Latest Thoughts of the Day

I Samuel 1:15

12/22/2025

'"Not so, my lord," Hannah replied. I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer. I was pouring out my soul to the Lord."

Deep spirituality is something Eli himself knows nothing about, so he terribly misjudges Hannah. Her lips moved as she called out to God, and he had thought she was drunk. If it is true that we tend to suspect others of doing what we ourselves are tempted to do, Eli’s accusation says more about him than it does about her. But Eli still carried the authority of his office, so he becomes a channel of blessing from God to Hannah. God’s hearing of Hannah’s prayer moves forward the whole story of the Bible. Her baby will grow up to be the most important man in Israel. David will be anointed, and history will move toward Jesus.

Ruth 1:15

12/21/2025

"look," said naomi, "your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her."

If she can go, she should go. Unless God is more important than everything else, stick with the world and do your best. Naomi was forcing Ruth to count the cost. We need to count the cost. Could we be sufficiently happy in a world without God at the center? Then live and die sufficiently happy and spend eternity in torment. That is the very best one can do without Christ. But we are of Ruth’s opinion. Naomi’s people are our people and her God our God. Not that we are Jewish. But our hearts are with the people of God, and we choose them along with the God we both worship. God has made us all citizens of heaven through our Savior. We are one in Christ Jesus.

Judges 1:`15

12/20/2025

She replied, "Do me a special favor. Since yo have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water. Then Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.

.We have a tiny glimpse of a relationship between an important man in Israel and his daughter. Obviously, she is a favorite of his. Obviously she is comfortable with her father. Obviously she is a shrewd young lady who is seeking the best for the husband to whom she has been given. Hints of a good family relationship make us remember that mankind has not change in the three thousand years that have transpired between this event and ourselves. We are happy to see signs of a healthy family in this ancient record. Lord, help us to live in joy and helpfulness to brothers and sisters in Christ. Bless us now with Your dear presence, Lord Jesus.

Joshua 1:15

12/19/2025

You are to help your brothers until the lord gives them rest, as he has done for you and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your od is giving them. After that you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of God gave you east of the Jordajn toward the sunrise.

A deal is a deal. Those who already were in their allotted portion were required to help the rest of the tribes of Israel occupy what was given to them. Moses had allowed this, and Joshua is reminding them, lest they forget. Lord, give us hearts for Christians who have not yet obtained the peace you have granted to us. Paul yearned as in childbirth that Christ may be formed in us. Some of our brothers are struggling still. Help us help them draw near to Jesus.

Deuteronomy 1:18

12/18/2025

And at that time I told you everything you were to do.

Now, before the Israelites are to enter the promised land, Moses repeats the law that had been given them forty years ago at the beginning of their sojourn in the wilderness. The years of struggle and the gross disobedience of the people did not alter the law that God had given. For as many years as God would preserve His people and press on with the foreordained purposes, the Law would not change. In fact, Jesus would say, some fifteen hundred years hence, “Heaven and Earth will pass away, but My word will not pass away.” Paul tells us in I Timothy 3:16, “all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable”. God has told us what we are to do and what to do when we have failed. Or hope in all is focused on Jesus.

Numbers 1:15

12/17/2025

From Naphtali Ahira son of Enan

God has called for a census of every fighting man in the Israelite community. He wants them divided by clans and families, and actually delegates the responsibility to individuals whom He appoints by name. God appointed these men to accomplish this task. And He did not speak in generalities—specific men were designated. We sometimes overlook the fact that God deals this way with us, too. He knows who He appoints to any task, and He reckons their reward. To what task has God appointed us this day? Is it a general task that can be done by anyone, or is it determined by God Himself especially for us? We ought to assume the latter. Every day the Lord Himself prepares good works for us to do. However we come to recognize the duty, it is sent for us to glorify Jesus.

Leviticus 1:15

12/16/2025

The priest shall bring it to the altar, wring off the head and burn it on the sltar; its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar.

A whole tribe was set aside as religious experts, including the meticulous job of sacrifice. There was a particular way that every sacrifice must be made. In this case it is a sacrifice offered by a poor person who could only afford a dove. This did not exclude him from the rich symbolism of an innocent victim shedding its blood in order that a human sinner may be pardoned by a holy God. As modern, sophisticated people we find ourselves recoiling at the practice and not liking the shedding of blood. But, like it or not, we will perish forever without the shedding of innocent blood. Every innocent victim in the Bible pictures our innocent Sacrifice, even Jesus.

Exodus 1:18

12/15/2025

Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them: "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boy;s live?"

The first thing that Pharaoh tries to do to harm the people of God doesn’t work out. He can’t get people to do what he wants them to do. They get themselves off the hook, so he tries a more general law that will accomplish his wicked purpose. The attention of the Bible turns to a particular case where this does not succeed, and the story of redemption begins to be worked out. And all through the story of redemption there will be warring between God’s purposes and man’s. The human in charge will never be able entirely to succeed. God will use the weak things to shame the things that are strong. Moses’ birth and life will point in a thousand ways to Jesus.