Esther 4-7
Esther 4
V. 3 Notice that there is fasting and weeping and sackcloth and ashes, but nowhere in Esther does it say anyone prayed. Obviously they prayed.
V. 11 We imagine that a king and queen would be close. Xerxes had an enormous harem. Now that he had a queen that any kingdom would be proud of, he could go back to business as usual. Of course, he would see Esther more often than the other wives because of official events. The fact that he hadn't seen Esther for a month signifies a very official and superficial relationship. If I didn't see my wife for a month, I'd be a wreck.
Vs. 14-15 If you needed key verses for Esther, these might do. If you agree, why do you think these are good verses? What do you see in these verses that speaks to you?
Esther 5
Vs. 7-8 This might have been a Persian custom we don't have insight into. It might also be a "God thing" that happened. Maybe Esther didn't get a good sense from that meeting so she planned another dinner. I'd go with culture, but it's a good thing it happened this way.
Vs. 9-14 In the whole scheme of God's working, this just looks like something we've seen a million times before. Pride comes before a fall, although in this case, possibly, before a shish-kabob. We've heard about the fall of the wicked in both Psalms and Proverbs. Now we get to see it.
V. 14 You'll see there is a note that "gallows" could also be "stake." It could be either. Once you begin reading Daniel, you begin seeing this threat that must have been a popular punishment in both the Babylonian and Persian empires: Ezra 6:11 Also I make a decree that if any one alters this edict, a beam shall be pulled out of his house, and he shall be impaled upon it, and his house shall be made a dunghill.
Just like Nebuchadnezzar heated up the oven seven times hotter than normal to make an example of anyone who defied him, Haman must have had a tree brought out of the forest to use as a gallows or impaling beam to make the point that no one dare oppose him. Just as a note: In Germany for their May fest, the industrious Germans bring a 70+ foot tree out of the forest, trimming off all the branches but the very top. I've seen a group of men raise it and put it in place without a crane, although they did have one standing by. Not that everyone can do what the Germans do, but the Germans could have had the tree cut and in place in a day if necessary.
Esther 6
V. 1 What I've learned from this verse is that if I can't sleep, the Lord must want me up to pray.
What a funny coincidence that this should happen on this very night.
V. 4 Now it's morning and what funny timing?
V. 6 God has a sense of humor.
Vs. 10-11 And God has an ironic sense of judgment.
Esther 7:1-10
What we don't know is if Haman was hung like from a gallows or hung like "on a spit."
1 Corinthians 12:1-26
There is great teaching in chapters 12 and 13. Keep in mind that Paul is teaching this to correct a problem in the church and he will begin to apply all of this teaching in chapter 14. These chapters are leading up to, and laying a foundation for, correcting their use of the gifts in their public services.
Vs. 1-3 So what do you have here? How can you curse Jesus without knowing it, thinking you were led by the Spirit? This is my take on what Paul seems to be saying.
When the Corinthians were unbelieving, regardless of the sincerity or piety of their emotions, regardless of their Jewishness, they were led by those emotions to worship idols (Rom. 2:22). Emotion does not equal accurate worship. Apparently then, some people under the influence of emotion, were speaking in tongues, and others who knew the language where hearing them curse Jesus. In the same way, it is only by the Spirit that a person can speak in tongues and praise God. Emotion does not equal worship, even in the church.
Apparently the gift of tongues was going to seed in this church, and Paul will correct this emphasis on tongues. This will become very, very clear in chapter 14.
Vs. 4-11 What point do you think Paul is making in this section? Underline the word "Spirit."
Notice the progression in verses 4-6 and what is attributed to each member of the Trinity. Think about these because they are different. If you can't see differences, look at John 5:20 and Romans 15:8 for some ideas.
Vs. 12-13 The "for" in verse 12 is the application or concluding or summarizing of what Paul has just said.
You can imagine that as divided as the Corinthians were around their "heroes" like Paul, and Apollos and Peter, the gifts must have given them fits. Especially since they didn't have any choice which gifts God gave to them.
Vs. 14-20 Notice in this first example of division over gifts, pride is not the primary issue, but self pity. What do you do if you’re a successful CEO but you didn't get a gift of teaching or spiritual administration and you thought you should have? What do you do if you're good looking and think you should be a hand, but you're a toe? What if you have great opinions, but God didn't choose you to be a prophet? Since Paul addresses this first, it might have been the primary problem.
V. 18 So it wasn't evolution after all. God put all the organs where He chose. Actually I think it's pretty cool that we don't sit on our brains.
Vs. 21-26 Now we have the example of pride. Without the heart, the mouth stops and the hand falls. Actually, the heart is pretty useless without veins. And mess up a couple of those DNA couplings and you've got major vein problems. Who is to say what gifts are unnecessary. It's interesting that in God's blessing to Nehemiah, everyone was "working properly."
V. 24-26 This is true of the body and of the church. We noticed in Nehemiah how important it was to have a leader, but it was just as important for everyone to work together and do their part.
Up to now we all agree with this analogy that the Spirit and Paul have given us. But here's the question. Why are the gifts given and what is the body supposed to do? Bodies work, and that makes the working of the parts important. If the body just sits there, watching TV, who cares? What is important for is that the body of Christ is working in the harvest. Without His purpose and passion working in us as disciples in the harvest , this teaching on gifts is all theoretical and academic and totally eludes us.
Psalm 36
So, verses 1-4 seem to stand together and verses 5-10 stand together, with verses 11 and 12 being a plea for deliverance and justice. How would you title 1-4 and how do you think they relate or move into 5-10? What is the difference between these two men, if you want to see it like that?
In a way it sort of reminds me of the flow of Psalm 119: I'm surrounded by troubles and enemies and rats, but I set my mind to meditate upon Your word and find my joy in You.
Since the psalms are songs, how about this one from Third Day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEF7IoQ3eUk&ob=av2n
Proverbs 21:21-22
When I saw these two proverbs together, it made me think that wisdom and righteousness are true strength. So what about the city of the mighty and the stronghold? How do the wise in Christ do this?
Romans 12:19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 20 No, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
I guess you would call that, "The Art of War" in the Harvest.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.
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