Hadassah (continued)

“When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry. . .” Esther 4:1 KJV

“. . .and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people. And Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said. Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say, “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law–to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.” And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:7-14 ESV

Okay, so undoing Mordecai’s disobedience of the king, his not reverencing Haman, is now the responsibility of Hadassah? Oh, that’s right, we are not considering Mordecai to have disobeyed, but to simply have obeyed G-d. So it is G-d that has made a mess that Hadassah must risk her life to turn around, right? Why? Why ever would G-d cause a situation in which His own people would be put into harm’s way? As I see it, G-d’s people were already in harm’s way. And it was just a matter of time that something else would have triggered a massacre of His people. G-d foresaw it coming, prepared people in the right places. Look at what Mordecai tells Hadassah: “Who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

G-d is wise. We try. One thing I notice throughout the Bible is that G-d has the end in sight. He has a plan. And as rough as it is for me to take, G-d allows suffering if it produces what is necessary for G-d’s plan to succeed, for G-d to succeed. For if G-d succeeds, we succeed. He is our Victory. His Victory, is our victory. It can be no other way. We are too short-sighted. We haven’t the end in sight. We live too much in the present. Oh, sure, that’s what the New Age is all about—living in the present, not the past, not the future. And certainly, in some instances this may seem prudent. But we must have hope, and G-d’s Victory is our True Hope.

We must remember that in taking a look at various scriptures within the Book of Esther, or any Book of the Bible, it is easy to loose sight of the whole picture. Esther shows us there is persecution of those who would belief the One Lord, the One G-D. And we are shown that in the end, the Goodness of G-d prevails against His enemies. That’s right. Haman isn’t just the enemy of G-d’s people; Haman is the enemy of G-d. As I’ve said, and say again, G-d is Victorious. We are victorious in Him. Thank G-d for Y’shuaJesus, through Whom we come to G-d, the Father, and have right to be called Sons and Daughters of the Living, Holy G-d.

Still curious about connivance? Maybe next time. And remember the military academy cadet? Perhaps we shall discuss this event, too.

Until then, let us keep the Feast, and think of the Feast with Y’shua to come. Maranatha, Lord, Maranatha!

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

The Feast of Purim; Sundown Tonight

“Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually, because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.” Esther 9:20-22

Home made Haman's ear (Photo credit: zeevveez)

Purim is celebrated by the reading of the Scroll of Esther, known in Hebrew as the Megillat Esther, which relates the basic story of Purim. Under the rule of King Ahashuerus, Haman, the King’s prime minister, plots to exterminate all of the Jews of Persia. His plan is foiled by Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai, who ultimately save the Jews of the land from destruction. The reading of the megillah is typically a rowdy affair, punctuated by booing and noise-making when Haman’s name is read aloud.

Purim is an unusual holiday in many respects. First, Esther is the only Book of the Bible in which God is not mentioned. Second, Purim, like Chanukah, is viewed traditionally as a minor festival, but elevated to a major holiday as a result of the Jewish historical experience. Over the centuries, Haman became the embodiment of every anti-Semite in every land where Jews were oppressed. The significance in Purim lies not so much in how it began, but in what it has become – a thankful and joyous affirmation of Jewish survival against all odds.
This is from: http://urj.org/holidays/purim/

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Hadassah (continued)

Y’shuaJesus said: “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to G-d the things that are G-d’s.” Matthew 22:21

Y’shuaJesus offers a glimpse into the dilemma I threw out for thought: whether we are bound to follow completely the Apostle’s Paul’s command to obey rulers, as they are appointed by G-d, or follow only G-d, as if no other law existed to us, i.e., we are above the Earthly laws.

Driving yesterday, I thought that IF I were not bound by Earthly laws, but only those who do not know Y’shuaJesus, then I could go as fast as I wanted, not following the posted speed limit. I have yet so see a speed limit in the Bible. But I opted to get a driver’s license, agreed to follow the highway regulations. As such, I am bound to those regulations. Those regulations are not contrary to G-d’s Law, either. This, I believe, is the balance that we must achieve in following the Law of G-d and the law of man. We do not have the right to break a human-enacted law simply because we disagree with it. We also are not bound to follow, in fact are prohibited from following, any law that contradicts G-d’s Law. For as we have seen, through out history men who, once appointed ruler or leader, have abused, disused, rejected, G-d’s Laws.

