Esther 4:1-7:10 ~ 1 Corinthians 12:1-26 ~ Psalm 36:1-12 ~ Proverbs 21:21-22
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Old Testament - Today in Esther chapter 4 we read about Mordecai persuading Queen Esther to help save the Jews from Haman’s evil plot. In verse 14 we read these amazing words of Mordecai’s to Esther: “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” For such a time as this. Powerful words to consider. You’ll recall similar words were used in the narrative of Joseph in Genesis – Joseph was sent ahead to Egypt by God to save his family from famine “for such a time as this.” Esther was married to the Persian King for such a time as this. And I believe that you and I have been placed on this earth this very day for such a time as this. Do you believe it is true that you really have been placed on this earth by God for such a time as this? Do you believe that there is a definite purpose for your life that God has called you to? Do you realize that you have the choice – as Esther had the choice – to move forward with God’s vision and plan for your life or to say no to God? Our time on this life is short. We can live our lives in accordance with God’s will and purpose for us or we can waste away our life with useless distractions. Trust me - the devil wants nothing more than to distract you from what God has called you to for such a time as this. So, what say you? Will you live your life wholly and purposefully for God for such a time as this? Will you leave the distractions behind?
Below is an amazing painting by Rembrandt from the year 1660 of Esther revealing the evil plans of Haman to King Xerxes at the banquet in chapter 7. Check out how Haman is off in the left in the shadows... apropos!
Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Esther titled "Esther's Dilemma and Decision" is at this link and "Sleepless in Susa" is at this link.
New Testament - First Corinthians 12 is once again another amazing chapter in this book! Spiritual Gifts and the Body of Christ... it gets no better! I love verses 4 through 7: "Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service in the church, but it is the same Lord we are serving. There are different ways God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work through all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church." If you are a believer in Jesus as your Lord, do you believe that a spiritual gift has been given to you? Do you know what your spiritual gift is? Are you using your spiritual gift as a means of helping the entire church? (I think my spiritual gift is a gift that Paul did not write about in this chapter - the gift of blogging! :)
I love Paul's discourse on the Body of Christ. Verse 26 stands out: "If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad." This makes me wonder about the Body of Christ in our world today. Do you think that there are Christians in our world today who are suffering? Who are starving? Who are being persecuted? Who are dying of disease? And... if there are Christians - part of the Body of Christ just as we are part of the Body of Christ - who are suffering, are we sharing in the suffering with them in any way, shape, or form? If we are not, are we ignoring part of our Body? As Casting Crowns put it in their big hit Christian song - "If we are the Body, why aren't His hands healing? Why is His love not showing them there is a Way?" Why?
Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in First Corinthians titled "Spirituality and Spiritual Gifts" is at this link.
Psalms - I love Psalm 36 today! There are some powerful verses in this Psalm... Starting off with verse 1 being a scary & true verse... "Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God to restrain them." Wow. I'll admit - I've been there. I know what it is like to have sin whispering deep within my heart. Thank God for the gift of Jesus - the savior of my world... Thank God for the gift of the fear of God. And thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit who directs us along the narrow path - the path of life and light. I pray that verse 1 does not ring too true for you today - but if it does, please pray to Jesus to instead fill your heart with Jesus' Spirit, which is the only power that can truly dispel the whisper of sin within.
Verses 5 & 6 reminded me immediately of the Third Day song "Your Love Oh Lord", which borrows nicely from these verses (and is our YouTube for the day, below): "Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths."
Verse 9 just has so much simplicity in it's truth... I love it... I hope you believe this too - "For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see." Are there really any other lights by which we may see? Are there really any other fountains of life?
Proverbs - Proverbs 21:21 is a great one to live by! "Whoever pursues godliness and unfailing love will find life, godliness, and honor." What is godliness? What is unfailing love? Are you pursuing both of these? Do you believe that in this pursuit you will find life? Godliness? Honor? Are these worth pursuing? If so... pursue!
Worship Video: Per my Psalm 36 reflections above, here is Third Day's great song "Your Love Oh Lord!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP_Q4z0x_Fw
Do you know God's love that reaches to the heavens? Click here to reach for faithfulness that reaches to the sky!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray for God to reveal to you why you are on the planet right now, for such a time as this. Pray for God's perfect will in your life each and every day. Pray that you will stay in the center of God's will for your life, for such a time as this.
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike
p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this One Year Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
Esther
1) Nowhere in Chapter 4 does it mention praying to God. Just fasting. Bob Deffingbaugh is pretty hard on Mordecai and Esther. But I wonder?...
Fasting to a Jew is tantamount to offering body as sacrifice to the Lord.
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=59&letter=F&search=fasting
There are examples of fasting and prayer together in Jewish culture, but I wonder since this book of the Bible intentionally makes no overt reference to God - that the prayer is IMPLIED in chapter 4. This way the harmony of the "not mentioning God" is kept. Just a thought.
2) Mordecai did not follow Daniel or Jeremiah's examples or instructions on behavior while living in a foreign land. Mordecai should have given a representative of the king his due. It was not worship, but respect.
Yet Haman's reaction was over the top, and again half truths and omissions (naming the ethnic group) were used in condemning the Jews to Xerxes.
Mordecai on the other hand told his side to the Queen's servant and gave him a hard copy of the edict of Haman.
3)Haman was full of "pride", and his bragging to wife and friends showed he had a "lot of material things". When asked what the king should do to honor someone he delights in - not only is he conceited to think it is himself, but his suggestion is over the top. When in the clutches of a particular vice, one always wants more, different and grander versions.
4) As Bob Deffingbaugh points out it would be ironic if the king could not sleep because of the noise coming from the building of the oversized gallows.
5)More irony - Haman who was furious that Mordecai would not humble himself before Haman, in turn humbled himself before Esther a Jew.
Haman had no concept of mercy to the people of Israel (kill them all for the act of one man), nor to Mordecai (wanting him hanged). But seeing the handwriting on the wall through the displeasure of the king, Haman seems to now think "mercy" is a pretty good idea!
Note: The gallows mentioned here was not for hanging a victim, but for violently killing and displaying the victim. “A pointed stake is set upright in the ground, and the culprit is taken, placed on the sharp point, and then pulled down by his legs till the stake that went in at the fundament passes up through the body and comes out through the neck. A most dreadful species of punishment, in which revenge and cruelty may glut the utmost of their malice. The culprit lives a considerable time in excruciating agonies.” (Clarke)
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I think an important point of this book is: God will keep His Word. It may not be through spectacular miracles (like the plagues), but through natural means and course of events.
God not being mentioned is not a sleight on God in this book of the Bible. Perhaps it shows that God will keep his Word and fulfill His purpose and plan - whether anyone asks Him to intervene or not.
God's fulfilling His purpose and plan are not dependant on any one person or group of people. It is right and good to consult God, pray to God, and ask for intercession and we see that often in Old Testament. Yet - here in Esther God's Will is that the Jewish nation will not be destroyed (implied in 4:14) despite no overt calls for His help.
Even Haman's wife and friends recognize this:
"Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!" NIV
What is implicit here is not that Haman cannot stand against Mordecai, but that Haman cannot stand against the God of Israel.
John
Posted by: John | August 18, 2021 at 09:43 PM