and press in to Christ through prayer and asking for the Holy Spirits help, we will get through the challenges, whilst strengthening our relationship with God and enabling his wonderful plans to be fulfilled in our lives, just like Hannah!

The NT’s verses talk about those “who listen to his voice are his sheep and he knows them and they follow him and don’t get torn from his presence”.

So how do we listen, receive eternal life and stop the destroyer from tearing us from Jesus? We can do this by reading the bible, prayer, worship, and spending time with other Christians. Isn’t this great, through all of these good things that we will be known by Jesus and saved?

Then we finish with Ruth’s great grandson David praising God when he was in the desert:-
God – You’re my God
I can’t get enough of you!

I’ve worked up such a hunger and thirst for God,
Travelling across dry and weary deserts.
So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory.

This finishes as we started with Hannah, praising God!

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Today’s picture was taken by…
KAT–>”He Is My Fortress I Shall Never Be Shaken – Psalm 62:2″. Thanks Kat!

If you’d like to take your own picture to potentially be featured on the blog, then get your Soul Survivor Bible in One Year, and take a picture of yourself – and your Bible – at some interesting or colourful location. Then email it to us at editor@soulsurvivor.com.

The pictures will need to be a pretty good resolution (we use 640px by 360 px so at least as big as that), landscape photos work best and if you include the day of the reading in the picture then make sure you send it to us a good few days before that reading, so we have time to include it in that day’s post! We’ll credit all photographers!