So, Mordecai’s refusal to pay homage to Haman is obedience to G-d’s Law prohibiting idolatry. And this doesn’t contradict what the Apostle Paul commanded regarding obeying leaders and rulers. At least we must consider that Paul would not contradict G-d’s Law, else he condemn himself when he condemned others bringing false teaching.

Balance. Achieved!

For Mordecai, it was fairly cut and dry. A no brainer, as they say here.

Now how do we respond to this: Many years ago, at a military academy in Wisconsin, a ninth-grade cadet stood at attention, tears running down his cheeks. The counselor before whom he stood wanted an answer for why the cadet would not bow down to the Homecoming Football as it was paraded around the school. The young man told the counselor that it was wrong to bow before anything, for it was idol worship, and against the Law of G-d. The counselor explained that it was just a game, and not real worship. So it’s okay!

If that had been you, how would you have reacted, and acted in the future?

Lord willing, we shall move into connivance next time.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Haddasah (continued)

“Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king’s laws, so that it is not to the king’s profit to tolerate them.” Esther 3:8

Thinking last night about Mordecai’s disobedience of the king’s edict, I reread Matthew Henry’s comment: “The religion of a Jew forbade him to give honours to any mortal man which savoured of idolatry, especially to so wicked a man as Haman.” So Mordecai’s obedience to the Lord sets him at odds with Hamman, setting the stage for reprisals toward all Jews. Now consider what Paul commands the believers in Rome: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. (Romans 13:1,2)

You can see where I’m going with this, right? Here is a man who resists authority, yet rather than incurring judgement, he is rewarded, and all Jews living in the king’s realm are receive a reprieve from a death sentence. Okay, I suppose one explanation might be that Mordecai’s disobedience resulted in all of G-d’s people being under condemnation, which G-d could not have happen. So, G-d had to rescue all his people. But would G-d still allow Mordecai to receive eventual honor, despite his violation of the law of the kingdom? Perhaps Mordecai should not have disobeyed; maybe he should have honored Haman. That would have appeased Haman. What do you think? Does appeasement of evil really work? Or does it merely postpone the inevitable confrontation between good and evil, light and dark?

You’ve had Pastor Youcef on your heart, and in your prayers. Perhaps he felt he must stand up and protest the teaching of a religion to which he was not a member. He needed to be an example and a protective shepherd of a flock to which The Lord gave him charge. But according to Apostle Paul, G-d appointed the rulers of Iran, and to their authority all must defer. Is that correct?

Digest that for a minute or two.

Now let’s look at another possible scenerio. Perhaps G-d appoints rulers over those to whom He is not known. And we, as His children-by-adoption, are exempt from the authority of humans. We are subject to a greater Authority. We are directly subject to the Master and Creator of the Universe. There are no intermediaries, except Y’shuaJesus, who makes a relationship with the Father possible. Perhaps. But that does sound a bit arrogant. And, of course, we’ve never been accused of being holier-than-thou, arrogant, pompous, fools, have we? There are many opposed to the Truth, to the Lord. They persecute those whom they perceive as close to the Truth. They really are jealous of us, however. They can’t accept the Truth, so condemn it.

There are some ideas that I have that might place us somewhere between blindly following the Earthly kings of the land, and the shunning all Earthly authority saying we are following the commands of G-d. I also want to speak about something that C.S. Lewis wrote about: connivance. But we shall begin that next week.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Hadassah (continued)

“. . . Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage. . .” Esther 3:5

The dissent of Mordecai is a passive, non-violent form. It is a refusal to obey edicts or laws contrary to Scripture. He did not protest openly an edict, or law. In Iran, today, a pastor is in jail for openly protesting a law. According to Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), (see article here) “Youcef Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old pastor from Rasht, about 750 miles northwest of Tehran, was arrested in October 2009 after he protested a government policy that required children, including his 8- and 9-year-old sons, to study the Quran in school.”

Recently, VOM contacts told VOM “the chief justice in Gilan province told Youcef’s lawyers last week (Jan. 16, 2012) that if Youcef repents, he will be released. Youcef told his attorneys repenting means leaving Christianity to return to Islam. He said it was impossible for him to “return” to Islam, since he was never Muslim.

