Receiving a Double Portion
1 Samuel 1:5 “But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the Lord had closed her womb.” Observation: Though Hannah was much loved by her husband, she was barren. Her husband’s response, because of his deep love, was not critical of her. He...
Humble of Heart
Ruth 3:1, 4, 9 “Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, ‘My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? … It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go down and uncover his feet and lie...
Our Sheltering God
Ruth 1:6; 2:12 “Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the Lord had visited His people by giving them food.” “May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord...
Easy Deception
Judges 17:5–6 “And the man Micah had a shrine and he made an ephod and household idols and consecrated one of his sons, that he might become his priest. In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.” Observation: Micah was a...
Fellowship Restored
2 Corinthians 2:10–11 “But one whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of...
Weighing What’s in Me
Judges 11:11 “Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the Lord.” Observation: Jephthah didn’t have a promising beginning. He was the offspring of Gilead’s affair with a...
Sand Castles
Psalm 49:10–12 “Even wise men die; the stupid and senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others. Their inner thought is that their houses are forever and their dwelling places to all generations. They have called their lands after their own names, but man in...
Volunteering for Death
1 Corinthians 15:31 “I die daily.” Observation: This simple statement comes during a discourse by Paul on death and resurrection—on the differences between those who have eternal life in Christ and will be given new and imperishable bodies in the resurrection, and...
Wimp or Warrior
Judges 6:12–13 “The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, ‘The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior.’ Then Gideon said to him, ‘Oh my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told...
Releasing the Bicycle
Judges 4:8–9 “Then Barak said to her, ‘If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.’ She said, ‘I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the honor shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the Lord will...
