Job 1

Job 1:8-9 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" (9) So Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing?

Have you ever played a game of chess? The game is perfectly designed. Nobody has an advantage. Each piece has a unique move. Even though the pieces battle it out on the board it is truly a battle of wits between the two players sitting across from one another.

Welcome to one of the most unique chapters in the Bible. God is talking to Satan. The battle is over man. The board is earth. The stakes are high. There is one tremendous twist on this game then that of chess, we have a free will.

Satan has one goal and that is to kill, steal, and destroy (okay, three goals). The tremendous mystery here is that God is so deeply involved in our lives that He wants to draw near to us. This is what urks Satan. Satan wants the power that God holds that he might take us and do to us whatever he wishes, much like you would happily sacrifice a pawn in chess. Satan wants the glory, and he figures to use his power to attain it. God, on the other hand, allows us free will to choose to love Him. God seeks relationship, and only seeks our well being.

As we study through the Book of Job, consider, God does not test us simply to agonize us. Reread this chapter and look at God's character. He only thinks the best of us. He is only blessing Job. He calls Job blameless even though we can be certain Job had sinned. He is a caring loving Father, however, when Satan challenges God, God gives Job the most precious gift of all, a chance, on display for heaavenly hosts, to choose God rather than this world. The act of choosing something else, or someone else, over one's own comfort, is love. We all have our challenges before us today and everyone is a chance to prove our love for Jesus. With God it is all about relationship but with Satan, though he may offer us the world, it is all about power. Choose to follow God.

Esther 10

Short chapter today. As we close the Book of Esther we find it being more about Modechi than Esther herself. Like Joseph, Mordechi would rise to second in the kingdom. Like Joseph, Mordechi was just a guy doing the Lord's will. He was never seeking this fame and glory, he simply was seeking the good of his people. It is interesting that those who seek glory and fame are often rendered useless in their pursuit for glory and fame. Those who seek the Lord, they live blessed lives and through their dedication are sometimes given these things. Think about modern day Mordechi's. There are plenty of men out there who never seeked fame, but through their dedication to the Lord have been granted fame. Despite this, their main focus continue to be Jesus day in and day out.

Esther 9

Things just keep getting sweeter and sweeter for the Jews. Now they have full permission to go out and destroy their enemies. Modecai leads an army and ends upgetting rid of all that oppose the Jews. In just a matter of months the Jews looked from being wiped out to wiping out their enemies. The Lord had once again done a work to preserve Israel.

http://www.sixdaywar.org/war.asp

So is God done with Israel? Abosolutely not! Check the link above to find out the recent miracles God is working through Israel this very day. Israel has been on the brink of being wiped out several times since they have become a nation yet they continue to be preserved. I was watching tv the other day and someone asked, "You were wrong about your assesment of the Six-Day-War. You did not choose Israel."

The response was a quick, "Who did?"

Israel is continuing to be preserved by the Lord this very day and if you read your headlines you will notice that God is doing a work in Israel. Continue to pray for the Jews and Jerusalem, as the end world events will all be focused on that people and that city.

Esther 8

Est 8:16 The Jews had light and gladness, joy and honor.

Truly Israel has a unique history unlike any other nation. Yet, despite being the chosen of God, and having the Messiah of the world go through their lineage, there are few times where we could say Israel was fulfilling its purpose. You see, the Jews were to be a light to the world by following God. They were to be content with not being like the world. Through the story of Esther we see that Israel fulfills all of this. The verse above states that they had light and gladness, joy and honor.

Quickly scan through the Word and try to mark other times this is true. I would have to say that at the building of the new temple and during the early years of Solomon they were a light. Other than that, there are few moments Israel is getting it right. Keep in mind, the Lord is not finished with Israel. He plans to restore them completely to a nation that shines His light, reflects His gladness and joy, and once again fill them with honor.

Esther 7

So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's wrath subsided.

(Est 7:10)

Did you just see Haman’s life completely disintegrate when you read that chapter? Like jumping from the frying pan into the fire, Haman goes from public humiliation to being the object of the king’s wrath. When the king finds out about Haman’s plot he storms out in anger, attempting to compose himself. Haman makes a desperate attempt to beg for his life, and in the ensuing drama, he throws himself across Esther and the couch she is on. His timing couldn’t have been more perfect, for just as he lunges across Esther the king walks in, and from his perspective it looks like assault. HE IS FURIOUS, AND HAMAN IS TOAST.

Here is the detail that only God could have come up with. One of the eunuch’s comes forward and says, “look, see that gallows over there at Haman’s place? He planned on hanging our new buddy Mordecai there”. The kings answer is predictably wonderful. “Hang Haman on it”, he says.

