Esther 1-3; Psalm 139; Revelation 1

This is the world awaiting Esther: a king, his military officers, his nobles and officials had just previously spent 180 days partying.

³ In the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. He invited all the military officers of Persia and Media as well as the princes and nobles of the provinces. ⁴ The celebration lasted 180 days—a tremendous display of the opulent wealth of his empire and the pomp and splendor of his majesty. (Esther 1:3-4, NLT)

Then, an additional extravagant week of limitless indulgence, for the people, the greatest to the least.

⁷ Drinks were served in gold goblets of many designs, and there was an abundance of royal wine, reflecting the king’s generosity. ⁸ By edict of the king, no limits were placed on the drinking, for the king had instructed all his palace officials to serve each man as much as he wanted. (Esther 1:7-8, NLT)

This was Queen Vashti’s world, a glimpse of it anyway. Partying. Excess. Vanity. And I think, perhaps, she’d had enough. At least that day, anyway. I can’t know for sure, because there isn’t much detail about her perspective.

¹⁰ On the seventh day of the feast, when King Xerxes was in high spirits because of the wine, he told the seven eunuchs who attended him (…) ¹¹ to bring Queen Vashti to him with the royal crown on her head. He wanted the nobles and all the other men to gaze on her beauty, for she was a very beautiful woman. (Esther 1:10-11, NLT)

(You can read the whole of it in Esther 1-3 if you haven’t, but Vashti refuses to be gazed upon “for her beauty” by the king’s drunken nobles and all the other men.)

I look closer at the king and his advisors. I look at the world they lived in. Instead of being starstruck by these delicious words: tremendous display, opulent wealth, pomp, splendor, majesty, abundance, no limits, all they wanted–I see a stage that feeds a king’s ego and his anger, and a group of advisors enjoying a luxuriant life in his good graces–a lifestyle they don’t want jeopardized by opposition or upheaval.

His advisors tell him to banish Vashti so other women don’t stand up to their husbands. And, later, that Haman, whose own ego is affronted when a man won’t bow in his presence (by order of the king), when those around him egg him, “Are you going to let him get away with that?”, his own pride and power position leads him down a murderous, vengeful path.

⁸ Then Haman approached King Xerxes and said, “There is a certain race of people scattered through all the provinces of your empire who keep themselves separate from everyone else. Their laws are different from those of any other people, and they refuse to obey the laws of the king. So it is not in the king’s interest to let them live. ⁹ If it please the king, issue a decree that they be destroyed, and I will give 10,000 large sacks of silver to the government administrators to be deposited in the royal treasury.” (Esther 3:8-9, NLT)

Simple. Tidy. Just get rid of them. And the king agrees. There’s more to the story, but that’s all for my reading today. A pot of turmoil brewing.

But as I read on in other books, I am comforted and held by the words in all of Psalm 139. Of a sovereign and just God who knows me (he formed me), who goes before me and behind me, who holds a book listing every single day of my life, whose thoughts about me are precious and so many they can’t even be numbered. I know that no matter what today holds, or what tomorrow holds, I am held and known and loved by God.

And I am encouraged by John’s words in Revelation 1:9, NLT:

I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus.

A brother and partner in suffering. In God’s Kingdom. In the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. Who was exiled for preaching the word of God and exiled for his testimony about Jesus.

Lord, thank you for your word. Thank you for true stories of courage and perseverance. Thank you for your repetition of your love for me, for all of us, for your sovereignty and plan. I am reminded I am not alone–you won’t leave me. And I am comforted reading a message from John, who knew you and loved you and served you with patient endurance.

