A welcome prophecy for an upside down culture. Instead of Hollywood stars and famous athletes, what if we celebrated faithful fathers and mothers? What if we made pastors and teachers our heroes? What if we lifted up those who really act wisely?
A welcome prophecy for an upside down culture. Instead of Hollywood stars and famous athletes, what if we celebrated faithful fathers and mothers? What if we made pastors and teachers our heroes? What if we lifted up those who really act wisely?
Our reading of Ecclesiates ended today. It took Solomon a long, circuitous journey to exhaust his study of life “under the sun.” I’m glad that Jesus is rescuing/has rescued me from this. I’m focusing/focused on life beyond the sun. I’m a spiritual astronaut temporarily stuck in an earth suit.
So, we begin reading Ecclesiates today. Written by King Solomon, the book’s Hebrew title is “Qoheleth” (the preacher or teacher or speaker)
The Greek translation (the Septuagint) translated the title as “ekklesiastes” (which might be translated “the one calling out”). In the New Testament, the word came to be the name for the church (ekklesia – the called out ones). The Preacher is calling out to his hearers explaining that everything “under the sun” is “vanity” (or “meaningless” as in the NIV). The key to understanding Ecclesiates seems to be in this repetitive phrase “under the sun.” Unless there is more to life than what we experience “under the sun,” then life is meaningless. But what if there is life “beyond the sun?”
Reading Job is challenging. Beginning like a narrative, it shifts into a kind of Shakespearian poetry/dialogue (More accurately, Shakespeare may be more “Jobian” than vice versa. After all, Job is the oldest book in the Bible and one of the most ancient in human history)
Reading these lengthy conversations, I grow impatient with the narrative’s slow advance.
I feel the same way when I read Hamlet or Macbeth. I suppose today’s action-oriented culture has caused us to lose track of the beauty of the give and take of human conversation.
But taking the time to read each day, I’ve noticed a cumulative effect. I can’t wait for God to speak. Both Job and his “friends” are speaking from their limited perspectives. As their voices drone on and on, the need to hear from God increases.
Perhaps the Psalmist had been reading Job when the Spirit inspired him to write: “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psa 46:10)
I tire of human wisdom.
1) What “earned” Esther favor? – My thought: Favor isn’t favor if it’s earned. Favor, like grace, is freely given by God to whom He wills. None of us deserve God’s favor.
2) Why not bow to Haman? – Possibly because bowing and worship are related in the Jewish mind. Jews had laws against this. The 3 Hebrews wouldn’t bow to Neb’s idol and he threw them in the furnace for it.
3) King Xerxes 1/2 kingdom offer? – It shows the extent of Esthers favor with the king. Perhaps he uses hyperbole here, but he is giving her permission to ask large. Reminds me of King Herod’s promise to his stepdaughter… who then requested John the Baptist’s head on a platter.
Esther is one of two books named for women in the Bible. She is the recipient of the first “Miss Universe” contest. Her name comes from “Aster,” meaning “star” (as in asteroid). She was God’s star!
Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, speaking through so-called prophets or using apparently “Christian” language to dissuade us from God’s true calling.Satan had already attacked from without, but now he attacked Nehemiah from within — through a fellow believer. But Nehemiah knew what God had told him. He was able to stand against this wile of the devil.Reminds me of the prophet (1 Kings 13) who was instructed by God not to eat or drink or return by the way he came. Then, another prophet lied to him and said that God told him it was OK to stop and eat with him. That prophet was killed by a lion. Nehemiah must have read 1 Kings.
Nehemiah had 1/2 working on the wall and the other 1/2 standing guard with swords. Application? Perhaps, that we tend to focus 100% on the work, while forgetting to stand spiritual guard?
Who do we have standing guard over our church, families, nation…?
Today’s reading in 2 Chron. records his death. With it died the prophet Jeremiah’s hope, who wrote laments (sad mourning songs) about him. Poor Jeremiah, how hard it must have been to be the preacher whose calling was to prophesy to a people who wouldn’t listen.
He called the people back to God and revival broke out in the land. After the sinful reign of his father, Hezekiah seeks the Lord. How quickly God will move with mercy to those who humble themselves and seek Him.
Apparently, King Joash was more dependent on Jehoiada than God. Sometimes people depend on a godly pastor or grandparent for their faith more than they depend on God. This isn’t revealed until the spiritual leader is removed from their life.