Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21. He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior. Titus 3:5-6.

Do you ever long for fresh air? For hope? For goodness? I keep finding myself in turmoil of late watching the news and the frenetic, distracting noise everywhere. I feel weight bearing down on me and it’s hard to shake off. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:11.

I want to discern what is right and good and cling to that without falling into the trap of judging. Yesterday in our Sunday morning Discipleship class, we continued watching and talking about The Chosen, Season 1 Episode 3, where Jesus was with a group of children. He allowed them to help him as he continued to work at crafting things for others to buy. He showed such patience as they asked questions and worked beside him. Do you remember as a child wanting so badly to help your parents? To be really listened to? One of the boys in the group told about another boy who made him so mad he ended up pushing him to the ground. He was surprised that he, too, was punished because the other boy did wrong to him. He recalled “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” and Jesus reminded them that that is for a judge in a court so that the punishment doesn’t exceed the crime. He asked the children who should we allow to judge? Vengeance is mine they recalled (Deuteronomy 32:35). Yes, trust God.

In 1 Samuel 2, Hannah offers a prayer of praise to God because she trusted Him and he heard her. Her prayer of praise sounds so much like Mary’s prayer of praise after learning she will bear the Son of God (Luke 1:46-55). There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. v. 2. Like a breath of fresh air is the hope we find in God. His hope refreshes us and reminds us of His promises of love for us.

Samuel, Hannah’s young son, is learning from the High Priest Eli how to minister to God. Sadly, Eli’a two sons who are priests have no regard for the Lord. v. 12. They took the choicest pieces of meat before they could be offered to the Lord, pieces that the people were offering for forgiveness, not for the sons greed. This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt. v. 17. Do we show contempt for God? Do we even realize when we do?

It got so bad that a man of God came to Eli to warn him that because He honored his sons more than God by not rebuking them, the priestly line would not continue in his family but be given to another. I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. v. 35. In the notes below it said that was fulfilled in Solomon’s time. I couldn’t help but think about our true High Priest. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16. Not an eye for an eye; but mercy and grace to help us in our time of need…God’s heart for each of us.

Hannah knew she could find grace in God. Eli and his sons should have known that but chose their own way apart from God even as they served at His tabernacle. How needed was the breath of fresh air and hope and goodness for the people living then and living now. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. Titus 3:2-5.

How do we live in hope? We turn to God. We trust His wisdom and mercy and love. His promises are eternal. That weight that bears down on me and on everyone? So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18. Hate in all its forms is temporary. God’s love is eternal and will wash us and renew us and restore us fully to Him…God’s heart for us. Thank You Lord!