My God, My Joy, My Hope
BRD REFLECTIONS:
1 Samuel 2:12-36 and Psalm 43 (NIV)
(Cecilia Chow, CIC Facilitator)
READ:
As I read both 1 Samuel 2:12-36 & Psalm 43, these verses caught my attention:
1 Samuel 2:12-36
30 …But I will honour those who honour me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me.
Psalm 43
2 For you are God, my only safe haven…
3 Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me… to the place where you live.
4 There I will go… to God – the source of all my joy…
5 …I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again – my Saviour and my God!
OBSERVE:
1 Samuel 2:30 shows God’s judgment on man’s posture towards Him.
The hearts and attitudes of the sons of Eli: Hophni and Phinehas, and Hannah’s son, Samuel, contrasted like water and oil.
Eli’s sons wouldn’t listen to their father, and the Lord planned to put them to death. Eli must have been heartbroken by the attitude and actions of his wicked sons towards God.
In contrast, Samuel, though only a boy, served the Lord with reverence like that of a priest and grew up in the presence of the Lord. Not only did he grow in favour with the Lord, he also grew in favour with the people.
In Psalm 43, in spite of the author’s despondent state and saddened heart, he acknowledged God as his only safe haven, and his source of joy and hope.
APPLY:
I’d like to adopt a heart of surrender and reverence to God as exemplified by Hannah and Samuel.
DO:
- Acknowledge God’s sovereignty.
- Let God guide me in His light and truth.
- Praise and honour God unceasingly in all things.
PRAY:
Dear God,
Humble me to Your ways and help me to see Your light.
In my desolation, open and uplift me to Your wisdom and truth.
May Your grace strengthen me and grow my courage to stand firm for my faith in You; praising and honouring You with joy and no restraint.
In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
