Reading for August 20
Esther 8:1-10:3
This completes yet another book. Yay.
Wow, the story turns sour. So once King Xerxes lifted the decree on the eradication of the Jews, guess what the Jews did? They started killing people. It says that they killed anyone they didn't like, and did whatever they pleased to them. This was reported to Esther and Xerxes. Now, based on the New Testament teachings - how would you like Esther to respond to this scenario? My vote would be for "Hey! Lay off the killing, morons! We just got out of persecution. Do you think you could lay low for at least a little bit?" But what does she actually do? She convinced Xerxes to issue a command to kill more people - including Haman's ten sons - they were to be hanged. That's cold, man.
My friend, Andy often says that the events of the Old Testament are written as they were, not as they should have been. And this is the case here. A story that is so full of hope and perseverance and "doing the right thing" is completely besmirched by a violence-begets-violence conclusion.
I can almost taste God's disappointment.
1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13
The most popular Bible passage for wedding ceremonies. "Love is patient, love is kind..." - but I've never seen it in it's proper context. In last night's reading, Paul wrote about how we all have unique gifts with which to serve God, and no one should feel less important because they're job is a little less flashy, or if their wallets don't burst cuz all of the cashy. (Patrick Swift reference) - so now he is laying out love in the context of each of our gifts:
1If I speak in the tongues[c] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[d] but have not love, I gain nothing.Love is the cornerstone and foundation of everything. Each job that each of us has is rooted in love. We must all start at that base level, and then work our way up to the more detailed aspects. "But what is love?" you may ask - well, Paul answers:
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.These are the qualities you should be striving for each day when you go about whatever it is you go about doing. Whether its your job, your school, your kids, your family, your enemies - base every task and every relationship in love and allow that to guide your decisions and actions.
8Love never fails.
Psalm 37:1-11
I think the last time around, I went off on a tangent about verse 4:
1 [a] Do not fret because of evil menSaying that there is a misconception that the relationship between us and God is only beneficial to us. That we only follow the rules, so to speak, so we can get things that we want. And I think verses like this one help to support that misconception. What I think the true meaning is that when you start to follow God, your desires change. You no longer want that PS4 or that lifetime supply of chicken sandwiches, you want good relationships, you want to help people, you want to make a difference. Those are the desires of the heart that I believe David was talking about here.
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Proverbs 21:23-24
23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself from calamity.
24 The proud and arrogant man-"Mocker" is his name;
he behaves with overweening pride.
Great great. Have a good night, kids.
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