Chapter 20 - The Queen of Beauty and Courage

Esther 1-9

Introduction to the Reading:The Book of Esther is awesome to read. It reads just like a novel. You have protagonists that you cheer for, a heinous villain, a beautiful queen, and an intriguing plot. And the awesomest (if that's a word) part is that it really happened! (It actually makes for a really good movie too! Check out "For those who want more" at the end for details.)

Today I recommend just reading and enjoying the story. We'll analyze and apply when you are done reading. But before you start turning the pages, I do want you just to take a mental note of one thing: how often is the Lord's name mentioned. Count the number of times "The Lord," or "God," or "The Almighty," or any other name for God is mentioned.

Before You Read - Background of the Book of Esther: The events we are going to read today take place roughly 40 years after the rebuilding of the temple was completed, which we read about last week. I extended my timeline from last week to give you a better idea:

So what can we tell from this timeline? (Other than giving away the fact that Esther will become Queen - sorry for a bit of a spoiler there. Don't worry, that's just the beginning of the book.) Well politically there haven't been any big shifts in power.The Persians are still on top of the political heap. There is, however, a new ruler on the throne. Not only is Jerusalem quite a ways away physically from the Persian capitol of Susa, but even if Xerxes had been born at the time of the temple rebuilding, he was just a boy. While a number of Jews are still living in Jerusalem and the surrounding area, there are still a large number scattered throughout the Middle East. In the book of Esther we turn our focus from Jerusalem to Susa, the capitol of Persia. And we meet a king whose most trusted advisors, if he were living today, would be Jim, Jack, & Johnny. 

When You're Done Reading - Thoughts to Ponder: So what did you think? Isn't it a fun book to read? So now that we are through, how many times is God's name mentioned? Well maybe I misses one, but I didn't see his name mentioned once. That's quite odd for a book of the Bible. With that said, do you have any doubt if God was involved in seeing things work out for his people? As you look back, it's so clearly evident that God had everything under control! Evil was avenged. God's people were saved. The Lord got the the glory!

Yet, to compare to to our lives, how often doesn't your life feel a bit like Esther's? Does it seem like God is missing? This week I was biking and hit a rut, messing up the back rim on my bicycle. Was that God's doing? What was his plan? I don't know! God didn't plaster his name all over my rim to tell me that he had a plan. What's God's plan with the forest fires in Colorado or the floods in Wisconsin? Beats me! For that matter, there was no traffic on my way home from work today. How does that work into God's plan? We often want to know the details. We want to know exactly what God is up to. Yet he doesn't tell us. 

We want to see miracles, just to know that God has things under control. This week in my personal devotion I read how Jesus calmed the storm (Mark 4:35-41). You know: Jesus and his disciples are out on a boat. Jesus is sleeping when a storm comes up. Afraid, his disciples wake him up. First he rebukes the wind and the waves, then he rebukes them. In the end, what they fear the most is Jesus (with a reverent fear that is). So I'm thinking, "Wouldn't it be awesome to see that!" 

Yet as I thought about it, isn't the Lord teaching us the same lesson by having each of these events recorded in scripture? He's telling us, "Trust me! I've got things under control! "

Maybe we don't see with the clarity that we want exactly how God is directing the day to day affairs of our life. Maybe we don't see God's name written all over the events of our day. Esther and Mordecai didn't know how God would use them. Yet as they looked back and as we look back at their lives, it's all too evident that God was indeed involved. As I look back at my life and all the times I didn't know what God was up to, in retrospect I see that he was with me all the way. He keeps telling me and telling you, "Trust me! I've got things under control! "

Prayer/Hymn: 

By Edward Hooper

Jesus, Savior, pilot me 

over life's tempestuous sea; 

unknown waves before me roll, 

hiding rock and treacherous shoal. 

Chart and compass come from thee; 

Jesus, Savior, pilot me. 

As a mother stills her child, 

thou canst hush the ocean wild; 

boisterous waves obey thy will, 

when thou sayest to them, "Be still!" 

Wondrous sovreign of the sea, 

Jesus, Savior, pilot me. 

When at last I near the shore, 

and the fearful breakers roar 

'twixt me and the peaceful rest, 

then, while leaning on thy breast, 

may I hear thee say to me, 

"Fear not, I will pilot thee.

For those who like more:

Alright, want to watch a movie this weekend? Why not watch the story of Esther? And I'm talking about a quality film production! From one review, "The story was faithful to the Bible but the film also created an imaginative background that allows us to envision the time in which Esther lived."

Netflix (Sorry, not streaming)

Amazon

And if you aren't crazy about the details, there is also the Veggie Tails version (I can't say I've seen it personally so I can't comment on the accuracy....).

Amazon

Chapter 19 - The Return Home

Ezra 1-6

Haggai 1-2,

Zechariah 1, 8

Introduction to the Reading: First of all, I have to start off with an apology. For those of you who have been following these posts, you'll notice that I failed to write something last week. It's been crazy busy. I've been working extra hours at work. I'm training for a triathlon, so I've been rather busy working out. As some of you know, we just closed on a house. And we've had a number of family events going on. It seems like the summers just fill up. Every moment there is something going on.

