Esther 9
Enemies of Jews afraid of Mordecai verse 1- 4
Now in the twelfth month – that is the month Adar
on the thirteenth day of the same – when the king’s commandment
and his decree drew near to be put in execution
in the day that the enemies of the Jews
hoped to have power over them
(though it was turned to the contrary – that the Jews had rule over
them that hated them)
The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities
throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus
to lay hand on such as sought their hurt
and no man could withstand them
for the fear of them fell upon all people
And all the rulers of the provinces – and the lieutenants – and the deputies
and officers of the king – HELPED the Jews
BECAUSE the fear of Mordecai fell on them
FOR Mordecai was great in the king’s house
and his fame went out throughout all the provinces
FOR this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater
Sons of Haman killed verse 5- 10
Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword
and slaughter – and destruction – and did what they would to
those that hated them
And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men
and Parshandatha – Dalphon – Aspatha – Poratha – Adalia – Aridatha
Parmashta – Arisai – Aridai – Vajezatha
the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha
the enemy of the Jews – slew they
BUT on the spoil laid they not their hand
King offered Esther more verse 11- 12
On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace
was brought before the king
And the king
said to Esther the queen
The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan
the palace – and the ten sons of Haman
What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces?
Now what is your petition? – and it shall be granted you
or what is your request further? – and it shall be done
Esther asked for another day for Jews verse 13
Then said Esther
IF it please the king – let it be granted to the Jews which are in
Shushan to do tomorrow also according to this day’s decree
and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows
Jews killed more men in capital verse 14- 15
And the king commanded it so to be done
and the decree was given at Shushan
and they hanged Haman’s ten sons
For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together
on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar
and slew three hundred men at Shushan
BUT on the prey they laid not their hand
Annual festival established verse 16- 19
BUT the other Jews that were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves
together – and stood for their lives
and had rest from their enemies
and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand
BUT they laid not their hands on the prey
On the thirteenth day of the month Adar
and on the fourteenth day of the same RESTED they
and made it a day of feasting and gladness
BUT the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together
on the thirteenth day thereof – on the fourteenth thereof
on the fifteenth day of the same they RESTED
and made it a day of feasting and gladness
THEREFORE the Jews of the villages – that dwelt in the unwalled towns
made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and
feasting – and a good day and of sending portions one to another
Mordecai established guidelines for feast of Purim verse 20- 22
And Mordecai wrote these things – and sent letters unto all the Jews that
were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus – both nigh and far
to establish this among them – that they should keep the
fourteenth day of the month Adar and the fifteenth
day of the same – yearly
as the days wherein the Jews RESTED from their enemies
and the month which was turned to them
from sorrow to joy
and from mourning into a good day
that they should make them days of
feasting and joy
and of sending portions one to another
and gifts to the poor
A casting of lots is called Pur verse 23- 25
And the Jews undertook to do as Mordecai had written to them
BECAUSE Haman the son of Hammedatha – the Agagite
the enemy of all the Jews – had devised against the Jews
to destroy them and had cast Pur – that is – the lot
to consume them – to destroy them
BUT when Esther came before the king
he commanded by letters that his wicked device
which he devised against the Jews
should return on his own head
that he and his sons should be hanged
on the gallows
Remembering the work of the LORD verse 26- 28
WHEREFORE they called these days Purim
after the name of Pur
THEREFORE for all the words of this letter
and of that which they had seen concerning this manner
and which had come unto them – the Jews ordained
and took on them – and on their seed
and upon such as joined themselves unto them so as it
should not fail
that they would keep these two days according to their writing
according to their appointed time every year
And that these days should be remembered and kept
throughout every generation every family – every province
every city
that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews
nor the memorial of them perish from their seed
Esther and Mordecai wrote letter verse 29- 32
THEN Esther the queen – the daughter of Abihail – and Mordecai the Jew
wrote with all authority – to confirm this second letter of Purim
And he sent the letters to all the Jews
to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus
with words of peace and truth – to confirm these days of Purim
in their times appointed – according as Mordecai the Jew
and Esther the queen had enjoined them
and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed
the matters of the FASTINGS and their CRY
And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim
and it was written in the book
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near the Jews hoped to have power over them, (thought it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;) (8130 “hated” [sane’] means to scorn, decrease in status, enemy, a person who hates another person or thing, be unable, dislike, or be unloved)
DEVOTION: Hope is something that all of us need in life. Here we find that those who didn’t love the LORD had the hope that they could destroy the people of God in the Old Testament. They wanted to kill all the Jews because of the hatred of Haman for the Jews.
