anitasanecdotes

Esther 8, 9 and 10 reveal a complete reversal of events regarding Mordecai and the Jews. Esther tells the king who Mordecai is and pleads with him that the edict regarding the annihilation of the Jews be revoked. The king agrees. Mordecai is given Haman’s role and rule over his house. Instead of being killed on one particular day they are allowed to seek revenge against their enemies on that day. They will be able to kill their enemies and plunder their property. Mordecai wearing fine robes and a crown posts the decree in the capital city. Everywhere there is a festival among the Jews.

On the day the edict is fulfilled, Jews everywhere destroy their enemies, but contrary to the edict they do not take the plunder. Queen Esther and Mordecai establish that day as a festival day among the Jews. Haman used “Pur” that is casting lots to plan his plot against the Jews. The Jews call the festival “Purim” (the plural of Pur), to remind them what happened to them: how Esther and Mordecai put their lives on the line to save their people.

Surely God was at work in the lives of Moredecai and Esther in saving the Jews from destruction. He gave them the courage to be willing to die in order to save them. God blessed their efforts and set up the events so that the Jews triumphed. We, too, may be asked to go outside our comfort zone to help those in need. As we step out in faith we will be blessed.

In Luke 13 Jesus heals a woman on the Sabbath. When challenged by the religious leaders Jesus reminds them that they would untie their animals so they can get water; likewise, he is unbinding this woman from her illness so she may live. The leaders are shamed by this response. Jesus laments over Jerusalem because of its rejection of him.

Much of the rest of this chapter deals with the kingdom of God and what it takes to become a person of faith. Jesus speaks of the kingdom being like a mustard seed or yeast in dough. It only takes a little to spread throughout. Each action we take or each time we share our faith starts a spreading of the kingdom far beyond anything we can imagine. Jesus speaks about the importance of repentance, a complete change of mind and turning around of living, to become a person of faith. We will not be accepted into the kingdom because of whom we know or where we go to church; we will only be accepted if our hearts have been changed by the message of the gospel.

Esther 6 and 7 opens with the king having trouble sleeping.  He decides to read the book of record to help him sleep. He reads how Mordecai had helped him in the past by letting him know about an assassination plot. The king asks what was done to honor Mordecai. Nothing has been done. So the king wants to get advice from one of his advisors. Haman is in the outer court waiting to ask to kill Mordecai. The king calls him in and asks what should be done to honor someone. Haman, full of himself, thinks the king wants to honor him and suggests giving him one of the king’s robes and crowns and riding him on one of the king’s horses telling everyone this is what is done for someone the king honors. The king tells Haman to do this for Mordecai. Haman is humiliated as he walks Mordecai around honoring him.

Haman tells his wife and friends what happened. They know that Haman is in trouble. He is immediately taken to the banquet Queen Esther prepared. During the feast the king again asks Esther what she wants. She tells him that she wants her life and the lives of her people the Jews to be saved. She explains that Haman intends to kill them, including her. Haman pleads for his life with the Queen but the king decides to kill Haman as punishment for his plot. Haman had already constructed the gallows in order to kill Mordecai so the king hangs Haman on his own gallows.

You have to admit that this turn of events definitely sounds like the actions of God. Again, even though God is not mentioned it is clear that God is working His purpose out even as others are working against those He loves. In Luke 12 Jesus warns the disciples of the Pharisees intent, but he tells them not to fear them. The one they should fear is God who determines their eternal destiny. Jesus assures them that God loves each one of them, but if they are led to go against Jesus they will be punished by God.

Someone asks him about a family inheritance and Jesus teaches against greed. He tells them not to worry about what they have. God will give them what they need. Instead of gaining wealth he encourages them to give their wealth away. They will be storing their treasure in heaven where it is always safe.

Jesus encourages them always to be ready for the kingdom of God. We should live our lives as though Jesus is coming at any minute. We should be about doing the Lord’s work and not worrying about ourselves. Our priorities should be turned toward God and God’s works. Everything else will be taken care of. Our responsibility is to the Lord.

In Esther 4 and 5 Mordecai mourns, wearing sackcloth and ashes, outside the King’s gate. Queen Esther asks Mordecai to stop what he is doing. He refuses and tells her what Haman has done. He charges her to go to the king and ask to have the edict rescinded.

It is dangerous for Esther to go into the king when he has not asked for her presence. She tells this to Mordecai. He says that now is the time to let the king know that she is a Jew. She will not be protected just because she is in the king’s court. Mordecai believes that she has been put there just for this time. Esther asks him to gather the Jews in the city together to fast (and pray?) for three days. After that she will go in to the king even though it is against the law. If she dies, she dies.

Esther stands in the courtyard outside the throne room. The king sees her and calls for her. He asks what she wants and she simply invites the king and Haman to a banquet. At the banquet the king again asks Esther what she wants and she invites the king and Haman to another banquet the next day.

