1 Samuel 1; Psalm 90; Romans 1

 May 17

In today’s readings, I see our responsibility to steward our time well and make the most of our lives, since we have such a short time on earth. We see such evil and sorrow in that time, and Christ’s desire is to have us where He is (John 17:24). So for us to remain on earth serves a purpose and we need to diligently seek and fulfill it with the resources He has given us. Samuel’s mother saw this, and wanted it for him enough to give him up, though he was her only child, the desire of her heart. Paul clearly understood his indebtedness, not only to God, but to his neighbor, to declare the gospel clearly and completely, to edify those to whom he was sent. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second like unto it (Matthew 22:36-40) in a nutshell.

1 Samuel 1: What is more miraculous, the prophesied birth of Samuel after Hannah’s barrenness, or her willingness to give up her only begotten son to the Lord? I think both are part of the redemptive work of God in the life of Israel through Samuel. We’ve seen the deep apostasy of the time of the Judges, with the gradually-dimming lights of each spiritual leader’s revolt against oppression. The story of Ruth is a bright spot in the midst of this darkness. So is the story of Samuel, the last Judge. Somehow, Hannah is given the faith, the will and the power to believe that Samuel’s best opportunity is with the Lord, to give up the desire of her heart to Him, and to see him only once a year after that. If only we all had the faith and eyes to see how important it is to see our time with our children as a responsibility before the Lord to train them up in the way they should go, so that their lives count for eternity.

Psalm 90: What is the implication of the well-known verse about the thousand years? "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” Is it a subtle reference to the table of the patriarchs in Genesis 5, in which Methuselah, the longest-lived of them, dies at 969? (Genesis 5:27) God is from everlasting to everlasting, and the longest human lifetime is as a passing day to Him. For us, it’s important to number our days and apply our hearts to wisdom: while we live on earth, we see cause for God’s wrath, including our own iniquities. Instead, we need eyes to see where He is working so that we can join in that work and glorify Him while there is still time. (John 5:17, 19-20)

Romans 1:1-17: How did the church at Rome get started? It wasn’t Paul, but it appears he is being careful to explain his doctrine so that they can assure one another that they are orthodox. He praises them that their faith is known throughout the world. Acts 11:19 talks about the persecution that arose around the time of Stephen’s stoning (which Paul took part in) but of all the places mentioned, the closest to Rome is Cyrene. Some claim that Peter’s first epistle, which concludes with a salute from the “church which is at Babylon” implies that Peter was in Rome, and that he is writing in code so that no one is endangered by his words. But Babylon was still an inhabited place at this time. Moreover, the book of Revelation had not yet been written. It prophesies the destruction of “Mystery Babylon the Great,” which undoubtedly speaks of Rome, but that couldn’t be a basis for a coded message in Peter’s letter. At any rate, Paul prays for the church at Rome and wants to travel there, seeking mutual edification for them and him, feeling indebted to the gentile world as its apostle.