Courtney (66books365)

Advertisement

Isaiah 12, Ephesians 2, Isaiah 13, Isaiah 11

Behold, God is my salvation, Isaiah 12:2

 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13

 The Lord of hosts musters The army for battle. They come from a far country, From the end of heaven— It will come as destruction from the Almighty. Isaiah 13

  With righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; Isaiah 11:4

  Read Bible Passage – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2012,%20Ephesians%202,%20Isaiah%2013,%20Isaiah%2011&version=NKJV

             Amazing progression by each Bible Chapter!! ~ God says He is Savior. ~ The Lord God Jesus Christ is the Blood Atonement to accomplish Salvation. ~ God commands His raptured people who are dwelling in heaven to war against the ungodly on earth for the great and terrible day of the Lord. ~ The Millennium Reign of the Lord Jesus Christ is over His peaceable kingdom on earth!! ~ The Lord God Almighty rules throughout All Time and Space!! Amazing progression in Scripture!!!  Joel 2:1-11

             Lord God, You know the place I am in today. Troubles of life and death swirl about in my head incessantly. Ponderings of the present and future’s uncertainty grip me; about my family, friends, nation and Israel. Curious of what You will have me do, How it will occur, couched with fears.

 Yet when I STOP. And ponder Your Word. All Time stands Still. You, O LORD, are the same yesterday, today, and forever.

 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10

              What a Relief!! What Joy! This is Just what I want. That is the desire of my heart!! (Psalm 37:4) This lesson teaches that very thing! You tell me past, present and future all simultaneously! You Lord Jesus are the Owner and Definer of All things!

  Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; Isaiah 12:2

             You saved my soul from certain death, from eternal damnation, hell. I didn’t even do anything to earn it!! You did it ALL for me.

 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

               And how I live is Still Your responsibility!! Wow!! But I so yearn and pray incessantly to be within Your Holy Will, empowered by Your Joy, and filled with Your Wisdom and Holy Spirit my Beloved Savior!  

 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

             Is it really that easy LORD? Is it really just a matter of You “Speak” and I “Go!” ? It has operated that way for a long time. But should I fear when the lions and bears turn into Goliaths? Of course not! I am continuously in training for larger conquests and more fruit by You, my Master. The Goliaths of yesterday will seem like Lilliputians tomorrow because of Your lessons Lord. 1 John 4:4, 1 Samuel 17:34-37, John 15

 I have commanded My sanctified ones; I have also called My mighty ones for My anger— Isaiah 13:3

             How glorious to You Mighty King!! Swift Justice, Righteousness and Victorious Truth!!

 I will punish the world for its evil, And the wicked for their iniquity; Isaiah 13:11

             These days I “see” clearly Your handwriting on the wall. Now it is not so far off, like the persecution of the Chinese Christians. For now I can “see” persecution coming close in my own homeland.

 He will destroy its sinners from it. … Therefore I will shake the heavens, And the earth will move out of her place. In the wrath of the Lord of hosts And in the day of His fierce anger. Wail, for the day of the Lord is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. Isaiah 13

“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Romans 12:19

              I rejoice in Your exaltation my King!

             But knowing Your mighty effectiveness Lord, the Certainty of your Successful Hand for Good, and my position of lacking fear, now that You have spoken: I beg of You for Mercy on all the people who are not yet Your people. Just as You did for me, Please Merciful King, Please soften many hearts, draw multitudes to Yourself, and bring them to the full Salvation by the Blood of Your Appointed Anointed Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. Job 42:1-6, Hosea 2:23       

 Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. Isaiah 59:1

             How glorious it will be when all of us, the multitude of saints, are living with King Jesus on the earth during His 1,000 year reign! Revelation 20:4

The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon (King Jesus), The Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. His delight is in the fear of the Lord, with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,   Isaiah 11

              The Rod of Your mouth, Lord Jesus, is correction! Thank You for teaching us! And we shall learn ever more easily because “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11

            Oh, want a fabulous time we shall have!! The animals will have a Peaceable Kingdom! And I can pet them all!!

            “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,

            Lord, my troubles have seemed to vanish as I ponder Your Word. Your Power, Your Majesty, Your Control for All Good! The God of the millennium, far off in the future, is still my God at this very moment!

 Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist. Isaiah 11:5

                  Lord God Jesus Christ, You are Pure Righteousness and Faithful! Whom then shall I fear? No one But You! (1) I shall,

Sing to the Lord, For He has done excellent things; Isaiah 12:5 

Through All My Past, Present and Future!!

 (1) Job 28:28; Psalm 19:9; Psalm 34:11; Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 8:13; Proverbs 14:27; Proverbs 15:33; Proverbs 19:23; Proverbs 23:17; Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:5

Crystal (PsalmThirty4)