Ruth aNd Hannah

RUTH &
HANNAH:
Learning To Walk
By Faith

T
he women of the
Bible tell us a lot about
ourselves. Although
CONTENTS times have changed, human
nature has not. Women as
RUTH: different as Ruth and Hannah
How To See God can still help us see how
In The Dailiness to walk by faith.
Of Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
In the following pages,
HANNAH: author, Bible teacher, and
How To Deal
With Depression . . . . . 16 professor Alice Mathews
shows us that women like
Ruth and Hannah are especially
important because of what they
tell us about our God. She also
explores the timeless truth
that in the wisdom and grace
of God none of us lives above
the power of a decision or
beyond the reach of our Lord.
Martin R. De Haan II

Managing Editor: David Sper Cover Painting:“Ruth Gleaning” by James Tissot (1836–1902)
Scripture taken from the New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984
by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan.All rights reserved.
© 2004 RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan Printed in USA

© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.

RUTH: to see who ends up in
How To See God his arms.
If you have ever sat
In The Dailiness down to read the little
Of Life book of Ruth in the Old

D
o you enjoy reading? Testament, were you
It is my greatest joy tempted to sneak a peak to
and sometimes my see how the story ends? If
besetting sin. I can lose you did, you were probably
myself in a good book when disappointed. The final
I should be doing other verses of Ruth chapter 4—
things. Most of us who enjoy the climax of the whole
reading know that a good story—seem anything but
story can take us out of the climactic. What we find
humdrum sameness of our there is a genealogy:
lives and transport us into “Perez was the father of
the tension and drama of Hezron, Hezron the father
someone else’s experience. of Ram, Ram the father of
I have a second question: Amminadab, Amminadab
Do you ever sneak a peak at the father of Nahshon,
the ending before you get Nahshon the father of
there? If you’re into a Salmon,” and so on. Can
detective story and it’s time you imagine a duller ending
to cook dinner, you may for a story? An author would
think you can’t wait to find have to work hard to come
out who dunnit. So you up with something more
look. Or if it’s a great boring and anti-climactic
romance and you can’t than that.
stand the thought that the Yet, when we look at
wrong girl gets the boy, you this little book of Ruth, we
may glance at the last page see a very good storyteller at
2

work. All the way through To listen to her, it is clear
we watch the author that the Stage Director does
dropping hints of things not know what He is doing.
to come—clues that draw But that’s getting ahead of
us in, that keep us aware the story. Begin with the
that the plot is thickening. description of the setting
Things could turn out as we read it in the script
several different ways. Why in Ruth 1:1-5.
would the writer want to In the days when the
blow a good story with a judges ruled, there was a
bad ending? famine in the land, and a
To understand that those man from Bethlehem in
dull verses at the end of the Judah, together with his
book really are the climax— wife and two sons, went
and a stunning climax at to live for a while in the
that—we have to go back country of Moab.
and look at the rest of the The man’s name was
story. Then, suddenly, a Elimelech, his wife’s name
boring genealogy comes Naomi, and the names of
alive and makes sense. his two sons were Mahlon
Our story is a play in and Kilion. They were
four acts. The five principal Ephrathites from
actors on our stage are three Bethlehem, Judah.
women—Naomi, Ruth, and And they went to Moab
Orpah—and two men—Boaz and lived there. Now
and the nearer kinsman. The Elimelech, Naomi’s
stage director is God. husband, died, and she
Act One. When the was left with her two
curtain goes up on the first sons. They married
act, we find a bitter old Moabite women, one
woman on center stage. named Orpah and the
3

other Ruth. After they the god Chemosh, not
had lived there about ten Jehovah. Elimelech and his
years, both Mahlon and family left the familiar for
Kilion also died, and the unfamiliar, the known
Naomi was left without for the unknown.
her two sons and her While in Moab, the
husband. family faced first the loss of
The setting is in the time the father, Elimelech. Then
of the judges. This period of the sons who had both
Israel’s history was one of married Moabite women
barbaric oppression and also died. The play begins
bloodshed. Between violent with three widows in a
invasions, tribal civil wars, gloomy, hopeless setting.
and unchecked lawlessness, Naomi, on center stage,
the Jews had to contend has heard that once again
with constant trouble. Now Bethlehem is really the
a famine added to their House of Bread. The famine
misery. In Bethlehem—the has passed. Food is plentiful
House of Bread—there was in Judah. She and her two
no bread. Elimelech chose daughters-in-law prepare to
to take his family to move to Bethlehem. The
neighboring Moab. dialogue in our play begins
While the trip to Moab in verse 8:
was not a long one—not Then Naomi said to her
much more than 30 miles two daughters-in-law,
east of Bethlehem— “Go back, each of you, to
distance in the Bible, your mother’s home. May
as H. W. Morton observed, the Lord show kindness
is often measured not in to you, as you have
miles but in distance from shown to your dead and
God. Moabites worshiped to me. May the Lord
4