“Our contacts write, “Because of your prayers and concerns, the regime is afraid to issue a negative verdict, and yet they do not want to release him…”

“Please continue to surround Youcef with your prayers. Pray that the chief justice will have a change of heart.”

Pastor Youcef objected to a law. He protested that law. That’s different from not obeying a law, right? Perhaps he could have just let things go along quietly. Perhaps. But what of Mordecai? All he did was to disobey, and that got him in trouble with Hamman. Had G-d not intervened, Mordecai and most of G-d’s people would have been executed. And G-d’s intervention included active work by Mordecai. More thoughts on that later.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Hadassah

“And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury.

“But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.” Esther 3:5-6

Matthew Henry Comments on Esther 3:4
“Mordecai refused to reverence Haman. The religion of a Jew forbade him to give honours to any mortal man which savoured of idolatry, especially to so wicked a man as Haman. By nature all are idolaters; self is our favourite idol, we are pleased to be treated as if every thing were at our disposal. Though religion by no means destroys good manners, but teaches us to render honour to whom honour is due, yet by a citizen of Zion, not only in his heart, but in his eyes, such a vile person as Haman was, is contemned, Psalms 15:4. The true believer cannot obey edicts, or conform to fashions, which break the law of God. He must obey God rather than man, and leave the consequences to him. Haman was full of wrath. His device was inspired by that wicked spirit, who has been a murderer from the beginning; whose enmity to Christ and his church, governs all his children.”

As we approach the Feast of Purim, I have Hadassah on my mind. As with all scripture, if we take the time, if we seek the leading of the Spirit of G-d, we shall gain much. As the Apostle Paul wrote:

“. . .the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:15-17.

Now Hadassah and Mordecai lived during the Exile between 483BC and 471BC. They, as all Jews in exile, were unable to worship in the Temple. They began to gather together for teaching, prayer, and mutual encouragement. As we see in the Book of Esther, G-d makes a way for His people to assemble if we really want to learn about Him, praise Him, worship Him, and grow in His Ways.

Let’s think about that, and return together Wednesday.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Eve of Destruction

“For this is what the LORD says: ‘Just as I have brought all this great disaster on these people, so am I about to bring on them all the good I am promising them.’ ” (Jeremiah 32:42 HCSB)

If pictures are worth a thousand words, songs are worth a thousand pictures. There’s a saying that tells that the Welsh were not born with silver spoons in their mouths, but poetry raging through their veins, and music filling their hearts. And I know African’s are the same as the Welsh. And being Welsh, myself, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if I turn often to music, and song lyrics.

Barry McGuire sung the S.F. Sloan song Eve of Destruction with a loud, poetic voice, exposing all sorts of heinous things taking place in our world. In one verse he pleads

Don’t you understand, what I’m trying to say?
Now, Can’t you feel the fears that I’m feeling today?
If the button is pushed, there’s no running away,
There’ll be no one to save with the world in a grave,
Take a look around you, boy, it’s bound to scare you, boy,
And you tell me over and over and over again my friend,
Ah, you don’t believe we’re on the eve of destruction.

On one internet site that has the lyrics, a man commented: “The song is a grave warning of imminent apocalypse, and considered by some to be the epitome of a protest song. It expressed the frustrations and fears of young people in the age of the Cold War, Vietnam, the nuclear arms race, and the civil rights movement.”

Yes, the song was written in July 1965. That was 47 years ago. I was sixteen, in high school, and not too concerned with the world outside my peaceful life in rural California. It took a few years for me to see that truly we were on a road toward destruction. The most important question then, as too often now, is “When is the coming destruction?” When Y’shuaJesus pointed out that the beautiful Temple in Jerusalem would soon be torn down, the disciples followed with the same question, and also wanted to know the signs of the Lord’s return.

Since the time the song was written, sung, and listened to around the world, many, many destructions have taken place. We’ve seen countries rise to great levels of economic opportunity only to collapse into utter ruin and despair. We’ve seen wars, and heard rumors of wars. There have been earthquakes, floods, drought, famine. So far these destructions, as devastating as they have been, have been localized and regionalized. Destruction has not engulfed the Earth entirely, and at one time. Yet we’ve sung these lyrics for nearly half of a decade.

