Thus Far the Lord Has Helped Us…

 

Then the men of Kirjath Jearim came and took the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.

So it was that the ark remained in Kirjath Jearim a long time; it was there twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines." So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only.

And Samuel said, "Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you." So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the LORD. And they fasted that day, and said there, "We have sinned against the LORD." And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah.

Now when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. So the children of Israel said to Samuel, "Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines."

And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. Then Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him. Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the LORD thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel. And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and drove them back as far as below Beth Car. Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us."

So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. Then the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered its territory from the hands of the Philistines. Also there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.—1 Samuel 7:1-14

In all our variegated trials and troubles, God’s desire is to subdue the enemy of our souls and restore to us the territory they have taken.

This morning my heart focused on these inspired words of Samuel…

Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines." So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only.

Beloved…God does not change. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He desires truth in our inward man. He wants our hearts to be His and His alone. God wants us to live today in this vale of tears in the same way He wanted the Israelites to live…by faith, depending on His grace. 

What does that look like in your life and mine? How do we actually live this way?

The answer is always in the turning. Turn to Him in your trouble, turn to Him in your anguish and grief.  Turn to Him in your weakness, turn to Him in your fits of depression and hopelessness.  Turn to Him in your need, turn to Him in your discontentedness and dissatisfaction.  Turn to Him in your sin and repent.  

When we do this, we will look back and see our own Ebenezer stone pathway because there will never have been a turning where He has not helped us. As believers, His sustaining grace will be there to meet every single one of our needs. Jesus, the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the Lord is our Advocate. He will go before us and make our crooked places straight. He will help us. Keep turning…Keep looking up.

He will comfort us in our sorrow, 

He will give beauty for ashes

He will give the oil of joy for mourning,

He will give the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

That we may be called trees of righteousness,

The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."

Oh Father…

Turn away our eyes from looking at worthless things,

And revive us in Your way.—Psalm 119:37

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—

From whence comes my help?

My help comes from the LORD,

Who made heaven and earth.—Psalm 121:1-2

The Lord God is our strength and our song. He is our salvation. 

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

"God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble."

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.—1 Peter 5:7-8

Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us.

Selah—Psalm 62:8

I will love You, O LORD, my strength.

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;

My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;

So shall I be saved from my enemies.

The pangs of death surrounded me,

And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.

The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;

The snares of death confronted me.

In my distress I called upon the LORD,

And cried out to my God;

He heard my voice from His temple,

And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.

Then the earth shook and trembled;

The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,

Because He was angry.

Smoke went up from His nostrils,

And devouring fire from His mouth;

Coals were kindled by it.

He bowed the heavens also, and came down

With darkness under His feet.

And He rode upon a cherub, and flew;

He flew upon the wings of the wind.

He made darkness His secret place;

His canopy around Him was dark waters

And thick clouds of the skies.

From the brightness before Him,

His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.

The LORD thundered from heaven,

And the Most High uttered His voice,

Hailstones and coals of fire.

He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe,

Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.

Then the channels of the sea were seen,

The foundations of the world were uncovered

At Your rebuke, O LORD,

At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

He sent from above, He took me;

He drew me out of many waters.

He delivered me from my strong enemy,

From those who hated me,

For they were too strong for me.

They confronted me in the day of my calamity,

But the LORD was my support.

He also brought me out into a broad place;

He delivered me because He delighted in me.—Psalm 18:1-19

Lesson 3: Hannah

 

But the prayer of the upright is His delight.—Proverbs 15:8b

But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16 “Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.”—1 Samuel 1:15-16

Hannah’s Song of Gratitude to God...

And Hannah prayed and said:

“My heart rejoices in the LORD;

My horn is exalted in the LORD.

I smile at my enemies,

Because I rejoice in Your salvation.

2 “No one is holy like the LORD,

For there is none besides You,

Nor is there any rock like our God.

3 “Talk no more so very proudly;

Let no arrogance come from your mouth,

For the LORD is the God of knowledge;

And by Him actions are weighed.—1 Samuel 2:1-3

Hannah not only poured out her heart to God in sorrow but also in joy. In chapter 2 we read her beautiful words of gratitude and thanksgiving.  She rejoices in God’s salvation and takes both joy and comfort in His sovereignty.  Read the words, however, that come JUST BEFORE Hannah’s prayer of gratitude.