grant that each of you Naomi tried again:
will find rest in the home Return home, my
of another husband.” daughters. Why would
Naomi knew that Orpah you come with me? Am
and Ruth faced a bleak and I going to have any more
uncertain future if they sons, who could become
returned to Bethlehem with your husbands? Return
her. They must stay in home, my daughters; I am
Moab. She kissed them— too old to have another
a sign of release from any husband. Even if I
obligation to her. They had thought there was still
voluntarily stayed with hope for me—even if I had
Naomi after their husbands a husband tonight and
had died, but now they then gave birth to sons—
could not forfeit their own would you wait until they
happiness just to care for grew up? Would you
her. Desperate, powerless remain unmarried for
to do anything for them, them? No, my daughters.
Naomi prayed that God It is more bitter for me
would care for them and than for you, because the
provide them with husbands Lord’s hand has gone out
who would care for them. against me! (1:11-13).
But note what Orpah What is the tone of
and Ruth answered: “We Naomi’s argument to
will go back with you to Orpah and Ruth? It isn’t just
your people.” Whether out another effort to persuade
of loyalty to their dead them not to stay with her.
husbands or out of love for It is also a lament accusing
their mother-in-law, Ruth God of botching up her
and Orpah pushed on life. It affirms God’s direct
toward Bethlehem. But involvement in her life and
5

His accountability for her returning to Moab.
situation. Basically Naomi Can we fault Orpah for
told Orpah and Ruth that if going back to Moab? Not at
God was “after” her, to stay all. Orpah did the expected
with her was to court thing. It is Ruth who did the
disaster. unexpected. We understand
The second effort to the reasonableness of
persuade them had its effect Orpah’s decision. We don’t
on Orpah, who kissed her understand the incredible
mother-in-law and started loyalty Ruth displayed.
back to Moab. But Ruth Ruth demonstrated what
still wasn’t persuaded. In the Hebrews called hesed.
the next verses we hear her Hesed is a Hebrew
unshakable decision to stay word we can translate “loyal
with Naomi: love.” It is a love that goes
Don’t urge me to leave well beyond the expected.
you or to turn back from David’s mighty men showed
you. Where you go, I will hesed for their beloved
go, and where you stay I leader a hundred years
will stay. Your people will later when they left the
be my people and your wilderness and fought
God my God. Where you their way into and out of
die I will die, and there I Bethlehem to bring David a
will be buried. May the drink of water from the town
Lord deal with me, be well. God shows us hesed in
it ever so severely, if sacrificing even His own Son
anything but death to redeem us, to buy us
separates you and back from sin. Ruth was a
me (1:16-17). shining example of hesed
With that Naomi gave as she stood at a crossroad
up trying to talk Ruth into between familiar Moab and
6

unfamiliar Judah. exclaimed. “Don’t call me
Her loyal love made the Naomi [Lovely] . . . . Call
choice—for Naomi’s people me Mara [Bitter]” (1:20).
and for Naomi’s God. We As Naomi continued
see her making that choice speaking, her anger at God
with no husband and no spilled over once again.
prospect of marriage, The Almighty has made
devoting herself to an old my life very bitter. I went
woman. She might have away full, but the Lord
wished for a crystal ball as has brought me back
she stood on that dusty road empty (1:20-21).
so many years ago. It would Throughout this first
have been nice to see how act we hear Naomi talking
her choice would work out. about God. She was
But she had none. She conscious of His work in the
had to choose for God and universe and in her life. But
Naomi with no guarantees. as she talked about God, we
The scene continues. see that she misjudged Him
In verse 19 we see the and she misjudged life. She
two women arriving in stated that she went out of
Bethlehem where everyone Judah full. But did she? The
came out to greet them. very thing that caused her
“Can this be Naomi?” It family’s migration to Moab
had been more than 10 was a famine. They went
years since she had left. out empty. Life was tough
Suddenly hearing her or they would not have left
name, Naomi, the old Bethlehem in the first place.
woman was reminded of Naomi also stated that
the irony of that name. God had brought her back
Naomi means “pleasant” empty. But had He? It was
or “lovely.” “Lovely?” she true that she had lost her
7

husband and both sons. harvest began. What did
But in their place God had this presage for two poor
given her the incredible widows newly arrived in
devotion of Ruth, who town?
pledged to stay with her to Act Two. As the curtain
death’s door and beyond. rises on act two, we discover
Naomi misjudged that Naomi had a relative in
her situation when she town who was wealthy and
misjudged God. She focused influential. Was he destined
on the negative and became for some crucial role in our
bitter. Calling herself Mara play?
(bitter), she looked at God Meanwhile, Naomi
and looked at life through and Ruth had nothing to
dirty windows. eat. Ruth decided to glean,
Like Naomi, we can that is to follow the reapers
be religious. We can talk during the harvest and to
about God. We can offer pick up from the ground any
prayers to God. But if we grains left behind. In this
misjudge Him and His act, Naomi moves to the
work in our lives, we easily stage wing and Ruth
misjudge all that touches us. moves to center stage.
As act one and chapter In Ruth 2:3 we read that
one end, the curtain slowly “as it turned out, she found
descends on two women: herself working in a field
loyal Ruth and bitter Naomi. belonging to Boaz.” That
The last words of the last statement makes it sound
verse of this chapter give as if all that followed was
us a clue to what is to purely accidental. But the
follow in the next act. Ruth author is actually hinting at
and Naomi had arrived in a cause for this “chance”
Bethlehem as the barley happening. Behind what
8