Haman is quite full of himself after having been the only one to be invited with the king to a banquet by the queen. As he leaves the palace he sees Mordecai, who continues to refuse to bow to him. He tells his wife what has happened. She suggests that he erect a gallows. He should then tell the king about Mordecai and have him hung on the gallows.

We must wait until tomorrow to see what happens next.

In Luke 11 the disciples ask Jesus how to pray. He gives them what we call the Lord’s Prayer. In it Jesus encourages us to call God “Father”. God wants a personal relationship with us. We are to acknowledge the holiness of God. We ask God to make his kingdom here on earth. We ask God for each day’s provision, not desiring more or less. We ask for God’s forgiveness, recognizing that we, too, are to forgive. We ask God to keep us from times of trial. Jesus encourages persistent prayer and petition. He promises that God will only give what is good for us.

Later while Jesus is casting out a demon some people accuse him of being in league with the demons. He says if that were so Satan would be divided against himself, which makes no sense. Instead the demons are cast out by one who is stronger than they, by God himself.

Jesus says that he is now a sign to the people to realize their sinfulness just as Jonah’s presence in Ninevah brought the citizens to repentance. The people of Ninevah repented. They will condemn those who see Jesus and do not repent.

A Pharisee invites Jesus to dinner. He notices that Jesus doesn’t follow the purification rituals. Jesus accuses the Pharisees and lawyers of being clean on the outside but continuing to be unclean on the inside. They look good but, in fact, don’t do the things they should to care for the poor and oppressed.  They demand respect but do not show respect. They load people with burdens and do nothing to relieve those burdens.

We need to always be aware of our need for prayer which includes our ability to recognize our responsibilities as well. If we are to follow Christ we must acknowledge our need for God and our charge to become like Christ in our dealings with others. We are not made special because we are Christians; rather we are called to special service because Christ was a servant to all.

Esther 1 – 3 opens with King Ahasuerus of Persia giving a banquet to show off his wealth. His wife Queen Vashti also gives a party for the women in the palace. The king sent for the queen to come to his party to show off her beauty, but she refuses to come. The king becomes angry. He believes that if other women learn of her behavior they will all disobey their husbands. He bans Vashti from his presence and writes a decree that all men are to be the master in their own home.

King Ahasuerus begins a search for a new queen. All the beautiful young virgins are gathered together to be presented to the king. A Jewish man named Mordecai who came to Babylon at the time of the exile has a cousin Esther, an orphan, whom he raised as his child. She is very beautiful and is gathered with the other beautiful young women. Mordecai tells Esther not to tell the king that she is Jewish. The king loves Esther and makes her his queen.

A man named Haman becomes the head official in the palace. Everyone is supposed to bow to Haman but Mordecai refuses. When Mordecai is asked why he doesn’t bow down to Haman he says it’s because he is a Jew. Haman becomes angry and plots to destroy all the Jews in the kingdom. Haman goes to the king and tells him that the Jews do not obey the king’s laws. He asks that the king make a decree to destroy the Jews and offers to put money into the king’s treasury if the decree is made. The king agrees and makes an edict for all Jews, young and old to be killed and their possessions to be plundered on the 13^th day of the 12^th month. It is distributed throughout the kingdom. Everyone is thrown into confusion by the edict.

We see here one of those household codes that make women property of their husbands. As we read in Ephesians 5, God’s purpose for the family is much different than this.

Esther is the only book in the Bible that does not mention God or prayer specifically. It is clear though, in reading it that the Jews are praying and do believe that God will deliver them. See if you can find those passages which allude to God and prayer.

Psalm 79 is a plea for help from God. Israel has come under attack. The writer asks God to forgive Israel for the sins of its ancestors and then asks that the enemies be punished so that they may know the strength of Israel’s God.

In Nehemiah 13 Nehemiah returns after having been away for a time. He finds that the people are disobeying the law of God by allowing a man who is not a priest to live in the temple, working and doing commerce with foreigners on the Sabbath, not supporting the Levites so they have to work the fields, and marrying non-Israelites.

Nehemiah reestablishes the law of God and asks God’s forgiveness He makes certain that the gates of the city are closed during the Sabbath so no outside merchants can get in and punished those who married women outside of Israel.

It doesn’t take long for us to forget what the Bible has to say. We must try to be diligent in our study and practice of the faith. Sometimes that might mean a painful process of getting rid of bad habits or a changing of the way we do things, but while we will not incur the kinds of punishments the people in Nehemiah’s time received we will be hindering a full relationship with Jesus.

In Luke 10 Jesus expands his ministry by appointing seventy others to spread the gospel and do the things that Jesus has done. They are only to go to the towns where they are accepted. They return telling Jesus what they were able to do. Jesus rejoices that God has given his authority to those who are willing to follow.