And so, we see that Haman literally hung himself out to dry. Hate, pride, self-seeking… these things ultimately destroyed Haman. The very things he thought would fulfill him, ended up being his undoing.

About 2000 years later, Jesus said something that seems quite fitting as an epitaph to the life of Haman. He said this: “If you seek to save your life you will lose it…”

Esther 6

Back in chapter two something happened that maybe some of you have forgotten… It was something in fact, that the king had forgotten. The Lord however, had not forgotten, and it was this very night, the night after Esther’s first banquet that the Lord would remind the king.

You see, the king couldn’t sleep. Maybe he was worried about Esther and why she was asking for all these banquets. Maybe he ate something weird. These are both possibilites, but what we know as a DEFINITE FACT is that the Lord would not let the king sleep. Why you ask? Because tonight events were to be set in motion that would bring about Haman’s downfall.

The chronicles were brought out and read, and the story from chapter came up, the one where Mordecai saved the king. The king is filled with gratefulness when he hears about how he was spared, and he asks what was done for this man. They reply nothing, and the king decides something must be done.

At the same time the king is discovering the great deeds of Mordecai, Haman is on his way to ask the king if he an HANG MORDECAI on the gallows he had built. Now, I know Haman is totally poisoned with his own anger at this point, but COME ON! Talk about being self deceived, he was about to ask the king if he could kill a guy because he DIDN’T STAND UP WHEN HE PASSED!!! Haman doesn’t get to ask… instead the king here’s he is out in the court and calls him in to help him determine what should be done for Mordecai.

As Haman enters, it goes something like this…

KING: Hey, Haman, fancy seeing you… I have a question. There is this guy that I am SO THANKFUL FOR… I want to honor him, to bless him… What should I do?

HAMAN (to himself): He must be talking about me! Hmmm, what would I LLLOOOOVVVEEEE…. Ah HAH!

HAMAN (out loud): You should take one of your royal robes and put it on him. Then you should place him on one of your royal horses, and let him wear your royal crest. Then have one of your most noble princes parade him around town declaring how you honor this man!

KING: GREAT! Now hurry up and do all you have said for Mordecai, the man I want to honor.

I would love to have seen Haman’s face at this point! He does it, and then he rushes home feeling AWFUL. Within minutes of his arrival at home, the king’s men are at the door ready to take him to dinner… Haman’s fall has only just begun.

Esther 5

So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai. Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king. Moreover Haman said, "Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king. Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate."

(Est 5:9-13)

You remember earlier this week when we talked about Haman being filled with “wrath” that could literally be translated as poison? Look at the way it is affecting him here. The sight of Mordecai fills him with indignation, and all he can think about is destroying him. The affect of the poison is instant… he goes from joy and gladness to total wrath and bitterness the MOMENT his eyes settle on Mordecai. Because of this, following the advice of his wife and friends, he builds a gallows to hang Mordecai on.

Remember the setting for all of these events… Haman’s anger and the building of the gallows are taking place between two banquets that Esther has thrown for herself and Haman. He just left one, excited about another one to take place the next day… little did he know that the reason he was invited to the banquet was so his evil plan could be exposed.

Sin often blinds us to what is really going on. Look at Haman. Because He is so full of evil, he can’t enjoy life, and he is totally blind to the fact that he is about to be uncovered. If we let sin reign and rule in our lives, it will poison us. It will make us blind to what is going on… it will fill us with pride and cause us to think and act in a very irrational way. Sin is nothing to play with.

When we look at Haman, we see a man whose life is being systematically destroyed by pride. Step by step, he is falling apart, inching his way closer to destruction, all because he is obsessed with himself. Don’t think you are above Haman though, I believe we all have the potential to be Haman’s… the only way to prevent it is to stay close to the Lord. If we are constantly reminded of who He is, we won’t forget how imperfect and broken we are.

Esther 4

And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!"

(Est 4:13-16)

This has got to be one of my favorite passages in all of scripture. It is SO POWERFUL. The hand of God has moved, and the reason is coming to the surface… it will take a tremendous step of faith, but it looks like Esther has been given the opportunity to save the Jews from total destruction.

The scene goes something like this. Mordecai hears word about all that has gone down, and the pending doom of the Jews, and he tears his clothes, puts on sackcloth and ashes, and begins to wail. He doesn’t just cry, he weeps and mourns… His entire people is about to be wiped out. This scene is recreated all throughout the land; as word spreads among the Jews there is an outcry! They weep, they lament, and they adorn themselves in sackcloth and ashes… AND THEY FAST.