appears to be human luck bother her. She would also
lies divine purpose. Even glean much more grain than
in the “accidents” in life, would normally be the case.
the hand of God is at work Not only did Boaz make
on our behalf. Ruth’s gleaning easier, but
Now look at verse 4: he also invited her to eat
“Just then Boaz arrived from with his harvesters and
Bethlehem.” saw to it that she had an
Surprise! One more adequate meal. At the end
coincidence! The wealthy, of her first day of gleaning,
influential relative of she returned to Naomi with
Naomi owned the field a shawl full of winnowed
and happened on the scene grain. The Bible tells us that
while Ruth was there! she took home an ephah of
Noticing Ruth, he asked barley—about 29 pounds of
about her and learned that grain. Ruth’s success on her
she was from Moab and first day of gleaning far
had come back with Naomi. exceeded her expectations
Now comes the moment of when she set out that
truth. “Chance” had thrown morning.
Ruth and Boaz together in What happened when
the same field. What would she returned to Naomi that
Boaz do? evening? Of course, the
Obviously, things are older woman wanted a full
turning out well. Boaz, in recounting of all that had
short, gives Ruth “most happened that day. Such a
favored gleaner” status in huge shawl-full of grain
his fields. By following his meant that she had gleaned
instructions carefully, Ruth in a good place. Where had
would be protected from she gone? In whose field
young men who might try to had she gleaned?
9

Notice Naomi’s reaction for Ruth. Read her plan in
when Ruth answered her 3:1-4.
questions. Hearing about One day Naomi her
Boaz, she exclaimed, “The mother-in-law said to her,
Lord bless him! . . . That “My daughter, should I
man is our close relative; he not try to find a home for
is one of our kinsman- you, where you will be
redeemers” (2:20). well provided for? Is not
What does that mean? Boaz, with whose servant
Why is that important? The girls you have been, a
curtain descends slowly on kinsman of ours? Tonight
our second act. But Naomi’s he will be winnowing
statement about a kinsman- barley on the threshing
redeemer lets us know that floor. Wash and perfume
the play is not over. yourself, and put on your
Act Three. Act three best clothes. Then go
is about to begin. It turns down to the threshing
out to be the turning floor, but don’t let him
point in the play. God has know you are there until
provided food for the two he has finished eating
widows. But that is only a and drinking. When he
short-term solution to lies down, note the place
their needs. Ruth needs where he is lying. Then go
a husband. Naomi and uncover his feet and
needs a son to preserve lie down. He will tell you
her inheritance and to carry what to do.”
on the family name. As the Thus Naomi began to
barley and wheat harvests answer her own prayer for
end, Naomi cooks up a Ruth back in Ruth 1:9—
scheme that is bold, brash, “May the Lord grant that
and a little bit dangerous each of you will find rest
10

in the home of another on the threshing floor?
husband.” In one way The Levirate Law
Naomi models for us the required that if a man died
way God works through without an heir, his brother
human actions. We are was to marry the widow. The
not to wait passively for first son born to them then
events to happen. When an became the legal heir of the
opportunity presents itself, deceased husband and
we may need to seize the continued his name,
initiative. Naomi did just inheriting his property. If no
that. But we also recognize brother were available to
that in Naomi’s plan lay marry the widow, she could
real risk for Ruth. ask a more distant relative
Boaz and Ruth would to do so. Here we see Ruth
be in a secluded spot where using a strange old custom
they could talk privately. to propose marriage to Boaz.
In Old Testament times, The meaning of what she
however, threshing floors did was to ask for Boaz’s
were associated with total protection.
licentiousness. Naomi I’ve always been glad
was gambling on the for many reasons that I was
character of Boaz, that born a woman. One reason
he would not take unfair is that as a woman in our
advantage of Ruth. Naomi culture, I never had to
was asking Ruth to enter an risk rejection by having to
uncertain, compromising propose marriage to a man!
situation with a great deal But Ruth lived in a different
hanging in the balance. time and place. She had
What was hanging in the to take that risk.
balance? Was Ruth being She didn’t propose
asked to seduce Boaz there as someone might today.
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Rather, she asked Boaz to Even the schemes of men
spread his garment over her and women can be used by
as a kinsman-redeemer. That God to accomplish His
act symbolized his intention purposes. This scheme did
to protect her. It was like not turn sour, not because
giving and receiving an the circumstances were not
engagement ring today. right for hanky-panky, but
Did he do it? Yes and because of the character
no. He replied, “Mmmm, of Ruth and Boaz. Boaz
yes. I’d like to do that. was concerned for Ruth’s
But I’m not your nearest reputation. She was safe.
kinsman-redeemer. There is Naomi staked the scheme
another man who is closer on Boaz’s integrity. He
to Naomi by family ties. He proved to be a man of
has first choice. It’s up to honor. But the question
him” (see 3:12-13). now in the air is, Which
So, no. They were not guy will get the girl?
engaged that night. But Ruth Act Four. The curtain
knew that Boaz would marry rises on act four. We see
her if the nearer kinsman Boaz at the city gate, where
reneged. Boaz would settle he knew he would find the
things properly and leave nearer kinsman. It was
the outcome to God. certain that Ruth would
Ruth remained quietly at soon have a husband. What
Boaz’s feet throughout the was not certain was who it
night, then just as quietly would be. What up to this
went back to Bethlehem point had been a private
before dawn. The curtain matter between Naomi,
descends on our third act as Ruth, and Boaz now had to
Ruth tells Naomi everything become public. This was a
that happened. family matter to be worked
12