We have talked about why Haman hated the Jews so much. It was because his relatives back to Esau hated the descendants of Jacob or Israel because he stole the blessing and birthright from Esau. It was a family feud that never seemed to end. Hatred is something that only the LORD can take out of the lives of those who have it when they allow HIM to do so.
Now we find that hundreds of years later the hatred was real and it was going tocause killing without reason. So the enemies of Israel were ready to kill them because of this old family feud and just jealously because the Jews had possessions that the rest didn’t have. It was greed on the part of the enemies.
Today it is the same in some locations in our world. There is jealousy over what the believers in Jesus Christ have that they don’t have. We are to have hope which the rest of the world doesn’t have to the same measure. We have blessing when we are faithful that they see in our lives. They see the joy we are to have in the LORD and want it without HIM. It doesn’t happen that way.
So when they think they have the upper hand on believers they are disappointed because the LORD intervenes. The people in the nation of Persia were surprised to find a Jew receiving permission to overpower their enemies by the king.
Many claimed to be Jews at the time but only those who genuinely converted were followers of God. Most were just reacting to the times and would later change back to their old habits of hating God’s people.
CHALLENGE: Remember our God can change circumstances overnight. Look to HIM for guidance through your prayer life. HE will give you victory over any circumstance.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 10 The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand. (961 “spoil” [bizzah] means plunder, valuables taken by violence, booty, pillage, what is stolen or robbed in a military conflict as the spoils of war, usually from the civilian population)
DEVOTION: One of the facts that is repeated throughout this chapter is that the Jews didn’t take any of the possessions of their enemies. They were not interested in money or possessions but their lives.
The LORD gave them an opportunity to kill their enemies who were going to kill them if they could. Now the tables were turned and the Jews had the king’s authority to deal with their enemies. They knew who the ones were that were going to use Haman’s decree to kill them. They were only interested in saving their own lives which the LORD gave them opportunity to do.
Today we are not living in the same type of nation but the LORD can still preserve us from those who want to hurt us just because we are HIS children. We need to realize that HE can still overcome even our enemies that want to hurt us today.
Our interest also needs to not be jealous of what those who are outside of Christ have but what we can offer them which is the Biblical plan of salvation if they are willing to listen to the message.
Money will only be needed here and not in eternity. We are to put our treasures in the heavenly home that is prepared for us for eternity. Are your treasures in heaven or in the local bank or in your other possessions? Don’t put your trust or hope in earthly treasures.
The Jews didn’t take this occasion to collect possessions. They walked away from them.
CHALLENGE: Sometimes we might think that if we had a little bit more we could serve the LORD better. That is a lie from the enemy – the devil. Don’t listen!!!
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: 16 But the other Jews that were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey. (5975 “stood” [‘amad] means to take a defensive fighting position, to go up before, to stand in position, to stand firm, or be in a standing attitude)
DEVOTION: It is not easy to take a stand before a nation that thought it should destroy every person who was a Jew. The orders had gone out for all the Jews to be killed and then because of Esther those orders were changed to help the Jews defend themselves against their enemies with the blessing of the king.
It is quite a contrast in a couple of day. Their enemy Haman was dead. Now their enemies who wished them dead were dead themselves. It is quite a turn of events but the LORD is able to do this even today.
When the people of God think that all is lost they need to make sure that they turn to the LORD in prayer and ask HIM for wisdom and then watch HIM work. HE doesn’t always work in this way but HE knows what is best for HIS people and HE will honor their requests if it is according to HIS will.
We are presently living in a time period that seems to be one that is against everything the Bible stands for regarding our society. It is moving further and further away from Biblical truth even in America.
We know that the end times are supposed to be ones where Christians are going to be persecuted for their beliefs and we see this in many nations around the world. It seems that some governments condone the killing of Christians because their nation doesn’t believe in the God of the Bible.
There are even nations that don’t believe in any god and especially don’t want any people in their land believing in the God of the Bible. This causes much heartache for people who are genuine believers.
If Christians in these nations have to worship in secret and in fear of being caught and killed it makes their faith one that is genuine and something that should be spread to others in the nation quietly.