Today, on the internet, in various gathering places throughout the world there are those, Christian and not, crying out that we are on the Eve of Destruction. And just as many voices return with their own cries of denial. I submit to you, that since day one of the Jewish calendar 5770 years ago, we have been on the road, sitting on the very Eve of Destruction. And yet it hasn’t happened. At least not yet! How then shall we act? How then shall we go on? I believe the words of the Lord through Jeremiah point to our proper response, to our beneficial attitude: “Just as I have brought all this great disaster on these people, so am I about to bring on them all the good I am promising them.”(Jeremiah 32:42 HCSB)

Yes, there is hope. Yes, though things fall apart, there is life and joy after. When the Lord brings destruction, and we, His people are affected, He showers us with great things in the aftermath. It is terrible for those who fail to heed His admonishment! And worse for those who fall away, those who are lead away, for they will find no such reward. We, then, have the hope of Noah, who settled the Earth after the flood. We, then, have the hope of Rahab, who survived the destruction of Jericho. We have the hope in the form of a promise from our Lord and Savior, Y’shua, who said He would never leave us alone. He lived with us, died for us, rose from the dead and sent His Spirit to fill us until His return in glory. Master. Savior. Lord. G-d.

So as the world ignores the warnings, and as some who see them freak totally out, we who are True-Born Believers in the Hope of Messiah NOW. Remember Rahab after the destruction of Jericho: “So the young men who had scouted went in and brought out Rahab and her father, mother, brothers, and all who belonged to her. They brought out her whole family and settled them outside the camp of Israel.” (Joshua 6:23 HCSB)

There is HOPE!

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Contend for the Faith (jonahzsong.wordpress.com)

The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him

“The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, who hope in His mercy.” (Psalms 147:11 MKJV)

Frequently I marvel at the notion that G-d, the Creator of the universe and all that is within it, takes pleasure in His people, takes pleasure in me. Does He take pleasure in my way upon Earth, in yiur way upon Earth? Does He take pleasure in our journey as we fumble around trying to find Him?

At church (Carbondale AG, Tulsa, OK) Pastor Phil spoke on G-d’s exceeding love of His people and His choosing us. Pastor Phil said that we use the term “accepting Christ” but that in reality it is G-d who accepts us after we repent and believe.

Even in our belief, it is actually a G-d-enabled belief. G-d chooses us. In this love, G-d takes pleasure in us, for He created us.

How far can I take the notion—idea? Can I call it an understanding of G-d’s pleasure in us? At the minimum, the result of G-d’s pleasure and choosing us is that I didn’t earn it, so can’t loose it. There is the freedom in Christ not to fear. Furthermore, I didn’t earn it, so can’t take pride that I merit the relationship as child of G-d. I was chosen not for my merit, not to earn continued favor, but simply through G-d’s infinite mercy, His love.

In the Psalm “The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him. . .,” fear is better thought of as awe. G-d is awesome. Yes, Y’shuaJesus is our friend and we are free to speak with Him, to say anything. We are free to bare our soul to Him. Why not tell Him our secrets. He knows them anyway. But Y’shuaJesus is G-d. As such, our souls must leap for joy at His presence while also retreating in awe. Have you ever heard someone say, “When I get to Heaven I’m gonna ask Jesus. . .” this or that. I can assure you, when in the presence of Y’shuaJesus you will have nothing to say. On the contrary, you will place Your crowns at His feet, soul trembling in love and adoration—speechless.

Now given that The LORD, The Creator of the universe, takes pleasure in us, we have our life and significance. I like the word significance. It means I am okay as I am. I have value. Today. I am of value not in what I’ve worked for, not for any position in our society—or lack of it—but simply through being chosen and being a child of G-d.

There is FREEDOM. Thank G-d for His great mercy. Praise the LORD for His love and caring. He continues creating us, taking pleasure in us. He is, after all, the potter. . .

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

We are Ready!

“His Divinity has granted to us everything toward life and piety, through the knowledge of Him Who called us by His Own glory and excellence.”(2 Peter 1:3 MRC)

His Divinity? El-shaddai, G-d all-sufficient! To whom did He grant everything necessary for life and piety, which is holiness? To us, thanks be to G-d! How is this done? It is through the Knowledge of Him Who called us. Who called us? El-shaddai, G-d all-sufficient!