out between the kinsmen keep the property when the
in a public meeting. son was old enough to claim
Assembling 10 witnesses, his inheritance.
Boaz addressed the nearer Suddenly the picture
kinsman about redeeming changed for the nearer
the property of Elimelech. kinsman. He quickly
The kinsman must have waived his prior rights of
thought, Sure. That looks redemption. Boaz would get
easy enough, so he replied, Ruth! The crowd cheered
“I will redeem it” (4:4). and Boaz took his bride
He knew he would have to home.
marry the widow to do that, What follows in this act
but he assumed that Naomi ties up all the loose ends in
was too old to have children our story. It isn’t enough
and he would end up with that the guy gets the girl or
the property with no heir the girl gets the guy. All of
to claim it. Financially the that is for a larger purpose.
investment was a bargain One purpose lies in
without risk. How could perpetuating Elimelech’s
he lose? name over his inheritance.
Boaz sprang the For that Naomi must have a
clincher: Ruth comes with son. But she’s too old for
the property. If the nearer that! Not by Jewish law.
kinsman bought it, he When her kinsman Boaz
bought her as well. The and Ruth, her daughter-in-
kinsman would be obliged law, produce a son, we see
to father a son by Ruth to an interesting procession
perpetuate Elimelech’s name winding through the streets
over his inheritance. In of Bethlehem. The women
other words, the kinsman of the town are carrying this
would not be allowed to tiny baby and placing him in
13

the arms of Naomi. Naomi God provided security
now has a son. The bitter through Ruth’s marriage
woman who complained to Boaz. God provided
in the first act about being posterity for Elimelech
empty is now full. Not only and Naomi. Even more,
is she well fed. She has God provided a great king
a son to carry on her for the nation Israel through
husband’s name. This son a foreign woman. God used
is Elimelech’s legal heir. the faithfulness of ordinary
Does our story end people to accomplish great
here? No. We still have that things.
strange genealogy as the We find the same
climax of our story. What genealogy in Matthew 1:3-6.
do we learn from it? Pick Perez the father of
up reading where I left off Hezron, Hezron the father
(on page 2): “Salmon the of Ram, Ram the father of
father of Boaz, Boaz the Amminadab, Amminadab
father of Obed, Obed the the father of Nahshon,
father of Jesse, and Jesse the Nahshon the father of
father of David” (4:21-22). Salmon, Salmon the
David! Suddenly the father of Boaz, whose
simple, clever human story mother was Rahab, Boaz
of two struggling widows the father of Obed, whose
takes on a new dimension. mother was Ruth, Obed
This bitter old woman and the father of Jesse, and
this foreign Moabitess Jesse the father of King
become bright threads David.
woven into the fabric of This genealogy does not
Israel’s national history. stop with David. After many
God provided bread more unpronounceable
through Ruth’s gleaning. names, we read in verse 16:
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. . . and Jacob the father is at work, making divine
of Joseph, the husband appointments with us
of Mary, of whom through the things that
was born Jesus, who happen to us. God is the
is called Christ. stage manager in control of
Not only did the faithful all the players on the stage.
Ruth and the upright Boaz In the midst of what seems
serve as great-grandparents terribly ordinary, He is doing
of Israel’s greatest king. They something extraordinary.
also stand in the line of It has been said that
those through whom God what we are determines
chose to send His Son into what we see. We may look
the world to bring us for God and miss Him
salvation. because we confuse Him
Many times on a dreary with shining angels.
Tuesday afternoon we may God is found not just in
find it hard to believe that the miraculous and the
God is really at work in our extraordinary. He is at work
lives. God seems hidden in us and through us in the
from us. Like Naomi in the dailiness of life. On a dreary
first act, we can misjudge life Tuesday afternoon we can
because we are not sure get the idea that life is all
God is actively involved in up to us. But if we belong to
our lives. God, even when we don’t
Things happen that look see Him at work, we can be
like accidents—like Ruth sure that God is moving
gleaning in the fields of events on our behalf.
Boaz. Life can seem Ruth made a choice on
haphazard and accidental. a dusty road between Moab
But over all the seeming and Bethlehem. She chose
accidents in our lives God to give her loyalty to God
15

and His people. That HANNAH:
choice may have seemed
insignificant, but it changed
How To Deal
Naomi and it changed
With Depression