All across the land the Jews stop eating and start crying out to God. They plead for salvation; they know that He alone is their only hope. Meanwhile Mordecai works his way as close to the palace as he can get, and Esther gets word that he is mourning. This distresses Esther so she sends down new clothes for him so he can enter the palace, but he refuses to wear them. Not ready to give up, she sends a messenger down t find out what has happened. Mordecai sends up a copy of the decree signed by the king… her husband, the king! She can’t believe what she is reading! The servant tells her that Mordecai wants her to go to the king and plead for her people. She is afraid. If she does this, she could die. This is where our incredible verses come in… Mordecai reminds her that this may be the very reason that the Lord has brought her into the palace in the first place! She may have been appointed for “such a time as this”.

Her response is so great… it shows a faith that is so deep. Having counted the cost she decides to go and says “if I perish, I perish”. She asked only one thing… that Mordecai and the other Jews would fast and pray.

Today I leave the application in your lap… have you been called for “such a time as this”? What does that mean for you?

Esther 3

This next chapter starts out with the introduction of a NEW CHARACTER. His name is Haman, and he is a descendant of the wicked Amalekite king, Agag. The Amalekite’s were some of Israel’s greatest enemies in history, and we are about to see an altercation between HAMAN and our Jewish friend MORDECAI.

Haman earned a high and respected position in the courts of the king, and the servants in the gate would bow reverentially to him as he passed by… all of them except Mordecai. Haman found out that Mordecai refused to bow, and it caused him to be FILLED with WRATH. Stop and think about that for a minute… it didn’t just make Haman mad… it completely filled him with a desire to not only destroy Mordecai, but all of the Jews as well! The word used for wrath here can literally mean “poison” in Hebrew. As Haman allowed this to get under his skin and boil within him, it was as if he was completely filled with poison… we will see that the desire to destroy Mordecai would eventually destroy him!

Haman realizes that if he wants revenge on this level, he can’t do it alone; so he devises a plan that I would describe as nothing short of demonic. Haman’s plan looked something like this: He went to the king and told him that living all throughout his kingdom were a people called the JEWS. They were unlike ANYONE else in the kingdom, and lived by their own rules, disregarding the laws of the land. (We know Haman’s problem is really ONE JEW who wont HONOR HIM; but hey, why tell the king about that???) Haman tells the king that these people should no longer be allowed to live in his kingdom; and the solution he proposes is GENOCIDE. Haman says that a decree should be written that all Jews be destroyed. The king says; “that sounds good to me, I’ll provide the men and the money” and he gives Haman his signet.

Letters are written and sent out, and the message is loud and clear… “The Jews are going down”. The date is set for the 13^th day of the 12^th month, and preparations are made… there can be no reversal now. As a result, the capital city of Shushan was PERPLEXED. This word perplexed means that the message put them in a CONFUSED state, and as a result they didn’t know what to do about it.

They may not have known what to do about it, but God did… keep reading to find out just what it is that God had in mind!

The ESTHER Challenge

Here is a little challenge for anyone out there with some extra time and a lot of creativity.

Take the story of Esther, and rewrite the story in the context of today's culture using today's language... But keep the focus (as the book does) on the hand of God using ordinary people (like Esther and Mordecai) to do EXTRAORDINARY things.

If any of you take me up on the challenge, and the re-telling is KOSHER (ha,ha) I'll post it here a section at a time so others can read it!

Esther 2

Esther is a very unique book. It is the only book in the entire Bible that does not mention God a SINGLE TIME. Crazy huh?! Because of this some people have argued that it shouldn’t be in the Bible, even Martin Luther wanted to remove it. (Martin Luther was funny that way; he always wanted to take things out of the Bible… not a good idea!)

In this chapter we encounter the king after he has banished the queen. We see that he is lonely, and wants to bring a NEW QUEEN on to the scene. So, the SEARCH BEGINS.

It is here that we are introduced to Mordecai. He is a Jew, and a seemingly DEVOUT ONE. We note right off the bat that he is a loving man, for he is raising his little cousin Esther as if she was his own Daughter.

We can make a couple of safe assumptions here: 1.As a Jew, Mordecai was a man who loved and followed God. 2. Because of his Jewish roots, we can believe that Esther was raised with the word of God being taught to her, raised with the hope that one day they would be freed from captivity to return to Israel.

The plot thickens: Esther is taken away to the palace as a potential bride for the king. As she leaves Mordecai asks her to do one very important thing: SHE IS NOT TO LET ANYONE KNOW SHE IS A JEW! Now, there is no reason given for this, and it would be impossible to know why Mordecai said this if this chapter is where it all ended. As our story progresses we will see that this little fact is of UTMOST IMPORTANCE to the way that God unfolds His plan and purpose in this story.

