For today, we are reading Ruth 4:13-22, 1 Chronicles 2:9-55, 1 Chronicles 4:1-23, and 1 Samuel 1:1-8.  Lots going on – what stands out to you as important?

Big day – hard to pick one thing to highlight. Don’t miss our first mention of David – part of Ruth’s harvest (Ruth 4:17)! And there’s Jabez in the middle of all those “son of”s! Fight the urge to skim – we’ve got treasures in these Words!  

“And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!’ So God granted him what he requested” (1 Chronicles 4:10 NKJV)

As we move into Samuel (another favorite of mine!), I notice that Hannah could “expect to the taunted” every time she went to the sanctuary of God….

“her rival wife taunted her cruelly, rubbing it in and never letting her forget that God had not given her children. This went on year after year. Every time she went to the sanctuary of God she could expect to be taunted” (1 Samuel 1:6-7 MSG)

But I notice this as well: she still kept going. Year after year, she could expect this treatment in the sanctuary, but year after year she was still there! People can be cruel, but God is always kind. Don’t allow a “church hurt” to keep you from church.  Don’t allow people actions/words to have such influence that you stop seeking the Lord – Hannah’s persistence through pain paid off, and yours will too!