D
history. epression. It
When you and I choose happens to the
God and His people, we best of people.
may hear no bells ringing. In her book Some Run
But the silence does not With Feet Of Clay, actress
mean the choice is not life- Jeannette Clift tells of a
changing. As Christians, conversation she had
we are involved in an with a good friend:
incredible drama. There The other day I
are no ordinary days. called one of the most
There are no insignificant productive Christians I
choices. If we saw our know. “How are you,”
life as God sees it, we’d be I asked, thinking it was
overwhelmed. On a dreary a somewhat needless
Tuesday afternoon we can question. She was
remind ourselves that as always fine, and had 19
we choose for God and His Scripture verses to prove
people, God will use that it! I didn’t get her usual
choice in ways that exceed answer, though. Instead
our imagination. I got a long pause, and
then words all capsulated
in one breath.
“Oh, Jeannette,
I’m awful! I’ve been so
depressed I don’t know
what to do. I’ve had to
quit teaching my Bible
16

classes. I’m not doing in the web of paralyzing
anything. I don’t go out, depression. One woman is
I don’t see anybody. It’s the college friend whose
all I can do just to get up faith and commitment to
in the morning, and some Christ brought me into a
days I can’t even do that. personal relationship with
I’m so ashamed of myself God. She and her husband
I don’t think I can stand have ministered effectively
it!” in Christ’s name in East
Jeannette explains: Africa for more than 30
This was no erratic years. During this furlough,
spiritual novice; this however, she has been
was a mighty Christian plunged into severe
soldier! I had seen her in depression.
action and praised God My second friend was
for her accuracy as she a colleague in ministry in
taught or counseled. My France. Gifted with a
heart hurt for her. This splendid mind, she has not
dear friend was not only always found doors open to
down in the depths, but the use of her gifts. Focusing
ashamed of herself for her energies on her family,
being there . . . . Any she and her husband have
Christian who is truly successfully parented two
shocked by another model sons. Now that the
Christian’s depression boys are grown, she has not
has not dealt honestly been able to find outlets for
with the possibility of all that she has to give. She
her own. has lived for several years
In the past year, I have now in a miasma of
spent many hours with each depression.
of two close friends trapped Cynthia Swindoll,
17

executive director of Insight was excruciating.
For Living, looked back over Depression comes in
the 15 years in which many forms with many
her life was darkened by symptoms. Perhaps you
depression. In the preface experience some of them
to Don Baker’s book, right now. Dr. Timothy
Depression, she described Foster lists seven main
her experience: symptoms of depression in
[It was] black as a his helpful book, How To
thousand midnights Deal With Depression.
in a cypress swamp. 1. We lose emotional
[It was] loneliness feeling and call it “the
that is indescribable. blahs.” This is that drop
[It brought] confusion in mood in which we say,
regarding God. “I don’t feel particularly
[I experienced] bad; I don’t feel
frustration with life particularly good. I
and circumstances. just don’t feel much
[It was] the feeling of anything.” (Foster
that you have been reminds us that every
abandoned, that you emotionally-caused
are worthless. depression starts with a
[I felt] unlovable. case of the blahs that
The pain was hangs on and gradually
excruciating. deteriorates.)
Depression. Did you 2. We become overly self-
notice the feelings Cynthia conscious. Most of the
Swindoll had? She felt time we do scores of
lonely, confused, frustrated, things “on automatic
worthless, unlovable. pilot”—we drive the car,
The pain, she said, cross our legs, scratch
18

our noses, or eat dinner take two forms. If we cry
with no conscious regularly, we may find
thought about our something holding back
actions. But suddenly we normal tears. We can’t
have to think about what cry. Something blocks the
are usually unconscious flow of our emotions. Or
decisions. We become we may constantly feel
self-conscious. that we need to cry. The
3. Our sleep patterns tears are always only an
change. If we normally inch below the surface.
sleep through the night, 6. We lose confidence in
we may experience our ability to function.
sleeplessness. If we With this we may
usually function well experience a loss of
on 7 or 8 hours of sleep energy or a lack of
at night, we may find initiative.
that we want to sleep 7. Our mood drops. We
all the time. feel sad. Depression
4. Our eating patterns often starts with feeling
change. If we have “nothing” or the blahs,
always kept our weight but eventually the mood
under control with drops and a combination
disciplined eating, of sadness and not caring
we may find ourselves sets in.
reaching for food Foster states that the
constantly. Or we presence of only one or
may lose our normal two of these symptoms
appetite and cannot should not alarm us. But if
force ourselves to eat. we experience three or more
5. Our crying patterns of these symptoms, we may
change. This too can be in depression.
19

Where does depression divorce. Or perhaps
come from? In most cases it someone close to us
can be traced to the way we has recently died. Maybe
think about ourselves. it’s a job loss with the
Some depressions— threat of losing our house.
about 5 percent of them— Depression from loss is the
are due to a biochemical easiest kind to understand.
imbalance and must be Other depressions can’t
treated with medications be tied to anything specific
for life. It is estimated that that has happened to us.
the other 95 percent of We feel down “for no
depressions are rooted reason at all.”
in emotional factors. Stress often moves
Depression is one way in with us when we focus
of handling stress. Some on ourselves negatively.
people handle stress by It comes when we feel
becoming physically ill. powerless to change our
Others handle stress by situation. We see no
over-achieving. Still others alternatives from which to
handle stress with a drop in choose. Wherever we turn,
mood, by checking out from we see closed doors or
full participation in life. roadblocks shutting us off
Many depressions are from happiness. What is
caused by some traumatic merely a minor barrier for
event in our lives. We one person becomes an
can point to those events insurmountable obstacle
and explain why we are for another.
depressed. Perhaps we feel For many women in their
rejected by someone we middle years, depression
value. Or we’ve just come comes when they realize
through a devastating that they will never become
20

