10/20/2011 9:02:02 AM
SPIRITUAL DIARY
My Worship Time Focus: Exaltation: the fame of Mordecai
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Ester 10:1-3
Message of the verses: “1 ¶ Now King Ahasuerus laid a tribute on the land and on the coastlands of the sea. 2 And all the accomplishments of his authority and strength, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia? 3 For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews and in favor with his many kinsmen, one who sought the good of his people and one who spoke for the welfare of his whole nation.”
We come to the end of this wonderful book of Ester by looking at the very short tenth chapter that gives more details of Mordecai and what he accomplished for the Jewish people and also for the Persian Kingdom.
Some wonder why verse one speaks of a new tax that was put on the Persian people. Some believe that this new system was brought about by Mordecai in order to help the Persian Kingdome receive money from its people as a substitute for war and plunder. This may be the case, but we don’t know for sure as after looking at other commentaries there does not seem to be an agreement.
I find it interesting that in verse two we see the same language used that was used in the books of 1 & 2 Kings and 1 & 2 Chronicles at the end of the life of one of the Jewish kings. I don’t know what this means other than perhaps the person who wrote this book read those other books too.
At this point I wish to quote the last two chapters from Dr. Wiersbe commentary “Be Committed” as and ending to this book of Ester: “The exciting drama of Ester is over, but the blessings go right on. God preserved the Jewish nation so that we today can have a Bible and a Savior. Now it’s our job to tell the whole world about this Savior and seek to win as many as we can to the Lord. We are the King’s couriers, and we dare not fail.
“Ester reaches across the centuries to join hands with believers today, and to say to the church: Be Committed.”
Spiritual meaning for my life today: One of the things that I have seen in this book that has pricked my heart, along with a sermon that I heard last Sunday evening at First Baptist Church of Elyria, Ohio was how believers are to support those who are in office. I have mentioned from time to time that I am not at all in agreement with the present President and Vice President, and yet if I understand my duty as a believer I am to pray for them, for after all it was God who appointed them to this office, and I can be sure that they will bring glory to God. I only have to think of Pharaoh and how he brought glory to God to understand that even though I am in disagreement with those in office now that they will do the same. I would suppose that many believers are in the same situation that I am in and find it hard to pray for those in office now, but I will begin to do this and ask for strength and wisdom in order to accomplish this.
In the next SD I begin the book of Job which is the first book in the Old Testament Wisdom and Poetry section of God’s Word. This also will begin the next Bible Commentary in Dr. Warren Wiersbe’s series and as always I am looking forward to do this.
My Steps of Faith for Today:
1. Pray for those in authority over me.
2. Put on the whole armor of God, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, take up the shield of faith, put on the helmet of salvation, and take up the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.
3. Continue to learn contentment.
10/20/2011 9:44:33 AM
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