Esther 5-6

Dear RTB’ers,

The past few days we have seen King Ahasuerus being manipulated by his wife (in her refusal to come at his command), his advisors, and Haman. Now today we see his other side, him taking the initiative. A sleepless night leads to him reading the chronicles and learning of Mordecai’s part in foiling an assassination plot against him, thereby leading him to honor this Mordecai, a person otherwise unknown to him. Then, what I think is the strangest twist in this story, the king asks Haman to arrange a plan for extending this honor. Haman imagines himself to be that person being so honored and ends up in the humiliating role of honoring his hated enemy, Mordecai.

Although God is not mentioned in these happenings, it is clear that He is orchestrating these events. He put Esther on the throne, He set Mordecai by the king’s gate, He let Haman’s pride overflow to his own destruction, and He changed a sleepless night for the king into the beginning of the end of Haman’s murderous plot. For us, simple incidents in our lives can have huge impacts. I can point to dozens of those incidents in my life, where God’s re-direction of my plans put me on an entirely different course. One such of those outcomes has me posting this note some 5000 miles distant from Versailles.

Take some time today to look back at re-directions in your own lives. See God’s hand leading you where you might never have gone. Then praise Him and thank Him – and then simply ask Him, “What’s next?”

Blessings!

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See also:

• September 16 (2023) / Esther 1-5 (again)
• September 17 (2023) / Esther 6-10

Esther 4

Dear RTB’ers,

And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (v. 14b) That’s my memory verse from Esther, although I’ve typically translated it as, “Who knows but that I (we?) have been called for such a time as this?” I’ve even seen T-shirts expressing some similar words. And I’ve thought of this verse often when I’ve found myself in a situation where the “responsibility” (or “authority”) of my position could do someone or a group of people some good. It’s important in those situations for us to realize that it’s the Lord and His workings that have put us there. When I came to Slovakia in 2004 for a year-long academic appointment, a man in my prayer group said to me, “It’ll be interesting to find out why the Lord has sent you there.” That was an eye-opener for me, to imagine that I had been sent there. And now, more than a dozen trips here since that 2004 time, it’s clear that God has had a purpose in having Carol and me here for that time. And we’re enormously grateful for having been sent!

My Bible Gateway sidebar focused on a different few words in this chapter, “…if I perish, I perish.” (v. 16b) They noted that these words have “become an anthem for selflessly and trustfully moving forward, even when outcomes are uncertain.” In my future readings of Esther, I’m sure that these words will stand out. Standing up for what is right, whatever the outcome. Yes…!

Blessings!

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See also: September 16 (2023) / Esther 1-5.

Esther 2:19-3:15

Dear RTB’ers,           

I posted yesterday of a couple of incidents where King Ahasuerus was easily manipulated (or certainly, at least swayed in one direction or another). We see that again today, on a much larger scale than yesterday. Haman carries a grudge against Mordecai, learns that he is a Jew, and proceeds to manipulate the king into signing a death decree against all Jews: If it is pleasing to the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed … And the king said to Haman, “… do with them as it seems good to you.” (vv. 3:9a, 11b)

I’m thinking back to any time that I had “carried a grudge” against someone or some group, how it might have festered in me all too long before it finally went away. I’ll continue to think about that today. But as I was thinking about it just now, it came to me that carrying a grudge is simply a lack of forgiveness. That is, if someone has been wronged and lets that wrong fester, that wound can become infected and there is no peace until the issue gets resolved or until sufficient time (and memory) passes.

Carrying a grudge = lack of forgiveness = making myself out to be the judge and jury. Not a good situation!

Your thoughts…? Any extra weight, anything heavy that you’re carrying around…?  

Blessings!

Esther 2:1-18

Dear RTB’ers,           

I noticed yesterday, but failed to mention how the king was so easily manipulated – initially by Queen Vashti with her refusal to obey his demand, then by the wise men whom he consulted, Now this word pleased the king… (v. 1:21) Then today his attendants propose the beauty parade of young women and he quickly assents, And the suggestion pleased the king… (v. 2:4) And I wonder at how often I am too easily manipulated by those “attractions” the world offers.

One word kept showing up today – “favor” – with Hegai (the king’s eunuch, v. 9), with “all who saw her” (v. 15) and finally, with the king (v. 17). No doubt the Lord had endowed her with a particular personality that found favor from the very beginning and continuing to the end. He has also done that for us, with us. We are endowed with His Holy Spirit and our lives should reflect that – with every person, every encounter. Let ‘s think about how we might “find favor” with every person that we meet today.

Blessings!

Esther 1

Dear RTB’ers,

So, the king makes a demand, Vashti refuses,  and she is demoted. All that to provide a setting for which Esther rises to Vashti’s throne. My takeaway – God is at work in every activity that takes place on this huge earth and with these billions of people. How else could I have come to know each and every one of you??!! That’s a LONG story…!!

God is at work on behalf of His people in the book of Esther. Today we see only the beginnings of that!

Blessings!

II Chronicles 36

Dear RTB’ers,

Today we finish II Chronicles and in so doing we end the “formal” historical writings of the Old Testament authors (Samuel, Kings, Chronicles). We still have two historical books to read, Esther and Daniel that relate to activities taking place during the Babylonian Exile. In addition we’ve already read Ezra and Nehemiah and two prophetic books, Jeremiah and Ezekiel that relate to activities taking place in Jerusalem and Babylon. But for now, today ends the formal Old Testament historical writings.

