Call Upon The Lord

Elimelech and Naomi traveled to Moab from Israel to avoid a famine in the land. They along with their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion would be in Moab for 10 years. During that time, their sons married, Mahlon to Ruth and Chilion to Orpah. Unfortunately, Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion all died, leaving their wives widowed.

Naomi implored Ruth and Orpah to return to their homeland and their gods as she would not be able to offer them new husbands. While Orpah went away, Ruth stayed saying, “…your people will be my people and your God my God”. Ruth was loyal to Naomi.

Naomi and Ruth returned to Bethlehem, but they were poor. Ruth volunteered to go glean fields in order that they could have some food. Through the providence of God, she went to a field belonging to Boaz.

Boaz took notice of Ruth and showed her kindness. Despite being over 50, Boaz agreed to be the kinsman redeemer to Ruth. As such, Boaz purchased back the land that Naomi sold so she could live, and he took Ruth as his wife. From their union, Obed was born. Obed would be the father of Jesse, the father of David.

When Naomi had returned to Bethlehem, she wanted people to call her Mara (meaning “bitter”). She felt as though God’s hand was against her and that nothing good could come from her life. Little did she know that it was through her life and the life of her daughter-in-law that God would continue the Messianic line. Whenever you face trouble in your life, remember, God is always there and working for the good of His people. Trust in the Lord and He will renew your strength!

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David was a good and righteous king. He was the anointed of God to lead Israel, and under his rule, Israel was successful both militarily and economically. David sought God when decisions needed to be made, and he was repaid for his faithfulness.

David was made king of all of Israel after the challenges from Saul’s sons were dealt with. He reigned as king for 40 years in total. In one of the greatest acts of humility in the Bible, David is described as dancing before the Ark of God in a linen ephod. When confronted about his behavior by his wife, Michal, David told her, “I will be even more undignified than this and will humble myself in my own sight.” Here was a man who loved the Lord and sought His glory.
David was a just and fair king. He even showed compassion on the last remnant of the house of Saul. When he found that Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, was still alive, he gave to him all the land that Saul once had. Further, he told Mephibosheth that he could eat at his table continually. David loved Jonathan, and he fulfilled their covenant with this act of kindness.

David was not a perfect man however, and his life and kingdom suffered the effects. David took the wife of Uriah, Bathsheba, and committed adultery with her. Bathsheba became pregnant and since Uriah would not go home to see her because of his service to the army, David had Uriah killed so he could have Bathsheba. As a result of this sin, the child born from this act died, and Nathan prophesied that the sword would never leave David’s house. For her part, Bathsheba would bear Solomon, the future king of Israel.

David’s own son, Absalom, rebelled against his father and proclaimed himself king. David fled from Jerusalem and a battle within the house of David began. Absalom was eventually killed, but David grieved greatly for lost son.

The Lord established David’s kingdom forever. This was first accomplished through Solomon, his heir, then through the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the savior of us all. Even when men fail, and we always do, God’s plan is never interrupted or detoured. We serve a mighty God!

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Samuel was a great man of God. Before he was even born, his mother had already committed him into the service of the Lord. The Bible records that as soon as he was weaned, he was sent to the house of Eli (the judge and High Priest of the day) to live. Even when he was a child, the Lord spoke to him and he prophesied. As the last judge of Israel, he was the shining example of obedience to a wayward people.

As Samuel grew older, the people rejected his rule along with the sovereignty of God. The people demanded to have a king placed over them. Because the people had rejected God, God allowed them to have king of their choosing. This man was taller and more handsome than any other. By any human standard, he was the clear choice. Yet, the choices of man rarely meet the standard of God, and this case was no exception. The new king’s name was Saul.

The Lord told Saul and the people that if they would only follow His commandments that he would be with them. Yet, as the cycle of disbelief continued in Israel, Saul disobeyed the Lord two distinct times. First, he performed sacrifices that were forbidden for him because he failed to wait on Samuel. Then he spared the king of the Amalekites and let the livestock live when he was told to destroy everything. These two offenses were enough for God to reject Saul as the king, but Saul’s downward spiral was just beginning.

God always has plan. When we lose our faith and try to do things on our own, things very often turn out badly. Trust in the Lord and He will direct your paths. Saul would have benefitted greatly, if only he had listened to the Lord.

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