Michelle
So the preface to this book says that this is a turning point for the people of Israel. It says the people of Israel want to shift from being a theocracy to a monarchy. It goes on to state that this marks a crucial time in Israel's history and that this turn forever alters the course of history. It says that we will see both what happens when we follow what seems best to our human reasoning and what happens when we entrust ourselves to God's care and timing.
Wow. So this one hits me today. The passage goes thru the birth of Samuel and how his mother was barren before she prayed to the Lord, after being provoked to irritation by her rival. She poured out her heart to God and he answered her prayer, but in her prayer she promised to dedicate him to the Lord. So she left him in the care of the priest to be brought up in the ways of the Lord. That is a huge sacrifice for a mother. Or at least in my mind it is. The devotional in my bible is what really drove it home for me. It talks about how this woman had a hard time giving up something important to her even when God was urging her to do so. It took her a while but she finally did and is better for it. But she also says that while it's excruciatingly hard to turn her children's lives over to God, she released them to his loving care by saying a simple, heartfelt prayer to that effect. But she had to say it many times until her words were not a lie. LOL, I can relate to this. She said she chose to trust that God would love them and guide their lives better than she could. I find that this is a struggle and the husband tells me, from time to time, how I have affected our child with my controlling ways. Well not controlling necessarily, but I am probably like a helicopter mom, and I don't mean to be. He does have a sense of independence but at the same time I am a worrier and am fearful when he is away from us. I pray often for God to watch over him and to bring him home safely to me. I am not sure where this fear came from or if it's just a mom fear, but sometimes it is overwhelming. That is why this passage is so convicting. To thoughtfully give your child to God in the way that Hannah did. Just gives me pause. As he grows I know that I have to let go more and more and have worked on doing so. I continue to pray often that God guides him and watches over him. Some day I will not feel as anxious about it.
The proverb begins with warning against adultery and to stay away from the adulterous woman. The part that stood out to me was vs 15 on. It likens it to drinking water from your own cistern and how you wouldn't share that with others. So you shouldn't share your wife/partner with others. In vs 21 it reminds us that all our ways are in full view of the Lord and he examines our paths. The second part warns against Folly. I had to look this up as the beginning confused me a little. The part that stood out was 16-19 where it talks of the things God finds detestable. Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. The devotional attached to this section is for these verses. It says that it's bad for you to sin, doing any of these things, but it is "detestable" to start a chain reaction - causing others to sin too. This is powerful and is relatable to things going on throughout the world today. Often you see or read about people inciting others into negative actions.
Julie
Wow! That was very thought-provoking. It's funny because when I read something like this where someone willing gives their child to God I think how about how that takes great strength, but I don't know that I have ever thought much more than that. Maybe that's because I had to share my child and let him go, so I did basically give him to God and just asked him to take care of him. Hannah's song of praise to God was beautiful and reads like some of the psalms and proverbs that we have read. There is something in by Bible that says that we will see this again when Mary Magdalene enters the picture.
That is so true, you do see people inciting the negativity and it is horrible to see. I am amazed by the weakness of people that they would commit adultery. I am not sure how you do that and not feel any type of remorse. I think the verse that stood out to me other than 6:19 was 6:12, and how it explains the crooked man and reminding us that God knows that he is doing evil and justice will be served when the time is right. We just have to understand that it's God's time and not our time.
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