Before You Read - Background to the Reading: For the next three weeks, we will be reading about the time period after the Israelites exile in Babylon. It's a time period, to be honest with you, that I'm not very familiar with myself. Sure I've read these parts of the Bible before, but I just don't know them as well as other portions. Maybe it's because in school we always got to this part of the Old Testament right before summer break. Or maybe it's because there aren't the memorable miracles like Moses dividing the Red Sea or Elisha raising a person from the dead. Either way, I needed a bit of an overview. So I made myself a timeline:

At the very end of our reading last week, there was a new world power that had taken the stage: Persia. What had looked like the end of the story, we will hear this week was just the beginning. With a new sheriff in town, so to speak, the Israelites are going to have a chance to come home. After 70 years, things are going to be quite a bit different. You can just imagine the grandparents reminiscing during the trip home about "the good ol' days." We know things hadn't been that good before they left, but now there was a chance at a fresh start. That's exactly what we need sometimes: a fresh start.

Time to Slow it Down - Middle of page 266 after Commentary: Well the Israelites got right to work when they got home. No, things weren't as glamorous as the days of Solomon's Temple: you can just picture the chaos as some people cheer with excitement while others cry thinking how wimpy the new temple is compared to the old. Yet it was a step in the right direction: the people, moved by God's love, built a temple for his glory and offered him their first fruits. It was exactly the fresh start they needed. 

But soon the moment came to a screeching halt. The work on the temple slowed until nothing was happening. Is there a building project half finished that you drive by on a regular basis? What message do you get as you pass by? You can just imagine kids who remember walking by the temple ever since they were infants who are now teenagers, looking at the work just sitting idle. There are saws and boulders just lying there. What message did they get as they walked by?  But like lighter fluid on a campfire (which I do not recommend, for the record,) their desire was hot for a moment, but soon fizzled until all that was left was a smoldering pile. 

Can you relate? I can. My admission of guilt at the beginning of this post was more than an apology. It was also an admission that I'm not that much different than the Jews of our lesson. When I started the Story, I was excited. I wanted to get back into the scriptures. I wanted to worship him by spending time admiring his love. It was exactly the fresh start that I was looking for. Like the Jews on the temple, I went right to work. Yet, I'll admit, my excitement has waned. I still want to read...it's just that other things have somehow taken priority. But what message does that send you? Have those other things that were so important, made me any happier? Were they really as important as I had made them out to be? 

What I needed this week was a breeze:  a gentle breeze blowing on smoldering coals. The Holy Spirit was that breeze, working through the Word. As he spoke to the Jews in the days of Zerubbabel, he spoke to me and perhaps he speaks specifically to you as well.  He asks us what is really important. Then with his words of love he renews our zeal....

When You're Done Reading - Thoughts to Ponder:

Interesting how everything came together, isn't it? What spurred the people on to finish the temple? A little opposition! What got the people the supplies they needed? A little opposition! It's like the Lord had it all planned out...maybe that's because he did!

So have you hit opposition in your life? How did you respond? Even more importantly, have you encountered opposition in your faith life? Has someone challenged your faith or how you put your faith into action? Now is the time to put that faith to work! Sometimes when we face opposition or we struggle in our faith, we may feel like God is abandoning us. Yet as I look back in my life, it is usually those times that the Lord is using whatever challenge that I face as a catalyst to grow my faith. 

The doctrines of scripture that I've struggled with the most, are the very ones that I now run to for comfort when I feel my sin. For example, for a long time I struggled grasping how the Lord could work through water, bread, and wine in the Sacraments. My faith was challenged whenever I tried to rationalize how God could work through simple earthly things. Yet when I came to realize that what made these earthy things actual Means of Grace was God's promise connected to them, then the Sacraments became my source of comfort. Every time I go to the Lord's Supper or see my Baptism certificate, I find peace in God's Grace in these Means of Grace. What doctrines have you struggled with? What truths of scripture have you found yourself debating with friends or co-workers? Use these challenges as catalysts to dig into the Word.

The Lord wants us to be happy. But I've come to know that his primary goal isn't that we are  happy just in this life, but that we have happiness forever with him in heaven. Sometimes he shakes us up a bit so that we re-focus our priorities. Sometimes the Lord needs to knock us on our backs for us to start looking up. Just as Jesus would be the greater glory that would someday fill the earthly city of Jerusalem, we have the promise that one day we will see Jesus' glory fill the eternal city of God in heaven.

Hymn of the Day/Prayer:

Words: Ge­org M. Pfef­fer­korn, 1667 ; trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Au­gust Crull, 1923.

What is the world to me,
With all its vaunted pleasure
When You, and You alone,
Lord Jesus, are my Treasure!
You only, dearest Lord,
My soul’s Delight shall be;
You are my Peace, my Rest—
What is the world to me?


What is the world to me?
My Jesus is my Treasure,
My Life, my Health, my Wealth,
My Friend, my Love, my Pleasure,
My Joy, my Crown, my All,
My Bliss eternally.
Once more, then, I declare—
What is the world to me?

