- araratchurch
- Mar 11, 2023
- 4 min read
“While they were still talking, the king’s eunuchs arrived and quickly took Haman to the banquet Esther had prepared.”
Esther 6:14 NLT
My father was a person who took seriously the stumbling of others. He would mourn over those who would fall into sin and grieve over those who were suffering the consequences of the same. Indeed, he gave up a good position in a large denomination because he chose to reach out and help a fallen brother.
Yes, my father would sometimes take his mourning to the extreme of blaming himself for what someone else had done. He suffered, wondering what he could’ve said or done to have kept them from doing what they did.
Now, we know that people have a free will and often do the wrong thing in spite of wonderful attempts by many to keep them from falling. But, other peoples’ trouble was taken personally by my father. Only the Lord knows whether he took it to the degree that it was personally harmful to him; but I know that this reaction was a result of his having the heart of his Father Who is not willing that any should perish.
We have been talking about the fact that evil people will—sooner or later—face judgment and destruction for what they have done. Today we take a moment to reflect on what our attitude should be when judgment, disaster, destruction, etc., come on those who have fallen into the judgment of God.
“Do not rejoice and gloat when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad [in self-righteousness] when he stumbles, Or the Lord will see your gloating and be displeased, And turn His anger away from your enemy.”
Proverbs 24:17-18 AMP
We must not gloat over the fall of anyone, not even over the fall of our enemies. Doing so, displeases God and can actually turn the judgment away from them and onto you.
“Whoever mocks the poor taunts his Maker, And he who rejoices at [another’s] disaster will not go unpunished.”
Proverbs 17:5 AMP
We’ve all heard about how many times Saul tried to kill David; he hunted him down like a dog. But yet, when David heard that Saul and Jonathan had been killed, he mourned deeply.
“David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news. They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the Lord’s army and the nation of Israel, because they had died by the sword that day.”
2 Samuel 1:11-12 NLT
At another time, when Abner (the relative of Saul and the leader of Saul’s army) was killed, David again mourned.
“Then David said to Joab and all those who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on burlap. Mourn for Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the procession to the grave. Then the king sang this funeral song for Abner: “Should Abner have died as fools die? Your hands were not bound; your feet were not chained. No, you were murdered— the victim of a wicked plot.” All the people wept again for Abner.”
2 Samuel 3:31, 33-34 NLT
In the best example of the heart of God mourning over those who have rejected Him, we see that Jesus mourned over Jerusalem and the destruction they would face.
“But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.””
Luke 19:41-44 NLT
In our opening scripture we see that Haman, having experienced the humility of having to honor Mordecai, is now being led to what will be his last meal.
We know that the judgment of God is pure and perfect and we do not question the way He deals with His enemies. But our part, is to be humble and mourn when judgment falls.
Having said all of this about mourning over the fall of the wicked, I will add that our morning should in no way keep us from continuing in our obedience to the Lord.
“Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.””
1 Samuel 16:1 NLT
As the Lord told Samuel that it was time to step up out of his mourning and fulfill his purpose, just so, we must, although humbled and sobered by the fall of the enemy, continue marching forward to total victory.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Mar 10, 2023
- 2 min read
“So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet. On this second occasion, while they were drinking wine, the king again said to Esther, “Tell me what you want, Queen Esther. What is your request? I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!””
Esther 7:1-2 NLT
In his book, The Hundred-Year Marathon: China’s Secret Strategy to Replace America as the Global Superpower, Michael Pillsbury (defense policy advisor), reveals China's secret strategy to supplant the United States as the world's dominant power by 2049 (the one-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China).
Pillsbury explains how that for over forty years, the United States has actually played a key role in helping the Chinese government build a booming economy, develop its scientific and military capabilities, and take its place on the world stage. Seemingly, the “strategy” for doing so was/is to make China a good “partner” in trade, etc.
Though not our focus for our purposes today, I will say that that strategy isn’t working out very well for us. Indeed, it appears we have helped build the means for our own demise.
The point in bringing this up concerning China’s plan is to note that they have been very patient as they consistently and relentlessly work toward their goal; and it’s working.
Sadly, not possessing patience can cause persons or countries to never stick to something long enough to see the plan to completion.
On Day 38 of “Year of Realization” we noted that it’s not about the strategy, but about obedience, in terms of attaining victory through God’s plan. Today we note that obedience is often impossible without patience.
“For you have need of patient endurance [to bear up under difficult circumstances without compromising], so that when you have carried out the will of God, you may receive and enjoy to the full what is promised. For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.”
Hebrews 10:36-37 AMP
Indeed, we are to clothe ourselves with patience!
“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.”
Colossians 3:12, 14 NLT
Jesus—in speaking of the coming persecution—gave this instruction:
“By your [patient] endurance [empowered by the Holy Spirit] you will gain your souls.”
Luke 21:19 AMP
In our opening scripture we see that it is time for Esther‘s second banquet for Haman and the king. Now, I don’t know about you, but it would’ve been difficult for me to not spill the beans about Haman’s plan at that first banquet. But apparently, in order for this plan to work, in order for God‘s plan to work, Esther had to be patient. We will soon see if that patience pays off.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Mar 10, 2023
- 1 min read
“When Haman told his wife, Zeresh, and all his friends what had happened, his wise advisers and his wife said, “Since Mordecai—this man who has humiliated you—is of Jewish birth, you will never succeed in your plans against him. It will be fatal to continue opposing him.””
Esther 6:13 NLT
In terms of medicines, a paradoxical effect or reaction is when the prescribed drug has the opposite effect as was intended. For example, benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, etc.), prescribed to calm or sedate, have been known to increase agitation, anger, and even suicidal and/or homicidal ideology!
And speaking of unintended consequences, the “medicine” evil people prescribe for the righteous, often ends up having a very paradoxical effect in the life of their intended victim as well as in the evil person’s own life.
Consider the story of Moses: a decree meant to destroy all newborn Jewish males, actually served to put Moses in the House of Pharaoh!
Joseph’s brothers’ plans to destroy him, actually put him in a high position over them. Not only that, their actions ended up fulfilling his dream he had told them that had caused them to hate Joseph even more!
Most astonishing of all: the plan of the enemy to cut off the Messiah, actually fulfilled the plan for our salvation!
In our opening scripture we find that Haman’s plan to destroy the Jews (basically, in an attempt to get rid of the hated Mordecai), has now put him in a huge “sling.” Tragically for him, he’s about to find out that that sharp sword he threw at Haman, is actually a boomerang.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!