- araratchurch
- Mar 14, 2023
- 2 min read
“Then the king jumped to his feet in a rage and went out into the palace garden. Haman, however, stayed behind to plead for his life with Queen Esther, for he knew that the king intended to kill him.”
Esther 7:7 NLT
Every day we hear of horrible things happening all over the world. But there’s something about hearing horrible stories on the local news that strikes a different, more haunting, chord. You see, as long as we can distance ourselves from the bad things that are going on, we are able—on some level—to think that that kind of thing only happens to other people.
Make no mistake, there’s some (temporary) comfort in denial. But, when you hear a horrible thing has happened to someone you know, you begin to feel more vulnerable, but still may search to find some reason why this would never happen to you. Sadly, there are individuals into whom’s life has come the horrible reality of evil, up close and personal. For these people, denial is no longer an option.
Let’s look, for example, at the concept of being “duped”: someone tricks you into doing something, whether it’s sending money to a scoundrel or finding yourself driving a getaway car for a crime.
To that latter point: many years ago I was one of the pastors over a young woman who found herself in just such a situation. She drove two or three of her friends to a department store and waited in the car as they promised they would be right in and right out. Well, she found out the hard way that she was actually the lookout and the getaway driver. Now that’ll leave a mark.
I’ve also known people who very nearly lost thousands, believing some trumped up story about a family member who was in trouble. Things like that make you feel so vulnerable and stupid. But the fact is, evil works by deceit.
Think of the story of Samson and Delilah. Samson’s arrogance kept him from seeing that he was being played by Delilah; and he paid dearly for it.
Perhaps you have been duped, and you know the terrible pain in the pit of your stomach that comes with that harsh realization. And that brings us to our opening scripture.
Today we see that the harsh reality has hit the king that his right hand man—perhaps his best friend—has duped him into condemning his beloved Esther’s people!
Now, we don’t know for sure what went through his mind at this point; but he is clearly jolted as he retreats into the garden, as if to gather himself.
We are living in troubled times. And, deceit will only get worse. It is important that we allow the Holy Spirit to keep us watchful so that we do not become a “useful idiot” for some evil plan.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Mar 13, 2023
- 2 min read
““Who would do such a thing?” King Xerxes demanded. “Who would be so presumptuous as to touch you?” Esther replied, “This wicked Haman is our adversary and our enemy.” Haman grew pale with fright before the king and queen.”
Esther 7:5-6 NLT
You have probably heard of The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO. Beginning with 12 nations, it has now grown to include 30.
NATO was formed in the aftermath of the WWII. Its purpose was to secure peace in Europe while promoting cooperation among its members. Most importantly, the treaty assures collective defense, meaning that an attack against one Ally is considered as an attack against all Allies.
The NATO website boils their mission down to this: “The North Atlantic Treaty Organization – or NATO – ensures that the security of its European member countries is inseparably linked to that of its North American member countries.”
The power of NATO has been that it connects more vulnerable nations with those better prepared to defend themselves, like the United States. Whatever they have become now, there is little doubt that this alliance thwarted many conflicts.
Feeling vulnerable and unable to defend yourself is terrible for nations; indeed, it’s terrible in our own lives.
However, we need not fear when faced with overwhelming circumstances or a formidable foe; we have an alliance much more significant than mere men could form. You see, we have YAHWEH NISSI - the Lord is my banner! This name for the Lord appears only once in the Bible after the army of Israel had a great victory over the Amalekites:
“Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the Lord is my banner”). He said, “They have raised their fist against the Lord’s throne, so now the Lord will be at war with Amalek generation after generation.””
Exodus 17:15-16 NLT
Yes, the Amalekites didn’t realize that when they took on the army of Israel they were also taking on the Lord. Indeed, Israel fought under the flag of the Lord.
The armies of Pharaoh who pursued the children of Israel into the Red Sea found out this fact too late.
“Then the Egyptians—all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers—chased them into the middle of the sea. But just before dawn the Lord looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion. He twisted their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive. “Let’s get out of here—away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!””
Exodus 14:23-25 NLT
Make no mistake, as a child of God, when the enemy comes up against you, whether they know it or not, they’re fighting against the Lord!
“And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” They will fight you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the Lord, have spoken!””
Jeremiah 1:8, 19 NLT
In our opening scripture we see that Esther has spilled the beans: Haman is the enemy. You see, Haman did not realize that the beloved queen was a Jew. And—he found out too late—Esther didn’t fight alone.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Mar 12, 2023
- 3 min read
“Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor with the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my request, I ask that my life and the lives of my people will be spared. For my people and I have been sold to those who would kill, slaughter, and annihilate us. If we had merely been sold as slaves, I could remain quiet, for that would be too trivial a matter to warrant disturbing the king.” “Who would do such a thing?” King Xerxes demanded. “Who would be so presumptuous as to touch you?””
Esther 7:3-5 NLT
If anybody knew about being betrayed by a friend, it was David. Saul—who supposedly loved him—tried several times to kill him. Indeed, David‘s own family at different times tried to do him in.
“For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant. His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.”
Psalm 55:12-13, 20-21 ESV
Sadly, David also betrayed the trust of a friend in the case of Uriah.
The Lord warned us that a relationship with Him could cause our family and friends to turn on us.
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.”
Matthew 10:34-36 ESV
Indeed, Jesus includes betrayal by friends as a feature of the Last Days before His return.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.”
Matthew 24:9-10 ESV
Sadly, we know that Jesus was betrayed by one of His own. Judas Iscariot, one of the 12 disciples, betrayed Jesus with a kiss.
“The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.””
Matthew 26:48 NLT
“But Jesus said, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?””
Luke 22:47-48 NLT
Paul warned Timothy that in the Last Days persecution would come from friends.
“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!”
2 Timothy 3:1, 4-5 NLT
And speaking of betrayal by friends, in our opening scripture we see that Esther has finally begun to tell the king what she needs. Upon hearing that his beloved queen is being plotted against, the king is dismayed by the thought of who would do such a thing. He had no idea that the culprit was Haman, his right hand man. And, in this case, neither did Haman. But that consideration is for tomorrow.
In these last days before the coming of Jesus Christ we may find that our enemies might be found very close within our own ranks. But we need not fear; our Lord knows the hearts of all men; and He will be with us to the very end.
“Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation! Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.”
Psalms 27:9-10 NLT
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!