Bible Reading Reflection from Esther 1-10

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (LRAU) as a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝔼𝕊𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ 𝟙:𝟙𝟚

"But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. Then the king became very angry and his wrath burned within him."

The story of Esther is as ridiculous as a made-up movie, but that's how we all are in the presence of God. We may think we are somebody or such and such a thing is amazing, but the omnipotent God has no comparison.

Even in this story, without the word "God" at all, God still exercised His power providentially. Those who tried to overthrow the people of God ridiculously were overthrown most ridiculously. If you laugh at God, remember God is laughing at you and will let the whole world laugh at you!

MacArthur Study Bible Notes compared this story to a game of Chess played by Satan and God in a humorous way of "Check" and "Checkmate"

Is it not interesting that Vashti refused to come before the king? And why so mad about it to the point of divorcing and banishing, which he would regret later on? It's so ridiculous. But of course, God is preparing a place for Esther, from a divine perspective!

 

𝔼𝕊𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ 𝟚:𝟙𝟟

"The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found favor and kindness with him more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti."

What a Providence that Esther was chosen! She replaced Vashti. It often is the case that God has the habit of replacing people. Taking from others and giving to others.

Someday we may be those ones given if we walk with Him faithfully. If we live our life in our own way, even what we have built and gathered will be given to someone unworthy [unworthy from our standpoint]. And God does what He pleases!

 

𝔼𝕊𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ 𝟛:𝟙

"After these events King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and established his authority over all the princes who were with him."

Oh! No! This is not fair! This is not right. Chapter 2 just ended with Mordecai saving the life of the king from assassination. Mordecai deserved rewards. He wasn't given. Rather . . .

Chapter 3 begins with Haman being promoted. Oh! Haman in a sense was receiving what Mordecai should get. God is interesting, huh! And this guy was a wicked man. And of course, we know how the story ended, Haman would be replaced again by Mordecai in a most humiliating way for Haman and most exalting manner for Mordecai.

Let's learn to wait. Let's learn to humble ourselves before the Lord. Let's not be quick to complain or protest, "we want justice" "we want a promotion" "we want a raise" "we deserve it" slogan. Because God can and has the way of exalting the meek and humble. And when He does, it is beyond imagination.

 

𝔼𝕊𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ 𝟜:𝟙𝟜, 𝟙𝟞

v14. ". . . And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?"

v16. ". . .And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish."

Great hope Mordecai had in the Providence of God. Great Determination Esther had to risk her life for the sake of her people. And we know God rewarded her and Mordecai by King's favor not only to spare her but to welcome her, and to be favorable to their people!

Jesus risked His life to the point of not only physical pain and death but also damnation from God to grant us Salvation and God's Favor. Therefore, God was pleased with the work of Jesus and fulfilled everything.

Greater than Esther is Jesus Christ in Determination, Risk, Sacrifice, and Outcome!

 

𝔼𝕊𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ 𝟝:𝟙𝟚

"Haman also said, "Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the banquet which she had prepared; and tomorrow also I am invited by her with the king."

Haman thought he was abundantly blessed, whereas God was designing his downfall. Wicked men are really placed in the slippery places as Ps. 73:18 said. They are enjoying, boasting. They even think God has blessed them favorably. Some even looked down on the poor and their fellow countrymen. Yet, God is up to a different plan.

Only Esther knew that Haman was not being honored by her invitation, she meant it for his doom.  Haman determined to be more wicked, to hang Mordecai, thinking he was thought highly of by the king and the queen.

Do we keep on doing something wrong seeing there seems to be no retribution but only rewards? Let's remember Haman!

 

𝔼𝕊𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ 𝟞:𝟜

"So the king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace in order to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had prepared for him."

Chapter 6 is ridiculous! It's more than a fairy tale. Its account surpasses the plotline of Hollywood and Bollywood movies.

What a providence that the king couldn't sleep! What a providence that an account of Mordecai was read among hundreds of archives! What a providence that Haman was in the Court! What a providence that Haman was wishing for such a pompous show!

And all these, just before Mordecai was about to be hanged. Haman's ultimate solution to silence Mordecai turned out to be his own ultimate humiliation. What he wished for himself was given to another, and what he wished for another was given to him!

May I not wish bad for others! 😬🥶👍

 

𝔼𝕊𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ 𝟟:𝟠

"And the king returned from the palace garden to the place where they were drinking wine, as Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. And the king said, "Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?" As the word left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman's face."

What a providence that Haman's earnest plea for forgiveness looked like an attempt to molest Esther in the eyes of the King!

Poor Haman! But the end had come for him! He who devised after wickedness had to fall by his own wickedness. He was hung on Mordecai's gallows!

God can really do greater things than we can imagine!

