Favor.
This word has been buzzing in my brain for about four months now. Ever since a group of lovely ladies from church & I began studying Ruth. She found favor in Boaz's eyes. Then we studied Esther. She found favor in the king's eyes and the eyes of all who saw her. Now we're in Nehemiah. He found favor in his king's eyes. I've also been reading in the Old & New Testaments in my daily reading. Joseph found favor in Egypt. Moses found favor in God's eyes. Naphtali (a tribe in Israel) was said to be "sated with favor." Mary found favor with God-she was called "the favored one." Jesus had the favor of God and of man. Jesus came, as a fulfillment of Isaiah 61, "to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Last night I finally (don't know why it took me so long) looked up the word's meaning. Instead of justice, goodwill. Excessive kindness-beyond what is due. Preferable treatment. To be approved. Overgenerous ...