Often, we are asked to do things and not given a reason. Maybe it’s our parents that ask, or a teacher, or even the still small voice of the Lord. We are told WHAT to do, but aren’t always given a why. If Esther HADN’T followed the instructions of Mordecai, we would be reading a completely different story today. God doesn’t always give us the why… we can’t always understand the why; but that is OK. Understanding all of the plans and purposes of God is not what we are called to do; instead we are simply called to trust and obey… and that is exactly what Esther did!

What a loaded chapter… Esther is made queen, and she continues to follow the Godly Advice of Mordecai. As time passes Mordecai catches wind of a plot to destroy the king, and he tells Esther about it. Esther tells the king, the plot is uncovered, the men are hung, and the story goes in the books, with Mordecai getting the credit for saving the life of the king… and the rest will have to wait until tomorrow.

Esther 1

I apologize for missing a few days guys. I will try to be more responsible.

The Bible is filled with wonderful stories and this is one of them. When you think about the story of Esther from start to finish, it becomes clear that either this truly happened or this was written by a master storyteller. It has complex drama with a simple plot, and eventually a happy ending. Of course, being God-fearing, Bible-believing Christians we believe every word to be true. It only becomes a bonus to us that this is one of the best stories eer told.

The plot is laid out for us. We have a king who likes himself a lot. He is the king of the Medo-Persian empire. He has a queen who decides she does not want to show up to the party just to be gazed at by drunk men. This is understandable. Finally, we have a law and a culture who really care very little about women. When told that the queen would not come, the king immediately stopped everything to deal with this issue. It becomes very clear: do not get the king angry. The queen is therefore retired. We do not know what exactly happens to her, except that she is no longer around.

Keep this chapter in mind when we enter the next couple stages of the story. This chapter is all story, however, it lays a very important foundation for the major application behind the story of Esther.

Nehemiah 13

Neh 13:30-31 Thus I cleansed them of everything pagan. I also assigned duties to the priests and the Levites, each to his service, (31) and to bringing the wood offering and the firstfruits at appointed times. Remember me, O my God, for good!

Nehemiah completed the task he set out to do and returned home. Immediately Israel begins to compromise on the law of God. They are no longer worhipping false idols like in the days of their fathers before them, but we are seeing the begginning of what will become the Pharisees and everybody else.

You see in this chapter an Israel very similar to the one Jesus walked amongst. There are those who are laboring on the Sabbath. There are those who had defiled the temple. There are those who are marrying outside of Israel. This is especially forbidden because these marriages were a result of lust. We find merchants dwelling outside the city gates, therefore, if you wanted to break the Sabbath you could. Israel is immediately falling away from God but in a way like never before.

Nehemiah steps in and cleans house. This is a good thing. He cleans up the evil which is happening. His passion ignites another spiritual revival. He threatened all the merchants that he would attack them, and they left. He was a one man army for God. No doubt he birthed some followers through this, and hence we find two extremes during the time of Jesus. I am in no way saying that Nehemiah started the Pharisees. I am saying that sometimes the followers of a great leader take their eyes off Jesus and put them upon the leader. After this, there would people who did not really care about the things of God and there would be those who shoved the things of the Lord down everybody's throat.

Be careful who you are following. Great leaders will rise up and they will be full of passion. Follow Jesus. If you do, God will do a work through you like he did through Nehemiah. Just follow Jesus.

Nehemiah 12

Neh 12:43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.

The ultimate result of true ministry is that the glory of God is shown through the lives of the people. This is one of the few verses where we read of Jerusalem actually fulfilling what it was appointed to do. Jerusalem was to be a light to the rest of the world. Before there were the great evangelist and even the great commission, there was Jerusalem. Its job was to spread the glory of God and shine in a world wrought with sin.

As we have been watching the Sunday night videos it becomes more and more apparent that Jerusalem is the focal point, or epicenter, of the world. Jerusalem can either bless those around it or curse those. The city is identified spiritually as the city of peace. Yet, when you read throughout history you will not find any other city which has gone through more disaster and still exists today. Like the people of Israel, there is no possible way to explain the preserved nature of this city except it be by God.

The ultimate fulfillment of Jerusalem was Jesus' death and resurrection. This is why it is truly that city of peace. The Prince of Peace made atonement for us, in Jerusalem. You are going to heaven because 2000 years ago, in Jerusalem, Jesus died and rose again.

Therefore, pray for Jerusalem. It is still God's city. Pray for the leaders there. Pray for the Jews there. Pray for the Muslims there. Pray that it will return to that place of worshipping the One true God. We know this will happen during the millenial reign, but nevertheless, pray for a revival in Jesus, in the city of peace.