Matthew 5:4

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
~ Jesus

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for the free gift of God that comes to me at the cost of your life. Thinking about it in light of today’s devotion, I mourn not only over my sin, but I mourn over the lengths that you had to go to save me from that sin. Yet this mourning is accompanied with a tremendous gratitude and appreciation for you doing what I could not do for myself; You have paid a debt that puts me in a position of receiving grace and mercy rather than judgment. I'm grateful for the Father's Love and grateful for Your loving obedience to the Father, doing his will for my benefit at all costs. Thank you Jesus. Amen

Psalm of Meditation for the Week:

Psalm 119:65-72 (Teth)

ט

• Read: the verses twice.
  

• Mark: the words or phrases that catch your attention.
  

• Meditate: talk (better yet write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect a response from the Lord.

Pondering Point

Looking back into your life, how has affliction (verses 67 and 71) drawn your attention toward God? Was it a help or a hindrance to your walk with God?

Romans 8:22-24

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?

Matthew 5:4

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
~ Jesus

In general, a mourner is one who has had something beneficial taken from them – usually without consent or desire.

Think of a grieving widow or an orphaned child, a dumped boyfriend or a fired employee. While nobody wants to be “in mourning”, a plain view of such mourners leaves Jesus saying that even if you are grief-stricken, you are not beyond blessing.

Why might this matter? From the mindset of the day, negative experiences were at times equated with divine judgment (for a biblical example, see 1 Kings 17). Bad experiences or loss could mean being ignored, abandoned, or even cursed by God. That is a far cry from blessing. So Jesus’ words would be reversing that mentality.

Just because you are in a sorrowful place does not mean that you are cursed by God; quite the opposite, you are still loved and able to be blessed by God. Take comfort in this: You are not being rejected. The Apostle Paul was clearly committed to living for God. In fact, because of that, he went through many experiences that could be described as negative (see 2 Corinthians 11:16-33). Many would have crumbled under such troubles. But Paul knew that he was loved (and covered by grace!).

Mourners, you have not been abandoned by God; instead know that even if life leaves you in a world of pain – He is there; the Great Comforter is there with you.

Prayer for the week

Lord Jesus, thank you for the comfort of knowing that even when things seem to go wrong, it is not a sign of rejection by You or your Father. Thank you for the blessed truth and knowledge that through you sin’s curses are broken and incurred debts have been paid. I am grateful to be blessed and comforted. In your name I pray, amen.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:65-66

Do good to your servant according to your word, LORD. Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands.

Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

John 7:24

Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.” 

The Promise:

Matthew 7:2

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Pondering Point

How do you measure or render judgments as being either good or poor? Would God agree?

Romans 8:22-24a

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, as you know this world can be very difficult to stomach; It can be gut-wrenching at times. Thank you for the comfort of knowing that our mourning is not unnoticed by you. Thanks for clarifying that our negative experiences don’t mean that God is mad at us. When we mourn over big situations like death, loss, cancer, or job loss, or even smaller things like schedule problems, technical difficulties, or financial setbacks, remind us to turn to you for comfort. Amen.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:67-68

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.

The Promise:

Proverbs 21:21

Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. 

Pondering Point

What experiences in life led you to a greater obedience in following God’s ways and Word?

Romans 8:18-39

Present Suffering and Future Glory

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

More Than Conquerors

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Samuel 1:1-28

Birth of the Judge and Prophet Samuel

1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

3 Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord. 4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb. 6 Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”

9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house. 10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”

15 “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. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”

17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”

18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.

19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”

Hannah Dedicates Samuel

21 When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfill his vow, 22 Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the Lord, and he will live there always.”

23 “Do what seems best to you,” her husband Elkanah told her. “Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the Lord make good his word.” So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him.

24 After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. 25 When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli, 26 and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. 27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

In Samuel's birth to Hannah, we experience the plight of someone long in mourning. The words "the Lord closed her womb" can be found in the NIV translation – a crushing thought for a hopeful mother.

Here we see a perceived curse of sorts, a rejection of the Lord while a rival has several children. Her husband desires to bring equality to the situation in his own way, but is not successful; she still grieves. It's the ministering of the high priest Eli who sees Hannah's state of mourning and renders a blessing into her world. That blessing, far from a curse from the Lord’s anointed, finds fulfillment in the birth of Samuel.

He then grows up to become one of the greatest judges and prophets to Israel, the people of God.

Prayer

Father God, thank you for those who have spoken blessings into our worlds. I give you thanks for people like parents and grandparents, for pastors and Sunday School teachers of the past; for godparents and God-fearing friends. Bless me to become one who speaks blessing into the world of other people as well. And while I'm at it remind me to hold back from speaking negative or debilitating words into the lives of others as well.

Prayer for Worship

Drawn from Isaiah 51:12 2 Corin. 1:3-5:
Father God, you told Isaiah “I am he who comforts you” and that promised blessing is still in effect today. You are the Father of all mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all of our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort others under any affliction. We do so with the comfort we ourselves have received from you. And just we “share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings” as Paul said, so through Christ we “share abundantly in comfort too”. Thank you for this in Jesus, Amen.