Marching Forth!

"Happiness depends on what happens," I have heard some say, and often this is true.  Feelings are useful but are also fickle.  One moment we can be happy and carefree, and the next we can feel the weight of the world upon us.  An example of this phenomenon is seen in Haman after he was invited by the queen to a special banquet with the king.  He had not only enjoyed the hospitality and company of the king and queen, but he had a banquet the following day to look forward to.  It seemed everything was right in the world. Esther 5:9 reads, " So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai ."  Haman was in a great mood because the privilege afforded him, but the sight of Mordecai sitting there filled him with anger.  All the happy feelings were gone in an instant because one man was sitting when Ha...

I've been enjoying reading through Esther lately, and it is amazing how God brings fresh insights to familiar passages.  Haman was incensed by the Jew Mordecai's refusal to give him reverence, and so great was his pride punishing Mordecai was not enough:  he would exterminate Mordecai and his people as well.  Having the favour of the king, Haman was able to write the doom of the Jews into law.  When Mordecai heard these evil tidings, he put on sackcloth and mourned publicly.  Esther the queen, seeing her cousin in such strife, inquired concerning his welfare and heard the news for herself. Mordecai urged Esther to use her privileged position as queen to gain access to the king to plead for her people.  At first she resisted, citing a law which endangered the lives of all who approached the king without a summons.   Esther 4:13-14 reads, " And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's ...

" But now, thus says the LORD , who created you, O Jacob,  a nd He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name;  y ou are Mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; a nd through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.  w hen you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,  n or shall the flame scorch you ." Isaiah 43:1-2 God did a phenomenal thing in birthing the Jewish nation out of slavery in Egypt.  It was a demonstration of love and grace which rivals the salvation God has provided Jew and Gentile through faith in Jesus Christ.  See what God said to the Hebrews in in  Deuteronomy 7:7-8 :  " The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; 8 but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has broug...

Today I read about when King Ahasuerus hosted a great feast in Shushan.  In the third year of his reign he displayed the power of Media and Persia, inviting nobles and rulers from the 127 provinces he ruled for 180 days.  That would be quite the gathering!  When those days were completed, he hosted a feast for 7 days and all in Shushan were invited to the court of his garden palace.   Esther 1:6-7 describes the elaborate and luxurious decor:  " There were white and blue linen curtains fastened with cords of fine linen and purple on silver rods and marble pillars; and the couches were of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of alabaster, turquoise, and white and black marble. 7 And they served drinks in golden vessels, each vessel being different from the other, with royal wine in abundance, according to the generosity of the king ." It must have been a treat for the people of Shushan to partake of the generous bounty of their king.  The valu...