We see four kings in this final chapter:

1. Jehoahaz, son of Josiah, did evil in the sight of the LORD (II Kings 23:32), taken captive to Egypt;
2. Jehoiakim (name changed from Eliakim), brother to Jehoahaz, reigned eleven years, did evil in the sight of the LORD, bound in chains and taken captive to Babylon;
3. Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim, reigned only three months, did evil in the sight of the LORD, carried captive to Babylon;
4. Zedekiah (name changed from Mattaniah), brother to Jehoiachin (v. 10), or possibly uncle to Jehoiachin and brother to Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim (II Kings 24:17), did evil in the sight of the LORD, rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar (Babylon) who captured him, slaughtered his sons before his eyes, and bound him in bronze to Babylon (II Kings 25:7).

Their stories, in a nutshell, with one common denominator: “did what was evil in the sight of the LORD” (vv. 5, 9, 12, plus II Kings 23:32 noted above).

Any questions…?

Blessings!

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See also:

• July 15 (2023) / II Kings 24:5-17; Jeremiah 22:18-30; 13:15-27; II Chronicles 36:5-10; Jeremiah 24:1-10
• July 27 (2023) / II Chronicles 36:13-16; Ezekiel 8-11
• August 8 (2023) / II Chronicles 36:17-21; Ezekiel 12; Psalm 89

II Chronicles 34-35

Dear RTB’ers,

I had to wonder if I was on the right readings for today – a first chapter on serious religious reforms (including the destruction of pagan images and altars) and finding the Book of the Law, then a second chapter detailing another Passover. Just three days ago we read two chapters on Hezekiah, with a first chapter on the temple repair and sacrifices, then a second chapter covering the celebration of the Passover.

And I wondered at today’s statement that No Passover like it had been kept in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. (v. 35:18a) Yes, there are similarities between the two Passovers, but Josiah’s Passover was clearly much more in adherence with specifics in the Book of the Law. Per an online source, “King Josiah’s celebration of Passover …, which the Chronicler declares incomparable to all prior Passovers in Israel since Samuel … emphasizes complete liturgical observance, priestly preparation, and the theological reunification of all Israel, demonstrating that authentic worship depends on right intention and covenantal obedience rather than institutional splendor.” The finding of the Book of the Law was very likely the prompt for the more serious Passover under Josiah.

Both Hezekiah and Josiah were highly regarded by the Kings and Chronicles authors and by the people. Our Chronicler noted that all Jerusalem and Judah mourned for Josiah. (v. 35:24b) Earlier he had said of Hezekiah that all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. (v. 32:33b)

What would we say today if each of us were to write our own obituary? One wonders…

Blessings!

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See also:

• June 30 (2023) / II Kings 23:1-27; II Chronicles 34:1-35:19
• July 5 (2023) / II Kings 23:28-37; Jeremiah 22:10-17; II Chronicles 35:20-36:4

II Chronicles 33

Dear RTB’ers,

Manasseh’s 55-year reign in a few words: Ungodliness. Evil. Judgment. Remorse. Forgiveness. Restoration. Renewal. Restitution. A verse that we might want to claim: He prayed to Him, and God was moved by his entreaty… (v. 13a, then repeated in v. 19a). God was moved by his prayer! So, your prayer for today…?

Blessings!

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See also: June 28 (2023) / II Chronicles 32-33, II Kings 21.

II Chronicles 31:2-32:33

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, another two chapters covering Hezekiah, king of Judah. Yesterday was the temple repair and sacrifices, then the celebration of the Passover. Then in today’s first chapter we see more regarding the temple, this time the tithes and offerings coming to the temple from people in Jerusalem and in all of Judah. Finally we close Hezekiah with Sennacherib’s failed invasion – which is covered in greater detail in II Kings 18-19. Our Chronicler also offers only small mention of Hezekiah’s illness, which is also covered in greater detail in II Kings 20.

Hezekiah speaking as Sennacherib nears the city: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles. (vv. 32:7-8a) It may not be a “horde” descending upon us, but we do have our own battles. It’s always good to remember Hezekiah’s words, Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed … but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles. Whatever battles we face…!

Blessings!

II Chronicles 29:1-31:1

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, Hezekiah: And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done. (v. 29:2) And the Chronicler gets right after all that, with the temple cleansing and worship followed by the celebration of the Passover – fourteen days instead of the customary seven!

It was refreshing to see Judah invite their brothers from Israel (Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, Asher, Zebulun) to join them in keeping the Passover, in spite of their “uncleanness”: For a majority of the people, many of them from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than as prescribed. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, “May the good LORD pardon everyone who sets his heart to seek God, the Lord, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary’s rules of cleanness.” (vv. 30:18-19) My online Gateway sidebar had this to say: “God is fundamentally concerned with the inward disposition of a person (everyone who sets their heart on seeking God) as opposed to the outward ritual. In short, faith and obedience take precedence over ritual requirements.” That doesn’t mean we throw out the ritual requirements. When we are forgiven, there is an expectation that we will not go on sinning in our old ways. Seeking God is more than simply celebrating one Passover.

One final item, So the couriers went from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. However, some men of Asher, of Manasseh, and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. (vv. 30:10-11) I’m impressed by the courage of those men who humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem, in spite of the opposition they had faced in their homeland. I’m thinking of the persecution of millions of people in Africa and Asia in our own time, people who are actively suffering for their Christian beliefs. We need to pray for them more often.

Blessings!

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See also: June 27 (2023) / II Chronicles 29-31.