We live in a nation in America where we can still share our faith most of the time. There are many would like to take the freedom of speech away from any group that doesn’t hold to the standard that is found in other sections of our society.
CHALLENGE: Our responsibility is to share our faith in love to all those what we know and are willing to listen to the message of salvation found only in Jesus.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. (2015 “turned” [haphak] means overthrow, overturn, to change, or transform)
DEVOTION: Can circumstances really change? How can they change? The LORD caused things to change for the Jews in the kingdom of Persia. One day they were going to be killed by their enemies with no hope of survival and the next they were the ones killing their enemies. What a difference a day makes because the LORD is control of every circumstance.
How many of us would like a change of circumstances? Here was an occasion in the history of the people of God where the circumstances changed for their good. They had a time of sorrow changed into a time of JOY. The LORD is good. The LORD is with HIS people throughout history.
The enemies of the Jews were killed. These were the ones who wanted to kill them. Many people became Jews because of this time period in history. The Jews RESTED.
This word happens throughout this chapter. With the rest that they experienced also came with feasting, joy, and giving of gifts to others. It was a time of sharing their joy with others.
When the LORD gives us a change of circumstances, what do we do? Can the LORD do the impossible? Again, we need to remind ourselves that impossible situations can be changed or transformed by our LORD.
The Jews were in an impossible situation and yet the LORD transformed their sorrow to joy and their mourning into a good day. HE can do the same for us. We need to be yielded to HIS leading. We need to be willing to pray and fast. We need to tell everyone that it is in the LORD’S hands and leave it there.
We are doing our part by obedience. HE is doing HIS part. When we are blessed, we need to share that blessing with others and that is what the Jews did here. They send portions to others and gifts to the poor. Are we sharing our blessings?
One fact throughout the change of circumstance was that the Jews didn’t take any of the spoils. They left it to the king. They knew that the LORD was blessing them and they didn’t need any of the spoils. Too often we can think we need to get something from our enemies.
CHALLENGE: When circumstances change for us, we need to remember to help those who are less fortunate. The LORD wants us to be givers and not takers. The only one who can answer whether we are givers or takers is us.
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: 29 THEN Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew,
wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.(8633 “authority” [toqeph] means power, strength, energy, the power or right to give orders or make decisions, force, or governing might)
DEVOTION: Here we move from powerless to powerful. It is amazing how the LORD can put the right people in the right places at the right time to help HIS people. Timing is everything.
We have studied this book to see that Esther waited until the second day to ask the king for her request and the LORD opened the eyes of the king to his need to honor Mordecai between the two banquets of Esther. Some might think that it just happened but we know that the LORD has a plan and is working HIS plan perfectly from day to day. The plan HE has made was made before the foundation of the world. HE is never surprised by the actions of anything that happens in our world.
So, we find that Esther is given the power to establish a holiday for the Jews that the LORD didn’t give them in the wilderness. It is a time to remember how the LORD works in the lives of HIS people that they need to remember because when things are going bad, they can look back and see how the LORD worked a miracle through this queen at just the right moment in time.
HE can do the same today. If circumstances seem depressing, we need to remember that nothing surprises the LORD and HE is working HIS plan even in our lives and in our nation.
We are presently in a pagan nation where the LORD is being put out of our schools and not appreciated in our society but HE is not surprised. HE is doing HIS work through HIS people even during these times.
HE still has to use the authority, to change what is going on in our nation and world. Our prayers need to be used for a revival in our own hearts first and then in the church of Jesus Christ.