A lawyer asks Jesus how to receive eternal life. Jesus tells a story of a man from Samaria, one who is rejected by the Jews, who takes care of a Jewish man who has been hurt. Jesus encourages the lawyer to treat others the same way the Samaritan did the man.

Jesus visits the home of a woman named Martha. She busies herself with the tasks of hospitality while her sister Mary sits at Jesus’ feet listening to him teach. Martha complains and Jesus tells her not to be so distracted. It is better to let things go and spend time with him.

Even those of us who follow Christ are prone to become distracted by life. We keep ourselves so busy that we do not spend time with him in prayer and study. Our priorities get mixed up. We may be doing good things but the more important part of our life of faith is spending time with Jesus.

Nehemiah 11 and 12 opens with lists of where the people live. One tenth of the people live in Jerusalem, the rest live in their own towns. Those involved with governing and the temple also live in Jerusalem. All of the Levites and worship leaders gather around the walls of Jerusalem at its dedication. Sacrifices of thanksgiving are offered. People are appointed to serve the city and temple according to the law of God.

In Luke 9 Jesus sends the disciples out to cast out demons, heal and proclaim God’s kingdom. King Herod hears about Jesus and his followers. Some are saying that Jesus is John the Baptist come back to life. Herod had killed John the Baptist so he was confused.

Jesus teaches a large crowd into the evening. The disciples want to send them home so they can eat but Jesus tells them to feed the people. All they have is five loaves and to fish. Jesus blesses the food and all are fed with twelve baskets left over.

Jesus begins to reveal who he is and why he has come to his disciples, particularly Peter, James and John. At this point he wants this knowledge to be kept secret.

The disciples argue about who is the greatest among them. Jesus stops the argument by saying it is the least among them who will be the greatest. They tell Jesus that someone else is casting out demons in his name even though he is not one of the twelve. Jesus says that is alright because whoever is not against you is for you. They come to a Samaritan town but the people don’t invite them in. The disciples want to destroy the town but Jesus stops them.

Some people want to follow Jesus but offer excuses why they can’t do it right now. Jesus does not accept their excuses. If they are not ready now they are not willing to follow him.

We see in this chapter many incidents where people do not understand what it means to follow Christ. Even the disciples seem confused. They do not understand that it involves having faith and being willing to follow whenever and wherever the call is given. It doesn’t matter who one is. If Jesus is calling us to do his work, to follow him, we must be willing to respond. Any other response is tantamount to rejection.

In Nehemiah 9 and 10 the people of Israel separate themselves from the foreigners and spend half a day in worship and repentance. They listen to the law of God and confess their sins. Ezra remembers in prayer the history of the people from the covenant made with Abraham until the present time, and the steadfast love of God, who continues to forgive them their sins and never forsakes them.

They sign a document of promise to follow God’s law including keeping themselves from intermarrying with foreigners and supporting the sooth running of the house of God.

Having come out of exile the people are profoundly aware of the result of their sin and God’s mercy toward them. They have had a spiritual awakening. They know that the keeping of the law and maintaining right worship are essential to upholding their part of the covenant with God. We, too, need to remember what it means to maintain our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We must stay devoted to reading God’s word, to regular worship, and to active service of the Lord by helping others. These are the things we promise at baptism and are our covenant with God.

Psalm 78:38-72 continues to tell the story of the people of Israel when they were in the wilderness and their coming to the Promised Land: how God was faithful and how the people kept turning away. The psalm ends with the choosing of David to lead the people of God.

In Nehemiah 7 and 8 the wall is completed. Nehemiah appoints guards to watch their posts. The city is large and the inhabitants are few so it is difficult to watch the entire city. Nehemiah finds a genealogy of the people who have come into Jerusalem and Judah.

He also has a list of the priests and temple servants. Everyone must prove they belong in Judah. Those that can’t are not allowed to be priests until someone comes to determine their eligibility. This is to be done with the Urim and Thummin, which are believed to be stones or small plates that determine one’s guilt or innocence in a similar manner to flipping a coin.

The leaders, including Nehemiah, and the people give money to the treasury. The people finally settle into their towns.

Everyone gathers at one of the gates of the city to hear the book of the law of God read by the priest Ezra. The people weep when they hear the law that has not been read for 70 years while they were in exile. The Levites explain the law so all understand it. They worship God and are sent home to feast. The leaders consult with Ezra about the law and find out that they are to be celebrating the Festival of Booths. They build booths on their houses and celebrate for a week. This is the first time in a long time that they have kept the festival. After the festival they gather for solemn worship.

Sometimes we feel that if we give up practicing our faith we can never go back again. The story of the people of Israel assures us that we can always come back to God.