 

𝔼𝕊𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ 𝟠:𝟚

"The king took off his signet ring which he had taken away from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman."

Finally, Mordecai was rewarded. Haman was replaced.

Mordecai was humbled before, now God has exalted him. I remember James 4:10.

If I am making a movie, this will be in disc 2. Disc 1 ended with Haman hanging. The climax is Esther zeroing on wicked Haman.

And disc 2 unfolds in chapter 8. The end of wickedness is over, the triumph of righteousness and the rule of the righteous is on.

 

𝔼𝕊𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ 𝟡:𝟙

"Now in the twelfth month (that is, the month Adar), on the thirteenth day when the king's command and edict were about to be executed, on the day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, it was turned to the contrary so that the Jews themselves gained the mastery over those who hated them."

What a change of fortune! Indeed, God puts the wicked people in the slippery places (Ps. 73:18).

 

𝔼𝕊𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ 𝟙𝟘:𝟛

"For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews and in favor with his many kinsmen, one who sought the good of his people and one who spoke for the welfare of his whole nation."

The last and shortest chapter of Esther. It ended with an account of Mordecai.

Indeed, Esther was nothing without Mordecai, and Mordecai would have been hanged without Esther. However, Mordecai was seen as next to the king, more influential, powerful, and revered than the queen.

Ordinary man, becoming 2nd Rank because of his unwavering faith in God, especially when the trials were at their worst. Like Joseph and Daniel, he withstood, and God was pleased to bless and exalt him!

Sermon Outline of Luke 5:1-11

 

Sermon Outline of Matthew 9:1-8

 

Sermon Outline of Philippians 3:7-11

 

Sermon Outline of John 10:1-18

 

Bible Reading Reflection from Nehemiah 1-13

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (DG) as a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day] 

ℕ𝔼ℍ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟙:𝟜

"When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and 𝕡𝕣𝕒𝕪𝕚𝕟𝕘 before the God of heaven."

In distress, in bad news, in unhappiness, in sorrow, in failings, in disappointment, in everything, let's pray! Nehemiah prayed, actually was continuously in prayers. Notice the word, it says "was...praying"

And his prayer was a confession of sins. His request was based on the faithfulness of God. His petition was based on the promise of God both to punish and to bless! Our prayers must be like this, or else we are praying in the wind. It doesn't reach up to heaven— blown away!

 

ℕ𝔼ℍ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟚:𝟙𝟘

"When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel."

Do not be surprised of opposition when you set out to do good works. Remember, there are Sanballat and Tobiah ever ready to attack us, but they are like barking dogs; we can still go through victoriously if we have the courage through strong conviction! 👍

 

ℕ𝔼ℍ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟛

The two words that are repeated again and again are “built” and “repaired”. Also is the phrase “after him”. It was a community project: Faithful, Dedicated, Dutiful.

Are we dutiful, dedicated, and determined to be faithful in building up the saints?

 

ℕ𝔼ℍ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜:𝟡

"And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night."

They also prayed. Not just building, not just clinging to the sword. Sanballat and Tobiah were mocking their good deeds, but they kept going on! Many inspiring actions from these guys! 👍

 

ℕ𝔼ℍ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟝:𝟙

"Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers."

In chapter 3 we see the progress of committed leaders.

In chapter 4 we see the threat from enemies outside, the neighbors.

In chapter 5, we see the threat from the inside. Some of them were mistreating their fellow countrymen. And Nehemiah was more furious about this.

The threat from the inside is often worse than from the outside.

Don't be complacent when there's progress, enemies will look out to devour you. And even if you prevail against them, be watchful, your own people will bite you.

Also confirmed from the partition of India, nah? Britishers left, India and Pakistan divided, and how many died, bloodshed, looting, etc.?

Coronavirus comes with sorrow, but what was worse in America wasn't a coronavirus, it was the George Floyd incident that burnt America.

The internal threat is more subtle than the external threat!

 

ℕ𝔼ℍ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟞:𝟝

"Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same manner a fifth time with an open letter in his hand."

Stand firm for the right cause. Don't give up even if they threaten you 2 or 3 times, or even 4, 5, times, or more. Nehemiah wasn't afraid even to die!

 

ℕ𝔼ℍ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟟:𝟟𝟘-𝟟𝟚

"Some from among the heads of fathers' households 𝕘𝕒𝕧𝕖 to the work. The governor 𝕘𝕒𝕧𝕖 to the treasury 1,000 gold drachmas, 50 basins, 530 priests' garments.   Some of the heads of fathers' households 𝕘𝕒𝕧𝕖 into the treasury of the work 20,000 gold drachmas and 2,200 silver minas. That which the rest of the people 𝕘𝕒𝕧𝕖 was 20,000 gold drachmas and 2,000 silver minas and 67 priests' garments."