CHALLENGE: Do you believe in miracles even today? If so, pray for the LORD to send revival in your heart and then reach out to others. We are a protected people even today.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Jews to remember that deliverance came by
fasting and prayer verse 31
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Mordecai wrote letters verse 20, 23- 28
Second letter of Purim verse 29- 32
Feast of Purim was written in a book verse 32
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Esther and Jews to remember the cry (for help) verse 31
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
King Ahasuerus verse 1, 2, 11, 20, 25
Commandment & Decree to spare Jews
and give them power over their enemies
Enemies verse 1,5, 16, 22, 24
Helped the Jews verse 3
rulers, lieutenants, deputies
officers of the king
Haman verse 7- 10, 12, 14, 24, 25
Enemy of the Jews
Cast a lot – Pur – to kill Jews
Ten sons of Haman slain verse 7- 10, 12- 14, 25
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Hate verse 1, 5
Hurt verse 2
Devise verse 24, 25
Wicked verse 25
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Circumstances overcome verse 1
Fear of the LORD verse 2, 3
Stronger verse 4
Spoils not taken verse 10, 15, 16
Rested verse 17, 18, 22
Feasting verse 17- 19, 22
Gladness verse 17- 19
Turned from sorrow to joy verse 22
Turned from mourning to a good day verse 22
Gifts to the poor verse 22
Peace verse 30
Truth verse 30
Fasting verse 31
Cry [Prayer] verse 31
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Jews verse 1- 3, 5, 15- 19, 26- 28
Fear of them fell on all people
Helped by rulers, lieutenants, deputies
officers of the king
Smote their enemies
Killed 500 men in Shushan the palace
Gathered on 14th day of Adar and
slew 300 men in Shushan
Rest of Jews in provinces killed
75, 000
13 and 14 day of Adar rested and had day
of feasting and gladness
Jews in Shushan gathered 13- 15 day and rested
and made a day of feasting and gladness
Jews in villages made 14th day of Adar a day
Of gladness and feasting
Established Purim
Mordecai verse 3, 4, 20- 23, 29- 31
Great in the king’s house
Fame went throughout provinces
Great in the king’s house
Wrote letters to all Jews to keep 14th and 15th
day of Adar yearly as days of joy and
feasting and give gifts to poor
Sent letters to all Jews 127 provinces
with words of peace and truth
Esther the queen verse 12, 29- 32
King asked what was her new petition
Continue the decree one more day
Hang 10 sons of Haman on gallows
Confirmed these matters of Purim
Established feast of Purim verse 17- 21, 26- 32
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
9:29 “Full authority,” Hebrew tōqep, means “power” in 10:2 and Dan 11:17. The paragraph emphasizes that Queen Esther used her authority to help establish Purim. (Breneman, M. (1993). Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (electronic ed., Vol. 10, p. 366). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers)
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The feast of Purim, then, witnesses the nation’s gratitude, however feebly it may set forth their recognition that it was God Himself who had so wondrously made their affliction the occasion for His acting in grace.
“Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abi-hail” (Father of strength), “and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority to confirm this second letter of Purim. And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth, to confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed the matters of the fastings and their cry” (vers. 29–31). It is not likely that the name of God was left unmentioned in the publications they thus put forth, for “words of peace and truth” clearly connected the humiliation of the people and their fasting, with the deliverance God gave them at the end. “Their cry” is also mentioned. To whom could it be but to God? Were this narration of it then written by mere man, how natural would it have been to have added the words “to God” or “to the Lord.” But the pen of inspiration never errs. The One whose ways are perfect, is the real author of the book, whether Mordecai or some unknown one was the writer. (Loizeaux, P. J. (1921). Prefatory Note. In Notes on the Book of Esther (2d ed., pp. 113–114). New York: Loizeaux Bros.)
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The name “Purim” is the plural of the Babylonian word pur which means “lot.” It originates from Haman’s casting of lots to determine the day when the Jews would be destroyed (Es. 9:24; 3:7). Even though there was no divine sanction given to this new feast, the Jews determined that it would be celebrated from generation to generation (9:26–28). Note the emphasis on teaching the children the meaning of Purim so that the message of the feast would not be lost in future generations.
There is a godly patriotism that goes beyond mere nationalism and civic pride and gives glory to God for what He has done. To see the hand of God in history and praise God for His goodness and mercy, and to ask God to forgive us for our sins, is perhaps the best way for the Christian patriot to celebrate a national holiday. But dedication must follow celebration. The American political leader Adlai Stevenson said, “Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.” (Wiersbe, W. W. (1993). Be Committed (p. 160). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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The verb and noun appear three times each; the adjective is attested only once. Each of the three words has its corresponding cognate form in ot Aramaic and appears there with similar meanings. The Hebrew verb signifies “over-power,” whether God over man (Job 24:20), one man over another (Eccl 4:12), or distress and anguish over the wicked (Job 15:14). The noun refers to the “power” or “authority” of a kingdom (Dan 11:17) or a ruler (Est 9:29; 10:2). Commentators are generally agreed that the unexpressed subject of the adjective in Eccl 6:10 is God; the verse, then, emphasizes the fact that God is mightier than man. (Youngblood, R. F. (1999). 2542 תָּקֵף. R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed., p. 980). Chicago: Moody Press.)
