I Grin Over My Enemies

Naomi and Ruth suffer great loss and Ruth gives up her family and culture and religion to return to Bethlehem. But God opens a way for them and has Boaz waiting. They are redeemed and the Lord gives them back the love they had lost. Hannah also has great sorrow because she cannot have children. As she cries out to the Lord, Eli the priest hears and prays and she has a son. Hannah has promised her first born son Samuel to the Lord and gives up. She gives to the Lord, the one thing in life she wanted, her son and says in 1 Samuel 1:27–28 “I prayed for this boy, and Yahweh has given me my request that I asked from him. 28 I, in turn, have lent him to Yahweh. As long as he lives he is lent to Yahweh.” Then they worshiped Yahweh there”. But there is no sorrow in her, instead she is filled with joy and prays in 1 Samuel 2:1 “My heart exults in Yahweh, my strength is exalted in Yahweh; I grin over my enemies, for I rejoice over your salvation”.

Before the Elders of My People

Ruth 4:1-7
Elimelech had two kinsmen that qualified as redeemers, two brothers. The name of the second is not mentioned, but he was likely an older brother, so first in line. After Ruth approached Boaz, he goes with intent to take on his right so he finds witnesses in

Ruth 4:2 “And he took ten men from the elders of the city and said, “Sit here.” And they sat”.

Then Boaz approaches the other kinsman who has first right to redemption and offers the land of Elimelech in

Ruth 4:3 And he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who returned from the countryside of Moab, is selling the tract of land which was for our brother Elimelech.

At the thought of gaining land, he responds in Ruth 4:4 “I want to redeem it”. Then Boaz adds, in

Ruth 4:5 “On the day of your acquiring the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the wife of the dead man, in order to raise up for the name of the dead his inheritance.”

At this, the first in line refuses because it seems he already has children. He would have been happy to have added land for them, but does not want the trouble of another wife and half brothers and sisters, as he says in Ruth 4:6 “lest I ruin my inheritance”. Boaz though is not married and does not have children so is very happy to step in and take Ruth as his wife.

Acquire it for Yourself

Ruth 4:8-12

May His Name be Renowned

Ruth 4:13-22

She Prayed to Yahweh and Wept Bitterly

1 Samuel 1:1-10
Hannah was the first of two wives, as was the custom of the time, but she did not have any children. The second wife had children and continually provoked Hannah because she was barren. While her husband loved her and treated her well, she was in 1 Samuel 1:8 “heartsick”. This was a faithful family that in 1 Samuel 1:7 “year after year … went up to the house of Yahweh”. And this year, in 1 Samuel 1:9 “Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the temple of Yahweh” and saw Hannah as she in

1 Samuel 1:10 “She was deeply troubled, so she prayed to Yahweh and wept bitterly”.

Yahweh Look With Compassion

1 Samuel 1:11-18
As Hannah wept, grieved that she did not have a child in

1 Samuel 1:11 She made a vow and said: “O Yahweh of hosts, if you will look with compassion on the misery of your female servant, and will remember me, and not forget your female servant, and will give to your female servant a male child then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and a razor will never pass over his head.”

Eli looked on and in 1 Samuel 1:13 “considered her to be drunk”. It is surprising that he would presume drunkenness and not recognize the sobs of heartbreak, but a full reading of the context and an understanding of the trouble in the temple with his own sons will explain his impression. But as she explains her sorrow, Elis prays for her in

1 Samuel 1:17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant your request that you have asked of him.”

Something happened in Hannah at his word that changed her whole countenance and in

1 Samuel 1:18 And she said, “May your female slave find favor in your sight.” Then the woman went on her way and ate something, and her face did not look sad any longer.

And in 1 Samuel 1:20 “Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son”.

They Worshiped Yahweh There

1 Samuel 1:19-28