“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” -Esther 4:16 NIV
Much has been written about Esther's words "If I perish, I perish", but little mention is made of her request prior to those words. Esther knew that going into the king was not something to be taken lightly. She knew that she was powerless against the whims of the king, that if he was not pleased with her appearance, she could be facing death. She knew that there was only one thing that would keep her safe and it was not her beauty or pleasing personality. The only thing that would keep her safe was God's covering, being surrounded by the presence of God. She knew that if she was surrounded by his angels, she could face anything, even death. It was the prayers and fasting of all of the Jews that changed the outcome. It was their devotion that caused the king to wake during the middle of the night and discover that Mordecai had never been rewarded for saving the king's life. It was their prayers and supplication that caused the king to lift his scepter to Esther. It was their covering that changed the outcome of extinction that they were facing. The covering of prayer saved a nation.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Monday, June 1, 2015
Nehemiah 8-13: Return
For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you admonished them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you handed them over to the neighboring peoples. But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God. -Neh. 9:30-31 NIV
Living in this day and age, we know what it is like to be handed over to the neighboring people's. Our society has become u recognizable. We have adopted all of the gods of the neighboring tribes. Our sons and daughters have abandoned the truth and even those of faith have become cold.
Yet we have hope. God is still the God of great mercy. He has not abandoned us. He is waiting for us to return, to turn our hearts toward him. His heart cries out to us. He cries our to us as a father waiting for his lost child to return. Return, that is all he asks of us, return.
Living in this day and age, we know what it is like to be handed over to the neighboring people's. Our society has become u recognizable. We have adopted all of the gods of the neighboring tribes. Our sons and daughters have abandoned the truth and even those of faith have become cold.
Yet we have hope. God is still the God of great mercy. He has not abandoned us. He is waiting for us to return, to turn our hearts toward him. His heart cries out to us. He cries our to us as a father waiting for his lost child to return. Return, that is all he asks of us, return.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
2 Chronicles 23-30: Everyone Who Sets His Heart on Seeking God
Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the LORD,: who is good, pardon everyone who sets his heart on seeking God—the LORD, the God of his fathers—even if he is not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.” And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people. - 2 Chronicles 30:18-20 NIV
We often think that we have to live by all of the rules in order to incur God's favor. This was not true for the Israelites during Hezekiah's time, when the people had become so estranged from their God that they no longer even knew what the rules were. When Hezekiah came to power, he realized how far the people had departed from the right relationship with God. Even when he, the king, sent messengers around to call the people back to the Lord, his entreaties were met with refusal. Only a few chose to answer the call, and they were so far removed from the law, that they didn't even know that they needed to purify themselves in order to approach the sanctuary of God. But, as always, it is our hearts, not our actions that God is interested in. Hezekiah realized that it was a sinful people trying the best they knew to approach God and he asked God to forgive them, which he did...which he has always done. Even today, even if our prayers and devotion are not what they should be, we can approach God. God does pardon everyone who sets his heart on seeking God.
We often think that we have to live by all of the rules in order to incur God's favor. This was not true for the Israelites during Hezekiah's time, when the people had become so estranged from their God that they no longer even knew what the rules were. When Hezekiah came to power, he realized how far the people had departed from the right relationship with God. Even when he, the king, sent messengers around to call the people back to the Lord, his entreaties were met with refusal. Only a few chose to answer the call, and they were so far removed from the law, that they didn't even know that they needed to purify themselves in order to approach the sanctuary of God. But, as always, it is our hearts, not our actions that God is interested in. Hezekiah realized that it was a sinful people trying the best they knew to approach God and he asked God to forgive them, which he did...which he has always done. Even today, even if our prayers and devotion are not what they should be, we can approach God. God does pardon everyone who sets his heart on seeking God.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
2 Chronicles 13-22: No Partiality
He told them, “Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for man but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. Now let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.” - 2 Chron. 19:6-7 NIV
How different would our decisions be, how different would our judging of others be if we realized that we are judging for God, that we are to be judging with God's heart as well as his eyes. How often do we let our prejudices influence those that we judge. We judge based on the color of a person's skin. We judge based on their educational level. We judge based on the church that they attend. We even judge on their appearance down to the clothes that they wear. In contrast, there is no partiality with God. He sees all men through the eyes of love. Nothing we do, can bribe God to see his creation differently. He sees us with all of our faults, but he also sees the opportunity that exists for all of his creation to be reconciled to him. While we see the screw ups, he sees the possibilities. Oh, that God would allow us to see through his eyes for just a minute. It would completely change how we view all others. It would completely change how we mete out justice. There would be no partiality.
How different would our decisions be, how different would our judging of others be if we realized that we are judging for God, that we are to be judging with God's heart as well as his eyes. How often do we let our prejudices influence those that we judge. We judge based on the color of a person's skin. We judge based on their educational level. We judge based on the church that they attend. We even judge on their appearance down to the clothes that they wear. In contrast, there is no partiality with God. He sees all men through the eyes of love. Nothing we do, can bribe God to see his creation differently. He sees us with all of our faults, but he also sees the opportunity that exists for all of his creation to be reconciled to him. While we see the screw ups, he sees the possibilities. Oh, that God would allow us to see through his eyes for just a minute. It would completely change how we view all others. It would completely change how we mete out justice. There would be no partiality.