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IL CONGRESS MEMBER SIGNS ONTO EFFORT TO REMOVE CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE FROM AMERICAN CULTURE
WASHINGTON DC – The name of a Congressional member that represents Illinois’ 6th CD – which includes what was once known as America’s center of Christian Evangelism, Wheaton College, where the late evangelist Billy Graham attended college – is included among a group demanding President Joe Biden and VP <![if !vml]>
<![endif]>Kamala Harris remove Christian influence from the nation’s culture.
“We urge you to lead our nation on a path that revives the Founders’ vision of religious freedom in our government and promotes a unifying patriotic pluralism—not dogmatic religious chauvinism—in American society,” states the Secular Democrats of America within a 28-page list of demands. “We believe that this is a moment not only to enact policies to advance constitutional secularism but to position the Democratic Party to take back the mantle of religious freedom and pluralism from the Republican Party.”
The document, presented to the Biden-Harris transition team by Representatives Jamie Raskin and Jared Huffman, was endorsed by Representative Jerry McNerney. Those three are listed as founding members of the Congressional Freethought Caucus – one of which is Illinois Congress member Sean Casten (IL-6).
The document calls on Biden to make the following changes:
Eliminate government support for all crisis pregnancy centers and all abstinence-only education programs in schools.
Deny free speech and religious liberty to select Americans based on their religious beliefs.
Incentivize states to strip parents of all non-medical exemptions to mandatory vaccinations for children in schools or daycare centers.
Remove “In God We Trust” from U.S. currency.
Repeal the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)
Rescind and replace the Trump DOJ’s federal protections for religious liberty.
Appoint an attorney general who will support governors whose emergency COVID-19 executive orders restrict gatherings at houses of worship.
Reverse the Trump administration policies that have allowed faith-based government-funded contractors to provide adoption and foster care services and work with Congress to pass the Every Child Deserves a Family Act.
Fully and robustly fund “comprehensive” sex education, which to the leftist means encouraging elementary and middle school-age children to declare themselves one of dozens of made-up non-biological gender identities and learn how to engage in various deviant forms of sex.
Work with governors to educate and combat Project Blitz and encourage the introduction of the Do No Harm Act at the state level. [Project Blitz is a pro-family lobbying group described by the Secular Democrats as “a coordinated effort by Christian Nationalists to inject religion into public education, attack reproductive healthcare, and undermine LGBTQ equality using a distorted definition of ‘religious freedom.’”
The document tells Biden: “We urge you to avoid invoking the phrase ‘Judeo-Christian values,’ as it has been weaponized by the religious right to advance an agenda that has the veneer of inclusivity but actually undermines religious freedom and tolerance and does not represent tens of millions of Americans implicitly excluded from its formulation.
For more information, see “Democrats Demanding Biden Clamp Down on Conservative Christians, Remove Them From Public Office and Re-educate Trump Voters”
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Amos 9
Israel’s sin must be judged, but God offers hope of restoration.
INSIGHT
God reveals a warning of judgment on Israel through visions to Amos. One vision is a plumb line which God says He will hold up against the “wall” of Jerusalem, and it will be demonstrated that the wall is leaning and will fall (Amos 7:7-9). Another vision is of summer fruit in a basket which, left unattended, will rot and be good only for throwing out (chapter 8). Famine, military conquest, and pestilence are among the consequences of judgment. Israel does not repent and judgment comes, but Amos holds out the promise of eventual restoration. (Quiet Walk)
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THE NAMES OF THE DEVIL
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.
Ephesians 2:2
What does the Bible tell us about the devil? First of all, let us consider some of the names that are applied to him in the Scriptures. He is referred to as “Satan,” and the word Satan means “adversary.” He is also referred to as “the devil,” and devil means “slanderer.” He is also described as “Beelzebub,” which means that he is the prince of the devils. He is described as “Apollyon” and as “the angel of the bottomless pit.” He is called “the prince of this world” and “the god of this world.” He is described as “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). He is referred to as “the dragon,” as a lion, as “Lucifer, that old serpent,” and, perhaps one of the most significant names of all, as “the evil one.”