what once they dreamed of fact, I assume, he is getting
being. Psychologists call this so disgusted that he will
involutional melancholia. probably fire me. I believe
Helplessness gradually that I deserve whatever he
becomes both a cause and throws at me because I am
an effect of depression. not a capable person. I am
All depressed people really a failure. Because I
experience a decrease in am so worthless and really
self-confidence. If I have am a handicap to my
low self-esteem, I am much students, the best thing I
more vulnerable to can do is to quit my job so
depression. Something my boss can hire someone
happens to me that else who will do the job
confirms my idea that correctly.
I’m no good. The scenario Have you ever played
might look like this: that kind of scenario in
I’m a professor at your head? I have. What
Gordon-Conwell Theological happens is that I file this
Seminary. Suppose the incident away in my
department head stops by memory where I have
my office and asks me if I already filed many other
have finished a project he incidents of “rejection.” My
gave me to do. I haven’t. So level of self-confidence sinks
I feel his disappointment in a bit lower each time under
me. I begin to translate that the weight of this heavy file-
into all kinds of feelings he, drawer full of my failures.
in reality, isn’t having. If As my self-confidence
my self-esteem is low, I drains away, I withdraw
may conclude that he is from people around me,
disgusted with me for not from life in general, and
getting my work done. In often from God. I’m
21

probably not conscious of them with no objective
my reasons for withdrawing. evidence at all. But that
But the more I withdraw, doesn’t stop us.
the more I blame myself. Depression creates a
This merely increases the frame of mind in which
problem. Each time I do almost everything we
this, my self-confidence hits experience reminds us
a new low. A vicious cycle of our miserable, helpless
begins to spin, leading me condition. This is one
into more withdrawal and reason depression is so
more feelings of guilt and
worthlessness.
h
Caught in the cycle,
Depression creates
I feel totally helpless. a frame of mind
Nothing that I do is worth in which almost
anything. I’m at the mercy
of forces that overwhelm
everything
me in my inadequacy. I feel we experience
myself being sucked reminds us of our
down, down in a spiraling
whirlpool of depression.
miserable, helpless
Negative thoughts about condition.
ourselves quickly become h
automatic. We don’t have painful. We really believe we
to work at thinking are to blame for whatever
negative thoughts. They we think is wrong. We hold
become well-ingrained ourselves responsible for
habits strengthened by years everything bad that
of practice. We do not arrive happens around us. We
at negative thoughts through emphasize failures and we
logic. We reach most of ignore successes or brush
22

them aside as accidental. we look at a biblical case
Most of the time, study in depression.
depressed people anchor Our case study is a
their sense of self-worth to woman named Hannah. Her
a very narrow idea of what story can help us as we walk
success is. Unrealistic with her through and out of
expectations and impossibly her depression. We meet her
high goals lead us to an in 1 Samuel 1. As we get
overwhelming sense of acquainted with her, we
failure and worthlessness. discover that she had
We set ourselves up to fail. several sources of stress.
The mental habit of inflating First, she lived at a
others and deflating stressful time in Israel’s
ourselves is typical of history. The nation was
depression. We end up merely a loose confederacy
with distorted perceptions of tribes united around the
of other people that leave worship of Jehovah at the
us feeling hopelessly inferior. shrine at Shiloh. Invaders
We see ourselves as stupid, harassed one tribe, then
unattractive, untalented, or another. Over a period of
unspiritual. several hundred years one
So much for a clinical or another strong leader
description of depression. called a judge would deliver
It can be helpful to review God’s people from foreign
symptoms and the rule, only to find another
syndrome. But this isn’t Israeli tribe oppressed by a
a medical journal and different group of outsiders.
depression is not a virus. As we flip on the news or
It is always personal. It pick up Time or Newsweek,
happens to real people. We we can understand how the
may understand it better if tensions in the world and
23

in our town can affect the family. In 1 Samuel 1:2 we
way we feel. Not only was learn that Elkanah had two
Hannah’s nation oppressed wives—Hannah, who was
by neighbor nations, but the beloved but barren, and
religious life of the people Peninnah, who was less
was being corrupted by bad loved but very fertile. Some
priests. The two sons of the of Hannah’s stress came
high priest made a mockery from living in a polygamous
of the sacrifices, and to marriage.
make bad matters worse, Polygamy was a fact of
they were sleeping with the life in ancient Israel. Wives
women who served at the were a means of securing
entrance to the tabernacle. children. In Hannah’s case
It was not a time to inspire it is likely that she was
faith and devotion to God. Elkanah’s first wife. But
Yet, in the midst of because she was infertile,
religious hypocrisy we find he took a second wife to
a pious family living in insure that the family name
Ramah in the hill country would not be lost because
allotted to the tribe of he had no children.
Ephraim. Elkanah, the In Hannah’s day, a
husband in our story, was woman who failed to
a Levite, or a priest. Every produce children was
year he and his family made considered to be a useless
the 10-mile journey on foot link in the chain leading
to the tabernacle or shrine to the promised Messiah.
at Shiloh to worship. Hannah’s situation was
Hannah lived at a depressing. Year after year
stressful time both politically Peninnah produced children.
and religiously. But she also Year after year Hannah
had to live with stress in her suffered emotionally from
24

