“My name is in the book of Life, Oh, bless the name of Jesus; I rise above all doubt and strife, And read my title clear. I know, I know, My name is there; I know, I know, My name is written there.”
“My name is in the book of Life, Oh, bless the name of Jesus; I rise above all doubt and strife, And read my title clear. I know, I know, My name is there; I know, I know, My name is written there.”
“Yahweh” (LORD, “I am that I am,” Jehovah, God). “YHWH” (As in the Hebrew Bible. The Tetragrammaton. The Name without the vowels. The Name that cannot be spoken). “The Day of the LORD” was a repetitive phrase in the OT prophets describing the coming of the Messiah and the Day of God’s judgment.
felt about the idolatry of Israel (Samaria) and Judah (Jerusalem).
After the death of King Solomon, Israel became a divided kingdom. The Northern kingdom called Israel moved its capital to Samaria. They were later conquered by the Assyrians. The Southern kingdom called Judah continued some years after the fall of Israel. The Babylonians conquered Judah whose capital city was Jerusalem.
Ezekiel’s prophecy came true.
How to read Scripture. Reflect & ask the Lord.
A man (or woman) of God is marked by what they retreat from as much as what they pursue. What are you chasing?
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!