Esther 4 - Nothing New Under the Sun - Money Buys Just About Anything?

Has anything changed under the sun?  "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago." Eccl 1:9-10

Mordecai's life is in danger.  Esther's life is in danger.  The death of all Jews is imminent.  Their deaths have been secured with payment to the king's treasury by Haman. Esther, although the wife of King Xerxes, finds it out, not from her husband, but from Mordecai. And... yet, she is reluctant to go to the king to intercede for her people.  The king is not aware, yet, that she is a Jew and what is more anyone who enters (including the queen) the presence of the king without being called is in danger of being put to death.  I think maybe she thinks that somehow she will be immune from the destruction that has been decreed upon all Jews.  She's got a pretty good chance of dying either way.  When she finally agrees, she asks that all her people, all of the Jews, spend the next three day fasting.

The payment is my concern this morning.  Has anything changed under the sun? Money has been known for changing the way we live for the good or bad.  How much money is spent in manipulating (lobbying) for specific interests that in the end changes our lifestyles and sometimes to the degree that it has killed a lifestyle?  Since, we just finished with a week of confirmation classes, the commandments "thou shall not kill" and "thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor" come to mind.  How much money is spent on false advertising to undermine opponents.  And in the end, how much of this bearing false witness actually affects the lives of both the candidates and constituates?  How many spirits are weakened by this lack of integrity?  According the Luther's Small Catechism what is the meaning of the 5th commandment about murdering mean? 
     "We should fear and love God that we may not hurt nor harm our neighbor in his body, but help    and befriend him in every bodily need [in every need and danger of life and body]." 

So does what goes on in politicing prior to elections actually help or harm our neighbor?  Will we do what we need to do to help all people or will we first think, as Queen Esther did, about what the best thing to protect our own lives is?

Just wondering....

God's Peace - Pr. J

 

Esther 3 - You Shall Not Bow Down

"And God spoke all these words:  “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.""  (Ex 20:1-6 NIV)

Mordecai, Queen Esther's mentor of sorts, would bow down to no one but God.  He would not bow down to Haman, so "Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews." (vs 6 NIV)  And.. he found it.  He convinced the King Xerxes to allow him to have the Jews destroyed. 

We just completed a week of confirmation, at which we spent much of our time on the ten commandments, so these verses from Exodus are still at the top of my mind.  What does this mean?  Simply this:  You shall have no other gods.  You shall not bow down to other gods.  No one, nothing, should come before the LORD your God.  Mordecai held fast to this, even to the point that he could be killed. 

How about us?  How fast will we hold to keeping God first in our lives?  How many other things in our lives do we allow to replace the worship of the one true God - the one who has freed you from bondage? 

God's Peace - Pr. J
 

Esther 2 - Marriage Made In Heaven?

A marriage made in heaven?!  Well, actually knowing the outcome of the whole story, God's hand probably was guiding this whole transaction.  But, what a way to find a wife!  Not so unlike today!  Try them all out, first! 

Here's the difficulty that I have with the whole thing:  the women allow themselves to be treated like property, like clothes in a department store - tried on for size with the very real possibility of being cast aside.  Then and now.  I just don't get it.  Of course, so many women are trying on men, as well.
And when a husband or wife is finally found, suitably fitting one's ego, now is that a marriage made in heaven?  No wonder there are so many divorces today.  With so much unknown baggage being carried into the marriage, it's no wonder there are so many divorces today.  Course, there are quite a few marriages being entered into, that begin, with the mindset of King Xerxes - try it - see if it fits - if not - send them back to the harem they came from. 

Yes, I am being a little cynical this morning.  I see how so many of our young people (not just young people - they've learned well from the older generations) treat their relationships.  Like shopping in a department store for the fanciest or most expensive (name brand) clothes or like when that old pair of old blue jeans don't fit any longer, casting them aside.  Sometimes divorce may be very necessary. (We'll get to that in the New Testament) But, just because you find something, someone, who pleases you more at the moment is not a reason to end the covenant you've made with someone else.

Marriages made in heaven?  I don't know about that.  But, I do know that when you ask God to bless your union - He joins you as one 'till death parts you.

God's Peace - Pr. J
 

Esther 1 - Feasting - With Wine

Ok... I'm confused.  After about a half of a year of showing off his kingdom, King Xerxes (Ahasuerus) declares a seven day feast, during which there is much wine drunk.  Seven days of partying.  Then on the seventh day when King Xerxes is in high spirits from the wine (drunk), he sends for his beautify wife, Queen Vashti so that he can show her off to his company.  She refuses.  He is embarrassed and there are consequences for her. 