Repeated word: Gave

Repeated action: Gave

Responses of the people toward God's act of Faithfulness is Giving!

 

ℕ𝔼ℍ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟠:𝟛

"He read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law."

That's listening for about 6 hours. And you are fed up with 1hour long sermon? You need a serious beating, huh!? 😂

Next time when you think sermons are long, remember this verse, this story, and the passion of these people!

 

 

ℕ𝔼ℍ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟡:𝟝

"Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah, said, ‘Arise, bless the LORD your God forever and ever! O may Your glorious name be blessed And exalted above all blessing and praise!’"

Look at the difference between our prayers and the prayers of the believers in the Bible, in this chapter, read v6-37 as well.

We love to say, "Bless us, Lord, Bless him, Lord" again and again. Here, they recalled the wonders of God already written in the Scripture. And based on these, they prayed.

Are your prayers full of scriptural truths? What's the theological basis for any of your prayers? Most of our prayers don’t reach heaven's door. I don't think even it reaches the terrace of our building! 😬 Many prayers are too shallow, too selfish, too simple, too senseless, and too stupid. Satan doesn't mind anyone praying because of this! 😬

 

ℕ𝔼ℍ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟙𝟘:𝟛𝟡

"For the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of the grain, the new wine and the oil to the chambers; there are the utensils of the sanctuary, the priests who are ministering, the gatekeepers and the singers. Thus we will not neglect the house of our God."

Not neglecting the house of God. Do we cherish church? Or are we glad that we can sleep in peace on Sunday morning because there's no church service anymore [covid lockdown]? They love the house of God!

 

ℕ𝔼ℍ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟙𝟙:𝟛

". . .but in the cities of Judah each lived on his own property in their cities--the Israelites, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants and the descendants of Solomon's servants."

It's difficult to leave a comfort zone, especially when that's home. And it's not easy to shift settlement, that’s also in a new place, that’s also where Sanballat, Tobiah, and their men are plotting its downfall.

But some people must. Some people are called to live extraordinary lives. Well, missionaries are. All pastors in cities are, including me. We aren’t from Delhi or Chandigarh. Here, we don't have homes, neighbors, gardens, influence, etc. We are even looked down as Nepali, Corona, etc. Yet, we stay because there are people of God and we must serve them.

Let's not just admire those leaders and Israelites in the Bible, we have lots of people in our time also! And let's do for our present leaders as what was done for those in the Bible! 👍🙏

 

ℕ𝔼ℍ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟙𝟚:𝟚𝟟

"Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites from all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem so that they might celebrate the dedication with gladness, with hymns of thanksgiving and with songs to the accompaniment of cymbals, harps and lyres."

And v30 says that they purified themselves to be ready for the worship. These singers were brought to worship God.

Nowadays, singers are invited to a celebration [yes, even to a Christian program] for decoration, as a means of attracting people to an event. And singers performed to be applauded taking all the glory, not worshiping God but being adored and admired by the audience. The singers, the organizers, and the audience are applauding idols on the stage! This is far from the singers, singing, and celebration of biblical times!

 

ℕ𝔼ℍ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟙𝟛:𝟙𝟘-𝟙𝟙

"I also discovered that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers who performed the service had gone away, each to his own field. So I reprimanded the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" Then I gathered them together and restored them to their posts."

In chapter 11, we see some people volunteering to live in Jerusalem and to look after the house of God. For this reason, the people blessed them. Now, chapter 13, and how quickly were they to give up! They were superficial in their commitment. They were shallow in their conviction. They were pretentious in their affirmation. They were not for real. And so was the trouble around.

Churches are full of such people. And must be reprimanded as Nehemiah did!

Bible Reading Reflection from Ezra 1-10

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (DG) as a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝔼ℤℝ𝔸 𝟙:𝟙

"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing,"

God is sovereign even over non-believers, over kings and rulers, over even wicked and corrupt people. And He will use them for the good of His people. Remember Romans 8:28👍

 

𝔼ℤℝ𝔸 𝟚:𝟞𝟚

"These searched among their ancestral registration, but they could not be located; therefore they were considered unclean and excluded from the priesthood."

Those whose names are not found are excluded. No compromise. No pressure.

They are small in number. They could have compromised the registration and welcomed everyone who wanted to settle along with them. More people are better in this situation. However, they stick to the book.

There will be also a book of life opening on the last day. Whosoever name is missing shall be excluded from the splendour of heaven, and shall be cast into the lake of fire!

And there will be no compromise! To the book!