Chapter 18 - Daniel in Exile

Daniel 1-3, 6

Jeremiah 29-31

Chapter 17 - The Kingdoms' Fall

2 Kings 21, 23-25

2 Chronicles 33, 36,
Jeremiah 1-2, 4-5, 13, 21
Lamentations 1-3, 5
Ezekiel 1-2, 6-7, 36-37

Introduction to the Reading: 

Have you ever seen an accident? I remember once I was coming home from work and while stopped at a stop light on 27th & Drexel, a car went through the stop light full speed. It hit another car sending it flying into the median. In a split second it was over. Being the first one at the light, of course I had a front row seat. A few days later the insurance company asked me to relate what I remembered. I tried my best to give as many details as possible, but there were some things that I wish I had noticed - like how long the light had been turned red. While what I remember is still vivid in my mind, there was also quite a bit I didn't catch.

Today we are going to read about what you might call a train wreck. As you turn the pages, you can see it coming. The train is flying down the tracks, headed right for disaster, and you know what lies ahead, but there seems to be nothing to stop it. In fact, the Lord himself through the prophets tells  with accuracy exactly what is going to happen, yet we are headed right towards disaster. 

While this chapter can be quite depressing, there is something that we can learn. Just like car makers and insurance companies watch accidents in slow motion and analyze data from car wrecks so that they can learn from them and hopefully prevent injuries in the future, we too can learn from the fall of Judah and take lessons for our lives. 

While You Read - Following the Timeline:

   Dates                               Prophets                                             Kings               World Powers

		NAHUM    (Destruction of Ninevah)		Manasseh ·       Son of Hezekiah ·       Restores idols, high places, Baal & Ashtaroth, worship of stars, altars in temple, Moloch, astrology, and diviners ·       Every day killed some believers ·       Taken into captivity by Babylon; repents; freed and returns to Jerusalem ·       Removes idols; returns to woship of the Lord ·       Son Amon rules 2 years; wicked; killed by servants	Assyria
660 B.C.
	ZEPHANIAH (Repentance to Judah; eventual downfall of enemies; restoration)
640 B.C.				Josiah ·       Given crown by people at age 8; line of David ·       Faithful to the Lord ·       Purges ALL FORMS of idolatry in Judah and former Israel ·       Repairs temple; book of the Law found; Passover celebrated ·       Huldah prophecies that Jerusalem would be destroyed; Josiah would die young and be spared grief ·       Tries to prevents Egypt from aiding Assyria; killed in battle while young according to prophecy of Hulday ·       Lamentation of people ·       Jehoahaz made king by people; Imprisoned by Necho and dies in Egypt
			Huldah (prophetess; Josiah’s death)
620 B.C.	HABAKUK (Repentance to Judah)	JEREMIAH (Lamentations)			Babylon
				Jehoiakim ·       Made king and given name by Necho of Egypt ·       Evil ·       Paid tribute to Egypt and Babylon ·       Deported by Nebuchadnezzar ·       Son Jehoiachin briefly rules; invaded by Babylon; Royalty taken into captivity; temple plundered; made King of Babylon’s vassal; lamp of David flickering in Babylon
600 B.C.				Zedekiah ·       Son of Josiah ·       Made puppet king by Nebuchadnezzer ·       Plots against Babylon; warned by Jeremiah not to do so; attacked by Nebuchadnezzar; Jerusalem put under siege ·       Defeated; taken to Babylon; eyes plucked out ·       Judah destroyed and most inhabitants taken into captivity
	DANIEL (Prophet and Royal Advisor in Babylon)		EZEKIEL (Priest-prophet; dry bones and humongous temple)

586 B.C.

When You're Done Reading - Thoughts to Ponder:

Since I'll be leading the Bible study on Sunday, I'll save much of my commentary for then. However, as a review, let me ask you a few questions:

• Of the kings we read about, in your opinion, which was the worse? Why?
• What reasons did the prophets give as to why they weren't able to proclaim the word of the Lord? How did the Lord respond to each excuse? What excuses do you give?
• Of all the sins of the Jews, the trespass of which commandment did the prophets preach against the most in our lesson? Why do you think that is?
• If you had to pick portions of scripture that give comfort, what verses would they be? 

Prayer/Hymn:

By: Johann Franck

Lord, to you I make confession:
I have sinned and gone astray,
I have multiplied transgression,
Chosen for myself my way.
Led by you to see my errors,
Lord, I tremble at your terrors.

Though my conscience’ voice appall me,
Father, I will seek your face;
Though your child I dare not call me,
Yet receive me in your grace.
Do not for my sins for sake me;
Let your wrath not overtake me.

Your son came to suffer for me,
Gave himself to rescue me,
Died to heal me and restore me,
Reconciled and set me free.
Jesus’ cross alone can vanquish
These dark fears and soothe this anguish.

Lord, on you I cast my burden.
Sink it to the depths below.
Let me know your gracious pardon,
Wash me, make me white as snow.
Let your Spirit leave me never;
Make me only yours forever.