What is this? Would this king have commanded her to come so that everyone could ogle her, if he'd been sober.  Would she have said no, if he and his company had been sober?

The book of Esther; however, I think we will enjoy.  Scene 1:  Xerxes gets rid of his present wife, the queen.

(Edited title on 8/25/2011 due to typo - feasting not fasting.)

 

Nehemiah 13 - Giving Way To The Adversary

I remember writing a blog some time ago, titled "Keep Your Friends Close, Enemies Closer."  It was about David's kindness to Mephibosheth from 2 Samuel.  The thing to remember is that keeping them closer is with the hopes of knowing their strategy against you, if they have one, and to maybe open their hearts and minds to another way of being through love and generosity. However, the point is not to let them run you over, control your life, or change your heart and mind.  If mingling with the adversary means that you are going to allow a change in your lifestyle so that God is not honored, that His will is not followed, then you probably should really look at the people you are associating with.

Eliashib, the high priest has given space in the temple courts to the adversary, Tobiah, to live.  Tobiah is not a priest.  He doesn't appear to be a Levite.  Tobiah does everything in his power to thwart the attempts to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.  Yet, he is so close that it is apparent that at least he knows about keeping your friends close and enemies closer.  The Israelites, it appears, are still straying.  They are not keeping the Sabbath!  In fact, they are profaning it. 

But, God has sent Nehemiah, to remind them and, with a firm voice and hand, to guide them in the way that they should be going.  In the end, God's will is done.  But, by compromising with the adversary, all could have been lost. 

The safest way to know God's will is to actually read the Holy Scriptures.  Whenever the priests or prophets would read the scriptures, the hearts of the people would turn once again to God.  If you're going to consort with the enemy, it's kind of good - actually, it is necessary - to know God's will and that, my friend, comes from His Word.  Stand firm.  Be strong in the LORD.  Take up the sword of the Spirit, which is His Word.  (Eph 6:17)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Nehemiah 12 - Celebrate

What a celebration!  Everyone comes together to celebrate the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem.

Out here in Arvon Township and surrounding community we have a lot of celebrations:  Music Fests, picnics, etc.. Crowds gather in this small community, coming from long distances.  On September 2nd we will have a dedication at the Aura Lutheran Church.  We will be dedicating an organ to the glory of God.  I am hoping for a crowd - that - many will come to hear God's word and celebrate this gift given for His glory. 

Every Sunday, we gather at Zion to give thanks to God for his gifts.  We dedicate our lives over and over again to him.  At times, we are a small group.  We don't have multitudes like they did at Jerusalem.  But, we have faithful people who give of their time and talents so that worship will be a genuine celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Let us think and pray on this:  Everyone comes together in celebration!  And now I have to head to Zion so that I can study with the youth as they prepare to dedicate their lives to God in the Rite of Confirmation.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Nehemiah 11 - God Bless the City Dwellers

Not sure what to make of this...
     "Now the leaders of the people dwelt at Jerusalem; the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine-tenths were to dwell in other cities.  And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem." (vs 1-2, NIV)

Was it really that horrible to have to live in the city of Jerusalem, that the people drew lots to see who would have to live there and blessed those who willingly offered to live there?  The text doesn't exactly inform me as to why this would be.  Then again, for some reason, I did not sleep well last night and I may not be thinking so well this morning.  Maybe, I'm just not getting it!

But, I sure can empathize with the thinking that living in a city would be a sacrifice.  I know that there are people who would have it no other way.  But, coming back from the NALC Convention in Golden Valley, MN last week and driving about 10 mph all the way through the Twin Cities on I-94 was a good reminder that I did not want to ever live in a city again.  Personally, I like the woods!  I enjoy the solitude.  I can hear distant cars.  But, when I wake up in the morning it is the birds chirping and some of the larger birds even squawking that I hear.  During the warmer seasons, the frogs and crickets sing me to sleep at night.  One New Year's morning, I heard a baby bear crying as (I assume) it was being born.  Much better sounds to me than roaring engines and screeching brakes and neighbors partying.

Yes, let us pray for and bless all those who live in the cities and in the country, too.  Bless all whom God has called to serve as they serve, live where they live.  And... God bless you too.  

Pr. J. 