 

𝔼ℤℝ𝔸 𝟛:𝟙𝟚

"Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy,"

What a mixture of emotions! Some wept uncontrollably while others shouted in joy. I remember when we came to [my] village for a Christmas, one lady saw us and was sobbing uncontrollably. Christmas is a time when loved and dear ones come together, in her case, her loved and dear ones had a tragic death just before Christmas.

Well, in this case, it is not because these people who wept were missing their friends, but because the new temple was not as glorious as the old temple where God's glory dwelt. At best the new temple was just a replica. And of course, they knew it was their sins that had led them to this situation.

Sin brings only tears!

In this case, it was a mixture of tears again. Tears of repentance and tears of joy in seeing the restoration even if it was not like before!

 

𝔼ℤℝ𝔸 𝟜:𝟛

"But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers' households of Israel said to them, ‘You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves will together build to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us.’"

No common platform with non-Christians in Christian things.

Would you seek help from Muslims to build your Church? Maybe they too will require your help to build their Mosque. However, if it's a common thing like helping build homes, that's understandable.

 

𝔼ℤℝ𝔸 𝟝:𝟚

"Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them supporting them."

They were stopped by the enemies from rebuilding the house of God. Anyway, they started the work again with the support of godly leaders. Indeed, who is a man to stop the work of God?

And their philosophy of rebuilding is expressed in v11. Their life is in God. And indeed, God protected them, as is seen in v5. That the officials decided to play fair and neutral!

For better understanding, read here👇

 

𝔼ℤℝ𝔸 𝟞:𝟙𝟜

"And the elders of the Jews were successful in building through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they finished building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia."

After their return to Jerusalem, the Jews were progressing their work of rebuilding. The enemies were jealous of them. The enemies opposed and employed a lot of tactics to halt their work. The Jews weren't able to continue. That's what we see in chapter 4:1-5.

[Then, chapter 4:6-23 is a story of later years when the local officials plus the king stopped their work. It's kept here to give an account that there had always been jealousy and opposition towards the Jews by the enemies: The enemies were jealous. They poisoned the mind of local officials and the king. And the king stopped them].

Then chapter 5 resumes the present story which is left off in chapter 4:5. While the people were afraid to rebuild due to the opposition, and because they had started to lose their devotion to building, the prophets encouraged them. The local officials investigated (the complaints of the enemies and the response of the Jews) and reported to the king for further verdicts.

In chapter 6, we see the king's response. The king not only validated the response of the Jews and their work of rebuilding, but also asked the officials to help them, and even warned against any opposition concerning the Jews.

Indeed, who can stop the work of God? What a victory! With God in God's way is victory!

 

𝔼ℤℝ𝔸 𝟟:𝟙𝟘

"For Ezra had set his heart 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕥𝕦𝕕𝕪 the law of the LORD and 𝕥𝕠 𝕡𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕖 it, and 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕔𝕙 His statutes and ordinances in Israel. King's Decree on Behalf of Ezra."

In chapter 4 we see King Artaxerxes stopping the works until further decree. In this chapter 7, the king has commissioned the work with a lot of resources and power!

With this occasion, this verse 10 is fitting. Notice the three verbs, and the order of those action words: To study, to practice, to teach.

Before teaching others, he must learn first. So, he studied. Studying is not enough; he must practice what he learned. No wonder he was very brave in the later part of the story because he knew what he was doing!

 

𝔼ℤℝ𝔸 𝟠:𝟚𝟚

"For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, ‘The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him.’"

This is Ezra’s faith in God. It's risky speaking humanly. They are a company of women, children, and other weak people too, but centuries ago, the Israelites went out of Egypt like that.

However, Nehemiah's situation was different. He was accompanied by the king's army (Neh. 2:9). BTW, when Paul realized he would be assassinated by the Jews, he let the news be reported to the captain. And he was escorted safely. We must be wise in our decision-making!

 

𝔼ℤℝ𝔸 𝟡:𝟙𝟜-𝟙𝟝

"Shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? Would You not be angry with us to the point of destruction, until there is no remnant nor any who escape? O LORD God of Israel, You are righteous, for we have been left an escaped remnant, as it is this day; behold, we are before You in our guilt, for no one can stand before You because of this."

Ezra humbles himself before the Lord in confession in contrite spirit. No complaints, no excuses, no debates.

He affirms God ought to punish them, to be angry with them, and whatever He does is righteous!

 

𝔼ℤℝ𝔸 𝟙𝟘:𝟜𝟜

"All these had married foreign wives, and some of them had wives by whom they had children."

The book of Ezra ended with a note of displeasure about the sins of Israel— their intermarriage.

Husband and Wife influence each other. And if they want to be devoted to God, they must marry someone who is also devoted to God. Or at least someone who worships Yahweh! It's wrong for a Christian to marry a non-Christian, like the sin of Israel’s intermarriage.