Now you will often find in the New Testament that whereas in the King James Version the word “evil” is sometimes used, it is probably true to say that it should be “the evil one.” Sometimes you will find “wicked” when it should be “the wicked one.” There are those who say that when we pray, “deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13), it should be, “deliver us from the evil one.” And when John, in the last chapter of his first epistle, says that the “whole world lieth in wickedness,” he is undoubtedly saying that the whole world lies in “the wicked one” (1 John 5:19)
In the same way in John 17 when our Lord prays in His high priestly prayer, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil,” it should be translated “from the evil one” (verse 15). It is a most important term–the evil one.
A Thought to PonderThe devil is referred to as “Satan,” and the word Satan means “adversary.”
(From God the Father, God the Son, pp. 116-117, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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The Face of Jesus Christ
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6)
The light that shines in the soul of a lost sinner when he first comes to know Jesus Christ can only be compared to the light that Christ called forth on Day One of the creation week. We met this God of glory spiritually when we first beheld in our hearts the face of Jesus Christ.
But the face of Jesus Christ was not always deemed so glorious. We read of a time when ungodly men “did…spit in his face” (Matthew 26:67), then took a blindfold “to cover his face” (Mark 14:65), and finally with a rain of terrible blows “struck him on the face” (Luke 22:64). Once His “countenance [was] as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars” (Song of Solomon 5:15), but when they finished their assault, “his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men” (Isaiah 52:14).
“The face of the Lord is against them that do evil” (1 Peter 3:12), however, and the time is coming very soon when all those who have turned their faces from Him will call “to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb” (Revelation 6:16). When finally they will have seen the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ in all its consuming strength, not even the world itself could stand, “from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away” (Revelation 20:11).
For those who have looked on Him in faith, however, this will not be a time of judgment but blessing, for “they shall see his face” (Revelation 22:4). The face of Jesus Christ, fierce as devouring fire to those He must judge, is glorious in beauty and love to those who believe. (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Not Seeking Revenge
[Saul said], “The Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me.” 1 Samuel 24:18
he farmer climbed into his truck and began his morning inspection of the crops. On reaching the farthest edge of the property, his blood began to boil. Someone had used the farm’s seclusion to illegally dump their trash—again.
As he filled the truck with the bags of food scraps, the farmer found an envelope. On it was printed the offender’s address. Here was an opportunity too good to ignore. That night he drove to the offender’s house and filled his garden with not just the dumped trash but his own!
Revenge is sweet, some say, but is it right? In 1 Samuel 24, David and his men were hiding in a cave to escape a murderous King Saul. When Saul wandered into the same cave to relieve himself, David’s men saw a too-good-to-ignore opportunity for David to get revenge (vv. 3–4). But David went against this desire to get even. “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master,” he said (v. 6). When Saul discovered that David chose to spare his life, he was incredulous. “You are more righteous than I,” he exclaimed (vv. 17–18).
As we or our loved ones face injustice, opportunities to take revenge on offenders may well come. Will we give in to these desires, as the farmer did, or go against them, like David? Will we choose righteousness over revenge?
(By Sheridan Voysey, Our Daily Bread)
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GOD’S ETERNAL DECREES
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Ephesians 1:4
God’s manner or method of working is what is commonly called the doctrine of the eternal decrees of God. These are the things that God determined and ordained before He had done anything at all. We must approach this subject with an open mind, seeking and searching for the teaching of Scripture.
There are certain things that our finite minds will not be able to reconcile with one another. Here I must introduce the word antinomy. What is an antinomy? It is a position in which you are given two truths that you yourself cannot reconcile. There are certain final antimonies in the Bible, and as people of faith we must be ready to accept that. When somebody says, “Oh, but you cannot reconcile those two,” you must be ready to say, “I cannot. I do not pretend to be able to. But I believe what I am told in the Scriptures.” For example, I know the Bible tells me that man, in a sense, is a free agent, and on the other hand that God’s eternal decrees govern everything.
In the light of the nature and character of God, the doctrine of the eternal decrees must follow as an utter, absolute necessity. Because God is who and what He is, He must work in the way in which He does work. From eternity God has had an unchangeable plan with reference to His creatures. The Bible is constantly using phrases such as “before the foundation of the world”(see Ephesians 1:4).
God’s plan comprehends and determines all things and events of every kind that come to pass. If you believe that God has determined certain ends, then you must believe that He determines everything that leads to those ends. The doctrine of the eternal decrees of God says that all things are ultimately determined and decreed by Him.
A Thought to Ponder: From eternity God has had an unchangeable plan with reference to His creatures.
(From God the Father, God the Son, pp. 93, 95-96, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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