Monday, April 27, 2015
2 Chronicles 13-16: How Does One Stop Trusting God?
For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.” 2 Chron. 16:9 NIV
Asa should be a lesson for us all. He started out with a heart after God and his commands. He destroyed the foreign gods, he stopped the influence of his grandmother, Maacah and trusted God for deliverance. Judah was at peace and prospered.
Somewhere along the line, Asa decided that the God of his fathers, the God who had always been able, was not strong enough. At least, not strong enough to deliver Judah from their fellow brethren, the Israelites under King Baasha. Rather than enlisting help from God, Asa took the gold and silver from the temple and gave it to Ben-Hadad to entice him to break his treaty with Baasha. Everything went downhill from there. He started oppressing the people he was supposed to protect and with a hardened and calloused heart refused to ask God for help, even when his feet became diseased. How does one who started following God and enjoyed the blessing of God's faithfulness make such a dramatic turnaround? How does one stop trusting God?
Asa should be a lesson for us all. He started out with a heart after God and his commands. He destroyed the foreign gods, he stopped the influence of his grandmother, Maacah and trusted God for deliverance. Judah was at peace and prospered.
Somewhere along the line, Asa decided that the God of his fathers, the God who had always been able, was not strong enough. At least, not strong enough to deliver Judah from their fellow brethren, the Israelites under King Baasha. Rather than enlisting help from God, Asa took the gold and silver from the temple and gave it to Ben-Hadad to entice him to break his treaty with Baasha. Everything went downhill from there. He started oppressing the people he was supposed to protect and with a hardened and calloused heart refused to ask God for help, even when his feet became diseased. How does one who started following God and enjoyed the blessing of God's faithfulness make such a dramatic turnaround? How does one stop trusting God?
Thursday, April 23, 2015
2 Chronicles 7-12: Worshipping God's Glory
When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, “He is good; his love endures forever.” - 2 Chron. 7:1-3 NIV
Israel, following the reign of David, abandoned the Lord and ignored the covenant made with him. However, it did not start out that way. Solomon finished the temple as his father David had planned. No expense was spared and there was a great celebration to dedicate it when the temple was completed. For once, the Israelites were united in their worship and thanksgiving....not because of anything that God had done, but merely because he showed up. The glory of the Lord filled the temple and all they could do was say "He is good; his love endures forever."
We have a tendency to worship God, to give him thanks, when he has done something marvelous, I believe what really warms the heart of God is when we worship him for what he is; when we worship him for his universal power, not just that which is manifest in our lives. Our greatest worship is worshipping his glory.
Israel, following the reign of David, abandoned the Lord and ignored the covenant made with him. However, it did not start out that way. Solomon finished the temple as his father David had planned. No expense was spared and there was a great celebration to dedicate it when the temple was completed. For once, the Israelites were united in their worship and thanksgiving....not because of anything that God had done, but merely because he showed up. The glory of the Lord filled the temple and all they could do was say "He is good; his love endures forever."
We have a tendency to worship God, to give him thanks, when he has done something marvelous, I believe what really warms the heart of God is when we worship him for what he is; when we worship him for his universal power, not just that which is manifest in our lives. Our greatest worship is worshipping his glory.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
2 Chronicles 1-6: Our Sin Matters to God
“When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when enemies besiege them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, and when a prayer or plea is made by any of your people Israel—each one aware of his afflictions and pains, and spreading out his hands toward this temple— then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive, and deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart (for you alone know the hearts of men), - 2 Chron. 6:28-30 NIV
It's awfully easy to blame the conditions of our world on others. After all, they are the ones committing the gross sins that have allowed the enemy to take up residence in our society. It is more difficult for us to accept responsibility on our part. Our sins may not be as flagrant, but God never said that there is a gradation of sin. Sin is sin. It's all the same and false testimony, or stretching the truth, is no different from murder. While it may not seem a big deal to us, it is to God. He sees and knows our hearts. He knows our failures, and while our sins may be forgiven by the shedding of Christ's blood, they are still known to God. Our response must be to plead for forgiveness. It is only when each and every one of us confesses our part in the sin of the land that the land can be restored.
Our sin does matter to God.
It's awfully easy to blame the conditions of our world on others. After all, they are the ones committing the gross sins that have allowed the enemy to take up residence in our society. It is more difficult for us to accept responsibility on our part. Our sins may not be as flagrant, but God never said that there is a gradation of sin. Sin is sin. It's all the same and false testimony, or stretching the truth, is no different from murder. While it may not seem a big deal to us, it is to God. He sees and knows our hearts. He knows our failures, and while our sins may be forgiven by the shedding of Christ's blood, they are still known to God. Our response must be to plead for forgiveness. It is only when each and every one of us confesses our part in the sin of the land that the land can be restored.
Our sin does matter to God.
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