God's favor works wonders

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first post in the archives, dated November 12, 2008, where I introduce myself and the blog. I invite to you add in any reflections or comments you may have.

Blessings and best wishes,
Dr. Will.

Monday, December 28, 2009
Devotions: Ps 34, 93, 96; 1 Sam 1:1-28; Col 1:9-20; Lk 2:22-40

I will praise God continually; I have sought Him, and YHWH has answered me. He delivers me from all my fears; let us look to Him and be radiant. God’s angel camps around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Taste and see: the Lord is good! Happy are they who take refuge in Him. Fear the Lord, all His saints; those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Life abundant is found in God alone; depart from evil, do good, seek peace and pursue it! God watches over the righteous; though we have many afflictions, God delivers us from all of them. We are saved, not condemned. YHWH reigns, robed in majesty, girded with strength. All creation praises our Creator and Master. Let us sing a new song to YHWH; bless His holy name. Declare His glory among the nations; ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. He judges the peoples with equity and with His truth.

Elkanah was an Ephraimite living in the hill country. He had two wives, Peninah and Hannah; Peninah had borne him children, but Hannah had none. This man and his wives used to go up to Shiloh every year, to worship and sacrifice there to YHWH Sabaoth. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas were priests at the Shiloh shrine. At the shrine feast, Hannah was confronted with the shame of her barrenness; and she would weep and refuse to eat. Elkanah said to her, ‘Hannah, why do you weep and not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?’ After the meal, Hannah got up and went to the shrine; Eli the priest was seated by the doorpost of the temple. Hannah was deeply distressed and prayed to YHWH, weeping bitterly. She vowed this: ‘O YHWH Sabaoth, if You will regard the affliction of Your maidservant and will give me a son, I will give him to You all the days of his life, and no razor will touch his head.’ Eli saw Hannah—her mouth was moving, but he heard no voice; Eli thought she was drunk, and rebuked her. But Hannah replied, ‘No, my lord, I am sorely troubled; I have drunk no wine or strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. I am no base woman, but a woman deeply troubled, and I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.’ Eli answered, ‘Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to Him!’ Hannah answered, ‘May your maidservant find favor in your eyes!’ She went her way, and her countenance was no longer sad. Soon Elkanah and his wives returned home, and Hannah conceived and bore a son, whom she named Samuel, [Name of God], for she had asked him of the YHWH. Once Samuel was weaned, Hannah took him, with sacrifices of a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, to the house of God in Shiloh. They slew the bull and brought the child to Eli. Hannah said to him, ‘Oh, my lord! As you live, I am the woman who stood here in your presence, praying to YHWH. I prayed for this child, and YHWH has granted my petition. Therefore, I have lent my son to YHWH, for as long as he lives.’ And they worshiped YHWH there.

Paul and Timothy to the Christians at Collosse: From the day we heard of your love in the Spirit, we have not ceased praying for you; we ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in your knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the First-born of all creation. In Jesus all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things cohere. He is the Head of the body, the church; He is the Beginning, the First-born from the dead—so that in everything, Jesus might pre-eminent. In Him all the fullness of God is pleased to dwell; through Him God is reconciling all things to Himself, things on earth and in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.’

When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus up to the temple, to present Him to the Lord, and to offer the prescribed sacrifice, ‘a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.’ In Jerusalem there was a righteous, devout man named Simeon, who was awaiting the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. The Spirit had assured Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. The Spirit led Simeon into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him what the law required, Simeon took Jesus into his arms, and blessed God, saying, ‘Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for the glory of Your people Israel.’ Simeon blessed Joseph and Mary and said to her, ‘Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against—and a sword will pierce your own soul, too—that thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.’ In the temple, there was also a prophetess, Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of Asher’s tribe; Anna was very old; she had lived seven years with her husband, but had been a widow thereafter, now aged 84. She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. She came up at that very hour, giving thanks to God, and spoke of Him to all who were seeking the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had done everything the law required, they returned to Nazareth, and Jesus grew and became strong, filled with wisdom and God’s favor was upon Him.