24 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD. 27 For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. 28 Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.—1 Samuel 1:24-28

In a short time, Hannah would be fulfilling her vow to the Lord by leaving her just weaned, very young son with Eli, the priest at the Tabernacle of the Lord.  How much more of a testimony are Hannah’s words now knowing the depth of sorrow that must also be in her heart as she prays this prayer of worship and thanksgiving! How much strength is added to her acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty when we know that in the next few moments she would be relinquishing her precious son...her gift both from the Lord and to the Lord...forever.  

—Hannah trusted God and prayed with confidence because she understood that whatever sorrow of heart might be coming...she WOULD  endure because her heart could still...always and truly...rejoice in the Lord. In Him..in His favor...her “horn” would be exalted.  In Him, she could and would smile at her enemies...she belonged to God. He was her strength, her song and had become her salvation. If God were for her who could be against her.

1 Vindicate me, O God,

And plead my cause against an ungodly nation;

Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man!

2 For You are the God of my strength;

Why do You cast me off?

Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

3 Oh, send out Your light and Your truth!

Let them lead me;

Let them bring me to Your holy hill

And to Your tabernacle.

4 Then I will go to the altar of God,

To God my exceeding joy;

And on the harp I will praise You,

O God, my God.

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God;

For I shall yet praise Him,

The help of my countenance and my God.—Psalm 43

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.—Philippians 4:6-7

For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,—Philippians 3:3

I will love You, O LORD, my strength.

2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;

My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;

So shall I be saved from my enemies.—Psalm 18:1-3

17 Though the fig tree may not blossom,

Nor fruit be on the vines;

Though the labor of the olive may fail,

And the fields yield no food;

Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,

And there be no herd in the stalls—

18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19 The LORD God is my strength;

He will make my feet like deer’s feet,

And He will make me walk on my high hills.—Habakkuk 3:17-19

Lesson 2 from Hannah in 1 Samuel…

 

But the prayer of the upright is His delight.—Proverbs 15:8b

But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16 “Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.”—1 Samuel 1:15-16

Hannah’s Song of Gratitude to God...

And Hannah prayed and said:

“My heart rejoices in the LORD;

My horn is exalted in the LORD.

I smile at my enemies,

Because I rejoice in Your salvation.

2 “No one is holy like the LORD,

For there is none besides You,

Nor is there any rock like our God.

3 “Talk no more so very proudly;

Let no arrogance come from your mouth,

For the LORD is the God of knowledge;

And by Him actions are weighed.—1 Samuel 2:1-3

Lesson 2: Hannah

Hannah referred to herself as the Lord’s maidservant. (1 Samuel 1:16) Similarly, Paul, in his NT letters to the various churches, refers to himself as the Lord’s bondservant.  Scripture tells us that as a man thinks in his heart so is he. Oh, to have this same mindset!  To think and refer to myself as a maidservant of the Lord.  After a while this truth would rule in my mind and my heart and pride and arrogance would take a back seat. 

Unto You I lift up my eyes,

O You who dwell in the heavens.

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters,

As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,

So our eyes look to the LORD our God,

Until He has mercy on us.—Psalm 123:1-2

Lesson One From Hannah in 1 Samuel…

 

But the prayer of the upright is His delight.—Proverbs 15:8b

But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16 “Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.”—1 Samuel 1:15-16

Hannah’s Song of Gratitude to God...

And Hannah prayed and said:

“My heart rejoices in the LORD;

My horn is exalted in the LORD.

I smile at my enemies,

Because I rejoice in Your salvation.

2 “No one is holy like the LORD,

For there is none besides You,

Nor is there any rock like our God.

3 “Talk no more so very proudly;

Let no arrogance come from your mouth,

For the LORD is the God of knowledge;

And by Him actions are weighed.—1 Samuel 2:1-3

Beloved...There is so much we can learn from Hannah.  As I read the Spirit of God’s words today, not only about Hannah but also through Hannah, I felt trapped and overwhelmed by time constraints. My heart truly wanted to spend hours right there in those first few chapters of 1 Samuel gleaning whatever the Lord had for me in these passages. They were for me! They have been for me (according to the notations in my Bible) since 1998.  Sadly, I didn’t have hours, but I was able to spend the remainder of the time I had, writing and meditating on the verses above.  I also bookmarked the page in my Bible so I could reread it later this evening...

Lesson 1: Hannah

—Hannah was a woman of great sorrow and in chapter 1 we find her pouring out her soul before the Lord.  If we take away nothing else from this humble and submissive woman of God, let us commit to following her example when our own hearts become overwhelmed.  

Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us.

Selah—Psalm 62:8

The Goodness of God Endures Continually…

 

The goodness of God endures continually.—Psalm 52b

The world is filled with evil but the goodness of God endures continually. Beloved…focus your heart right there today. Let this verse be your song in the night and your light in the darkness. Let its truth lift your heart and enable your spirit to sing as the nightingale. Let it be the lens through which you view your circumstances as well as the world around you.

As a believer, Christ has stepped into our darkness.  His steadfast love never ceases. His mercy, grace, and lovingkindness surround us and follow hard after us. In Him is our hope and our comfort even and especially in the midst of tragedy, turmoil, grief and unrest.  Cleave unto Him.  His goodness endures continually.

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God;

I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.

I will praise You forever,

Because You have done it;

And in the presence of Your saints

I will wait on Your name, for it is good.—Psalm 52:8-9

But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who [reverently] fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children,—Psalm 103:17

O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;

For His compassion and lovingkindness endure forever! —Psalm 107:1

I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD

In the land of the living.

Wait for and confidently expect the LORD;

Be strong and let your heart take courage;

Yes, wait for and confidently expect the LORD.—Psalm 27:13-14

The wormwood and the gall.

20 My soul still remembers

And sinks within me.

21 This I recall to my mind,

Therefore I have hope.

22 Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

24 "The LORD is my portion," says my soul,

"Therefore I hope in Him!"—Lamentations 3:19-24

7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;

All Your waves and billows have gone over me.

8 The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,

And in the night His song shall be with me—

A prayer to the God of my life.—Psalm 42:7-8

Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by your name;

You are Mine.

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.—Isaiah 43:1-2

“When my soul fainted within me,

I remembered the LORD;

And my prayer went up to You,

Into Your holy temple.—Jonah 2:7

Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us.

Selah—Psalm 62:8

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith”—1 John 5:4

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.—Romans 8:37-39

22 Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

24 "The LORD is my portion," says my soul,

"Therefore I hope in Him!"

25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,

To the soul who seeks Him.—Lamentations 3:22-25

Zacchaeus…

 

Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” 8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”—Luke 19:1-9

This morning I am praising God for Zacchaeus who was truly a lost sheep of Israel.  I am thankful that Jesus came to seek and save those who were lost...those who knew they were in need of a Savior. I am thankful for the God ordained trials and situations in each of our lives that bring us to where we find Zacchaeus in this story...in a Sycamore tree seeking Jesus. Zacchaeus had money and power but not acceptance.  He was despised and rejected by his people and seen as a traitor in Israel because of his occupation as a tax collector. Zacchaeus, however, was a blessed man. He faced rejection daily for his sin and was probably very lonely.  This must have made him long for what only Jesus could give.  Wholeness, acceptance and unfailing love. So when the opportunity came, Zacchaeus was not going to let it pass him by. 

So eager in fact, was he to see Jesus that he became like a child.  Scripture tells us he was of short stature ( thinking child again) and in order to compensate for that he ran ahead and climbed a tree so he might see Him when He passed that way.  

Zacchaeus first sought Jesus (19:3) but in 19:10 it turns out that Zacchaeus was seeking Jesus because Jesus first sought him.  This realization filled my heart with joy!   I think back on my life before coming to Jesus...from my point of view Jesus was not near to me...at best He was a far off thought for another day.  But here is the thing, He WAS near to me...

He died for me when I was still without strength...dead in my trespasses and sins.

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.—Romans 5:6 

He sought me as shepherd searches for a lost sheep.

But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."—Matthew 15:24 

He drew me with cords of love...

I drew them with gentle cords, With bands of love, And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped [and] fed them.—Hosea 11:4 

And it was the goodness of God that led me to repentance.  

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.—John 6:44 

We love Him because He first loved us.—1 John 4:19 

Zacchaeus desired Jesus and was willing to lose not only his dignity but his worldly goods, also. (Vs 8)

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.--Jim Elliot  

So often we cry, Lord, who will show us any good?  Even those of us who are saved look to the wrong things to bring us peace and satisfaction. Beloved, seek after the One who desires only your good...Seek after the One who is only good.  Seek His kingdom and all else will be added. Give Him the pre-eminence!  Delight yourself in your God and He will give you the desires of your heart!!  Blessed is the man whose God is the Lord!!