In Luke 8 Jesus travels throughout Israel with his disciples and some women. He tells a parable of a sower who plants seed. When the disciples ask the meaning of the parable, he says it is about the word of God. Many people hear it but it only takes root in some. Those in whom the word has taken root should not hide their faith.

One day they go across the lake. A storm rises and the disciples become frightened. Jesus calms the storm and asks why they were afraid.

We will encounter storms in our life. Our confidence in Jesus’ presence with us can keep us calm throughout.

Jesus meets a man who has many demons. The demons recognize him right away. Jesus puts the demons into a herd of swine. The swine drown themselves in the lake. The man wants to come with Jesus but Jesus tells him to tell the people he knows what happened.

Jesus meets a religious leader who asks him to heal his dying daughter. Jesus accompanies him to his house. On the way a woman who has been bleeding for twelve years touches the fringe on his clothes. Jesus feels power leaving him and asks who touched him. The woman comes forward to say that she had been healed. One of the leader’s servants tells him his daughter has died. Jesus goes to the house anyway. He brings the child back to life.

Jesus tells the leader and his wife, “Do not fear. Only believe…” If we give ourselves over to fear our troubles have already won. On the other hand, if we put our trust in Jesus he will see us through. No matter what the outcome we will have won the battle.

In Nehemiah 5 and 6 the people complain about the taxes that have been levied on them by their own leaders. They also have control of the people’s land. Nehemiah confronts the leaders with their wrongdoing and the leaders give back the land and no longer spike the taxes for more money. Nehemiah does not even take the fee governors usually receive so that the people may provide for their families.

The leaders of the enemy nations try to get Nehemiah to meet with them so they can kill him. He sees through their plans and refuses. Even when they threaten to tell lies to the king saying that Nehemiah is waging a revolt he refuses to meet with them. A prophet warns Nehemiah that they are coming to kill him and he should hide in the temple, but he refuses. Later he realizes that the prophet was paid off by his enemies in order to keep him from finishing the wall. Nehemiah and the people finish the wall. The enemy nations became afraid because they knew that God had helped the people of Jerusalem.

Despite all of the things that were put in his way, Nehemiah remained persistent because he knew he was doing God’s work. God made certain that Nehemiah succeeded.

In Luke 7 Jesus heals a slave of a Roman centurion who was close to death. He raises a man from death who was his mother’s only son. These and other miracles are reported to John the Baptist and he sends messengers to Jesus asking if he is the Messiah. Jesus has them tell John the things that he has done, especially those things that are found in the prophecies concerning the Messiah.

A Pharisee invites Jesus to his house for a meal. A woman comes to Jesus there and breaks an alabaster jar of perfume on his feet. She washes them with her tears and dries them with her hair. The woman is a sinner and the Pharisee criticizes Jesus for allowing her to touch him. Jesus says that he has come for those who have sinned. He forgives the woman and tells her to go in peace.

In Nehemiah 3 and 4 the people begin making repairs to Jerusalem. Each group has its own task and the work gets done efficiently. Their adversaries continue to mick them for their efforts. Nehemiah responds with prayer and the work goes on. The adversaries plan an attack to stop the reconstruction. Nehemiah stations people to protect the walls and workers. He tells the people not to be afraid. God is with them and will protect them. The people continue their work with swords strapped to their sides. They are instructed to come to the aid of any who may be under attack.

When we are trying to live lives of faith we often encounter opposition: things or people who seem to actively stand in our way. Like Nehemiah, we need to steep ourselves in prayer and remind ourselves that God is with us. But as we do our work, as we step out in faith, we must continue to be armed to fight against our adversaries. Our sword is the word of God, the Bible. When we feel we are under attack we need to call others to be with us to help us in the fight.

Luke 6 opens with Jesus doing things on the Sabbath that upset the Pharisees. Jesus challenges their understanding of the law of God. They begin their plot against him.

Jesus chooses twelve of his followers to be his disciples, which means students, and also to be apostles, which means those who are sent out. Jesus and his disciples come to a place where a great crowd is waiting. Many who were sick tried to touch him to receive healing. Power left Jesus and healed all of them.

Jesus begins to teach the disciples a lesson similar to the beatitudes in Matthew. This teaching includes both blessings and curses. Basically Jesus is saying that we will be blessed if we recognize our need for him in our lives, but if we believe we are self-sufficient we have already gotten our due. In other words, if we trust in ourselves we have no need of a savior and close the door on receiving Christ’s blessings on our lives.

Jesus also gives some difficult teaching: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.  If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.  Do to others as you would have them do to you. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven;  give, and it will be given to you.

These teachings are all much easier to say than to do, but we need to remember that these are not suggestions. Each one of them is said as a command. They are not negotiable in Jesus’ eyes. He expects us to live in this manner.