her infertility, her hopes for children keep bumping into
a pregnancy receding with you, wiping their noses on
every menstrual period. your skirt, or asking you to
Hannah’s stress in the family carry them. No wonder
came not only from being in Hannah arrived at Shiloh
a polygamous marriage. It under a black cloud of
also came from her infertility depression.
as she lived next to a co-wife How do we know she
who had no trouble was depressed? What were
conceiving and bearing some of her symptoms?
children. Elkanah’s questions to his
Hannah’s stress, wife in verse 8 give us some
however, was compounded clues:
by the fact that Peninnah Why are you weeping?
never stopped needling her Why don’t you eat? Why
about her childlessness. In are you downhearted?
verse 6 we read that her Think back to Foster’s
rival, Peninnah, “kept seven major symptoms of
provoking her in order to depression (pp.18-19).
irritate her.” We know from He said that any three
verse 7 that this had been indicated depression.
going on for a long time— Hannah was depressed.
“year after year.” Elkanah’s well-intentioned
One of the most trying effort to console her did not
times for Hannah appears succeed. Nothing seemed
to have been the annual to make any difference. Her
pilgrimage to Shiloh. despair was overpowering.
Imagine having to walk for She withdrew from the
10 miles with someone who comfort of her husband.
never stops picking at your She withdrew from the
inadequacy all the while her family circle.
25

If you have ever she tried to help Elkanah
been in the black hole understand her misery
of depression, you can when he attempted to
sympathize with Hannah. console her. Until she
She was depressed, and speaks in verse 11, she
she had much in her life to has been a silent suffering
cause her depression. In the figure, very much like
midst of it all, however, many women suffering
Hannah had not lost her from depression today.
grip on God. Watch what Depression has a way of
happens next. In verses 9 robbing us of the ability
and 10 we read: to communicate with the
Once when they had important people around
finished eating and us. We may feel that no
drinking in Shiloh, one will understand.
Hannah stood up. In bitterness of soul she
Now Eli the priest was wept. But she did something
sitting on a chair by the else. She prayed to the Lord.
doorpost of the Lord’s The first time we hear her
temple [tabernacle]. In speak, we hear her
bitterness of soul Hannah addressing God:
wept much and prayed to She made a vow, saying,
the Lord. “O Lord Almighty, if You
Note that while we have will only look upon Your
learned a lot about Hannah servant’s misery and
in the Bible story up to this remember me, and not
point, we only now hear forget Your servant but
Hannah herself speak. give her a son, then I
We have had no indication will give him to the
whether she answered Lord for all the days of
Peninnah’s jeers or whether his life, and no razor will
26

ever be used on his head.” of her petition. “Look at my
Hannah’s vow was called misery! Remember me!
a Nazirite vow. Samson, an Don’t forget me! Give me a
earlier judge of Israel, was son!” We hear the heaviness
also a Nazirite, “set apart in the words she prays. We
to God from birth,” one see it in the way she prays.
who would “begin the Read verses 12 through 16:
deliverance of Israel from As she kept on praying to
the hands of the Philistines” the Lord, Eli observed her
(Jud. 13:5). Jews believed mouth. Hannah was
that anything that had not praying in her heart, and
been touched, plowed, or her lips were moving but
cut belonged to the Lord. her voice was not heard.
A field was the Lord’s until it Eli thought she was
was plowed. Once a farmer drunk and said to her,
dug it up, it was his and “How long will you keep
not the Lord’s. A person on getting drunk? Get rid
dedicated to the Lord from of your wine.” “Not so,
his birth could not have his my lord,” Hannah replied,
hair cut. Once it was cut, “I am a woman who is
he no longer had the deeply troubled. I have
same relationship to the not been drinking wine
Lord. This explains what or beer; I was pouring out
happened to Samson when my soul to the Lord. Do
Delilah wheedled the secret not take your servant for
of his strength from him and a wicked woman; I have
a razor was used on his been praying here out of
head. my great anguish and
Listen to Hannah as she grief.”
bargained for a son. Feel her Added to Peninnah’s jibes
desperation and the urgency and Elkanah’s ineffective
27

effort at consolation came a something happened to
sharp rebuke from the high Hannah as she stood there
priest. In the midst of her praying. Whatever it was, it
misery, Hannah also had produced the result we see
to deal with unjustified in verse 18:
criticism from one who Then she went her way
misunderstood her. and ate something, and
In the prayer in verse 11 her face was no longer
she made a vow that if the downcast.
Lord gave her the desire of Hannah joined in the
her heart, she would give worship of the Lord the
that son back to Him to next morning, went back to
serve Him all the days of Ramah with Elkanah, and
his life. But that vow and voila!—before long she was
her pleas do not account for pregnant and gave birth to
all the time Hannah stood Samuel whose name means
praying. In verse 10 we read “heard of God.” She asked,
that “in bitterness of soul and God heard her and
Hannah wept much and answered her prayer. No
prayed,” and in verse 12, wonder her depression
“she kept on praying.” lifted! She had the baby
Sympathetic to Hannah’s she asked for.
words, Eli told her in verse Is that really what
17 to “go in peace, and may happened? If our story
the God of Israel grant you ended with 1 Samuel
what you have asked of chapter 1, we might think
Him.” Notice that Eli did that the only way out of
not know what Hannah had depression is to have
asked God to do. He merely God intervene in some
added his prayer to hers miraculous way to fill up
to the God of Israel. Yet the empty places in our
28