It sounds circular. It is. We awake in the morning and experience another day followed by a night. The Earth turns. It revolves. After 365 of these revolutions, circles, the Earth completes its circle around the sun. And as the Earth revolves around the Sun, we have seasons. We have Spring, followed by Summer and Fall, followed by Winter, which returns us to Spring.

We are called into this circular existence by El-shaddai, G-d all-sufficient! Our lives begin with El-shaddai. Our lives exist in El-shaddai. El-shaddai is the center. Things will not fall apart for those whose center is El-shaddai, G-d all-sufficient.

Here, in Georgia, USA, it’s raining today. It’s raining hard. I think of Noah on such days. What if Noah awoke one morning, Ark nearly completed, but not fully, and it was raining. Would he get up, scared, and run out to work on the Ark? I don’t think he’d be scared. He knew the One Who called him. El-shaddai, G-d all-sufficient. Noah must have known, if it were raining, then he’d certainly get done before the flood. How? El-shaddai, all-sufficient!

Like Noah, we are involved a project, or perhaps many projects. These are a bit like our houses. Perhaps we?ve not finished the roof or its repair, and we see storm clouds gathering, warning of rain. FEAR NOT! Where we are, we are, and He is our center. To us it is written: ”And from his fullness we have all received grace upon grace.” (John 1:16 ESV) and as was said to Paul, is said to us, ”My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV) Where I am, I am. When the storm arrives, I’ll be where I need to be. El-shaddai, G-d all-sufficient.

And how is it that we come to the knowledge of El-shaddai, G-d all-sufficient? Make no mistake, we only know G-d through our Savior, our Lord Y?shuaJesus. ”I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” said Y’shuaJesus. (John 14:6 ESV) The Father, El-shaddai.

We must NEVER forget Who called us. El-shaddai, G-d all-sufficient!

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

A Foolish Hope?

Cover of "Preaching the Cross (Together f... — Cover via Amazon

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

The Cross. A powerful symbol. And in recent years the Cross has become quite controversial. I’ve lamented in the past at the growing number of churches that do not display a cross on their buildings. I’ve also shared my growing excitement at the number of large crosses placed near highways. Even as the church seems to be growing colder and colder, there are still numbers of people committed to the Cross as an expression of their faith. It reminds me of Elijah telling G-d, “Hey, I’m that last of the good guys here, and they want to kill me!” Pardon my paraphrasing. How did G-d reply? Yup. Elijah isn’t alone, there are true-born followers of G-d, hidden, cared for. . .

But in all this, do you ever wonder why we seem to be the losers here? When Paul tells of his successes he always says he was persecuted, beaten, rejected. And all for he cause of preaching the cross. In order to move on, to live in this world, there is a constant battle engaging the human senses. There are distractions. We seem to get beat down and begin to lose our hope. And often it comes in the form of an offer for help.

The other day a man took his son to the doctor. The boy complained of an ear ache, which the doctor said was only congestion. What the doctor did then was to tell the father and son all about a particular series of shots that will prevent a sexually transmitted disease. Among the various statistics that the doctor cited was one that said without the shots there was a 70% chance of contracting cancer or other nasty diseases related this human papillomavirus (HPV). The doctor said that even if the boy were to actually find a virgin to marry, the chance the girl was free of HPV was very slim. No hope in this world. No hope for a virus-free girl. No hope.

Our hope is in the Lord Y’shuaJesus. We are the losers of this world. We don’t go along with the world. We really don’t fit in it. The world doesn’t like that, either. The world doesn’t like the Cross, for it is a powerful symbol of resurrection from the dead, of life after death to G-d’s people, to G-d’s chosen ones. Paul says the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. They are dying. The will stay eternally out of the presence of G-d the Father, Y’shuaJesus, Holy Spirit. To us, the true-born believers, the saved, the Cross is the power of G-d to redeem our lives, to give us crowns of His Joy and His Peace. And this happens in His time.

Does that mean there is no hope during our lives on Earth? I think with our hope in our Lord, with our relationship with Him, we have struggles and temptations and trouble, yes, but we certainly also have blessings from Him. We are to seek first the Kingdom of G-d. Then let G-d’s Kingdom bless us.

Lord, have mercy upon us! Amen.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

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