August 26, 2009
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.
August 19, 2009
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!
August 15, 2009
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.
August 12, 2009
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…?
August 4, 2009
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.
August 1, 2009
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.
July 29, 2009
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.
July 28, 2009
says, “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.”
In today’s reading I was again startled by the apostle Paul’s words concerning the “full number” of the Gentiles that God wants to save. We are living in the age of the Gentiles’ salvation. When God has saved whom He wills, then He will turn His attention back to the Jews. When that happens Israel will embrace Jesus as Messiah.
I wonder if we are living in the age when God will soften the hearts of Israel?
July 25, 2009
King Asa started out so well… In the line of David, king of Judah, tore down the high places, deposed his evil grandma, faced up to the army from Cush with Divine help…What went wrong in his old age? Instead of depending on God (like he had his whole life before) he depended on the temple treasury and an alliance with an enemy (Ben Hadad). When he had nothing, he depended on God. When he was old and had gold and silver, he depended on wealth.
Are we tempted like this too? I want to finish well. How can we finish well?
July 22, 2009
.. He was so on fire for God as a young man. He even prays for the nations to come to the temple and recognize God.
What happened to Solomon as he got older?
He turned to worshiping the false gods of the many wives and concubines that he took. The wisest man who ever lived was turned from God by his lust for foreign women.
What happened to his godly wisdom? Why couldn’t he finish life the way he started… living for God?
My prayer today: Lord, please enable me through the power of the Holy Spirit to finish better than I started. May the story of my life’s 4th quarter be better than the first three combined. Help me to believe more, attempt more, grow more, and love more. In the name of our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.