Nehemiah 10 - Promises Made - Promises Broken

The covenant is sealed.  Promises are made.

Today we begin the first day of confirmation classes.  At Zion, we have classes one week during the summer for two years during which time curriculum will include "Experiencing Real Living," published by Sola Publishing..  During the school year, the youth will participate in an online course, www.smallcatechism.org .  Adults are welcome to join us for the educational part of the classes.  Youth will also be expected to participate in service projects both within the congregation and the wider community.  They are also expected to participate in worship as well as help lead at least two worship services each year.  This is all done to prepare them to make certain promises at the end of the two years as they are confirmed and then to continue to live according to the promises they have made..

Just a reminder of some of the promises those affirming their baptisms make...
     First off, they are asked to renounce the devil, the powers of this world and the ways of sin that threaten to draw us from God.  After affirming their faith with the words of the Apostle's Creed, they are asked if they intend:
     1.  to continue to live in the covenant God made with them in baptism.
     2.  to hear the word of God and receive the Lord's Supper (this necessarily means they will
          continue to attend worship)
     3.  to proclaim the Good News (they will share Jesus with others in both word and deed)
     4.  to serve all people (as Jesus did when he died on the cross for our sins)
     5.  to strive for justice and peace in all the earth (and this might mean that have to be just a little
          less concerned about their own welfare as they seek justice for others)

Each of them will respond with:  "I do, and I ask God to help and guide me."

Now here's the question(s) for this morning.  Do they, will they, do you?  Do you remember the promises you made?  Have you seriously asked God to help and guide you in the keeping of these promises?  So often many people think of confirmation as merely a rite of passage and we push our young people through the classes.  Here's the problem with it, as I see it.  They will make promises to God at the end of the two years.  Do they actually intend to keep those promises?  Will I ever see them again at Worship except for Christmas or Easter?  Do their parents and godparents intend to encourage them to keep those promises.

Israel got in a lot of trouble by going consistantly back on their promises to God.  God is the only one who has been known to keep His promises consistantly man cannot.  Thanks be to God that His grace is enough to cover us when we fall short of keeping our promises.  But, should we be making them if we really don't intend to keep them?

God's Peace - Pr. J
 
   

Nehemiah 9 - Recall What God Has Done

The people confess their sins and remember what God has done for them.  They celebrate and give thanks for His mercy is great. 

It is important to recall who God is, what He has done for us.  But, you cannot remember or recall what you have not learned or acknowledged.  I know I have talked about this before and will probably do so again.  But, there are days when I want to shout:  "Quit following in the ways of the world and follow in "The Way" of the LORD.  When worship, which includes hearing the word and the Word, and bible study are neglected, what and from whom are we learning?  The answer is simple - the world.  There are 24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week.  If we were to tithe our time to focusing on God's Word, to giving God thanks, that would be 2.4 hours per day or 16.8 hours per week.  2.4 hours per day and how many, who say they are Christian, even give that many hours per week?  This must be said:  Christians desire to hear God's word for them.  They desire to worship and give Him thanks.  He has shown us great mercy through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus the Christ.  Do you rejoice and give thanks for that gift of life even weekly, let alone daily? 

Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life."  (John 14:6) Christians follow in that way and that way is indeed to the cross and through it, unto eternal life.  Times will not always be easy as a Christian.  But, as the Christian confesses that they have not been faithful to God and remembers, recalls, the mercy that God has bestowed on us, we remember and we give thanks!  We do this by devoting time for the devotion of God and the study of His Word. 

Please, don't buy into the various religions (self, money, ego, etc) of the world by thinking that separting yourself from the church on earth is the way a Christian should go.  Hear the example from Nehemiah:  "Then those of Israelite lineage separated themselves from all foreigners; and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers."  (vs 2 NIV)  Take the time to separate yourself from the world, even if it is only one hour a week, and join with your brothers and sisters in Christ to give thanks to God, for His mercy is great.

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."  (1 Peter 2:8-10)

Put aside the ways of this world and follow in the footsteps of Jesus.  Walk with Him, that you might know His peace.  If you want a deeper relationship with Jesus, you really need to get to know Him. Recall the stories - but - in order to do that you have to know them - read them - hear them as they are read to you, as the people of God gather as a community to give thanks for His great mercy.  It is Sunday morning... See you in a few hours!  And if you don't live near - find someplace to worship and hear God's word, His will for you. 

God's Peace - Pr. J