Desperate times. At the end of the book of Judges, the Israelites rejected God as their King and everyone did what was right in their own eyes. In our lifetime, we watch God’s people follow a similar path. The regional judges of ancient Israel did their best, but the last of them fell by the wayside. Israel was headed toward “Ichabod,” which means, “the glory of the Lord has departed.” Was there any hope?
On GST, God’s standard time, after Naomi had lost all, she returned to Israel with her daughter-in-love, Ruth. As this young foreigner trusted God with her emptiness, he would bring fullness to Israel through the birth of a child named Obed. From Obed’s line would come David and Jesus.
At the same time, a godly man named Elkanah brought his barren wife Hannah up to the place of worship. Hannah poured out her tears and her heart to God. God granted her the desire of her heart. A baby named Samuel was born to serve the Lord in humility and lead the people of God. Many years later, as humble Mary waited before the Lord, he filled her heart and gave hope to the world through the birth of a child named Jesus.
As all creation groans, we, too, are looking for a leader. Everyone seems to be doing what is right in their own eyes. Who will lead us out of this? I am not counting on national elections. Are you? Will the government fix our lives? Really?
Who will lead us out of this? His name is Jesus. God is looking for people like Naomi, Ruth, and Hannah who bring our emptiness to him so that he can fill us with his holiness and hope. God never fills people who are full of themselves. So, consciously we empty ourselves and confess our inability to save ourselves. God fills empty vessels.