lives. But the story doesn’t part of depression.
end with chapter 1. The key If we define holiness
to understanding Hannah’s negatively—as a separation
dramatic turn-around in from all that is unclean—
verse 18 lies in her song, that may make us feel worse
or psalm, that we find in about ourselves. But God’s
1 Samuel 2:1-10. holiness is much more.
Hannah’s depression Charles Ryrie suggests
lifted when she took her an analogy that may help us
focus from herself and her understand this word holy.
situation and put her focus Ryrie asks, “What does it
on God. In the midst of her mean to be healthy?” It
misery she was able to focus means the absence of
on three important facts illness. But we all know that
about God. She underlined being healthy is a lot more
these three facts in her song. than simply not being sick.
The first thing she knew It also means having energy,
about God is found in being physically able to
1 Samuel 2:2, meet the demands of our
There is no one holy like daily lives.
the Lord; there is no one Holiness is not merely
besides You; there is no the absence of evil. It is also
Rock like our God. the presence of positive
She recognized God’s right. It is God at work doing
holiness. What could the what is positively right for
fact of God’s holiness mean us. It is the part of God’s
to a woman in depression? nature that keeps Him
Far from being consoling, from doing anything in
that could only intensify the our lives that is not in our
feelings of worthlessness best interest. His love is a
and guilt that are often holy and pure love that is
29

committed to our best good. see this in 1 Samuel 2:6-7
The second thing and at the end of verse 8:
Hannah knew about God The Lord brings death
is found in 1 Samuel 2:3, and makes alive; He
For the Lord is a God brings down to the grave
who knows, and by Him and raises up. The Lord
deeds are weighed. sends poverty and wealth;
The New American He humbles and He
Standard Bible translates exalts. . . . For the
this verse, “For the Lord is foundations of the earth
a God of knowledge.” Not are the Lord’s; upon them
only does God’s holiness He has set the world.
keep Him committed to our The Lord of creation has
best good; His perfect all power. He can do
knowledge keeps Him from whatever He wants to do.
doing anything in our lives That fact without the
that is not perfectly right first two facts might terrify
for us. us. If God had all power and
Someone has said that we did not know anything
“God does not waste His else about Him, we’d
strokes in our lives.” That is have reason for a massive
true. It is true because God depression. We’d all cower
knows what is best for us. in dark corners to escape
No trial and error. No foul His wrath or His caprice.
balls or strikeouts. The Lord But God tempers His power
is a God of knowledge. That with His commitment to our
gives us confidence in His welfare. He controls His
actions in our lives. power with His knowledge
The third thing Hannah of what is best for us.
knew occupies much of her My husband, Randy, and
song. God has power. We I have four adult children.
30

We have always wanted the knowledge what is best, He
best for our children. But also has the power to make
often we didn’t know what the best happen in our lives.
was best for them. Which God’s holy commitment to
schools would be best? us, God’s knowledge of what
Which activities would be is best for us, and God’s
most wholesome? Which power to make the right
church would nurture them? things happen in our lives
As our children grew up, we are all linked together for
made thousands of decisions our good.
with their interests at heart. What brought Hannah
But we were not always sure out of her depression? She
that our choices were wise. saw God as He really is. God
Not only have Randy and backed His commitment
I often lacked knowledge of to her welfare with His
what was best for our knowledge and His power
children; there were times to do what needed to be
when we knew what was done in her life.
best but didn’t have the Hannah’s story had a
power to make that decision happy ending. Samuel was
stick. We’re finite, fallible born. She gave him to the
parents who have made lots Lord, and God gave her
of mistakes along the way. three more sons and two
We wanted what was best daughters. Yet in 1 Samuel
for our children, but we 1:18, when she stopped
lacked the knowledge and praying, ate some food, and
the power we needed. stopped looking sad, she
God is not finite. God didn’t know at that moment
is not fallible. He not only how the story would end.
wants what is best for us She was able to do that
and knows with perfect because she had met with
31

God and understood who reminds us that “looking
He was and what He could downward that makes one
do. dizzy.” I’m an acrophobe.
At the beginning of I don’t like being up high
this section, I mentioned on the top of things like fire
that psychologists believe towers or monuments or
depression is related to skyscrapers. Looking down
the way we think about terrifies me.
ourselves. It is also true that Spiritually speaking, the
depression is related to the downward look is the one
way we think—or fail to that leads to depression.
think—about God. Once The upward look takes
we bind ourselves to a God- away our fear. Look to
sized God, we have a the God of Hannah,
resource for dealing with the One who dispelled
depression. We can focus her depression with a new
on God—His holiness, His understanding of His love,
knowledge, His power. We His knowledge, and His
can face our fears and power.
anxieties in the light of
His character and His
commitment to us.
If depression results
from the way we think
about ourselves, then it can
be lifted by the way we think h
This booklet is excerpted
about ourselves in relation from A Woman God Can Lead
to a holy, knowledgeable, by Alice Mathews, published
and powerful God who is by Discovery House Publishers
© 1998. Alice is a regular
committed to us. participant on the RBC daily
Robert Browning radio program Discover The Word.
32

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