Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 29 August 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "The Jews Destroy Their Enemies"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Esther 9:1-32
                                                         Esther 10:1-3
Today's Blog Key Verse: Esther 9:2 "The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, because fear of them fell upon all people."

In verse 2, the Jewish people assembled throughout the kingdom to "lay hands on" or "kill" there foes.  The enemies of the Jewish people could not succeed in their assault against them due to "fear of them," which also indicate a fear of God that the Jews worshipped.  There was also a "fear of Mordecai" among the leaders, which caused then to assist the Jewish people.

The defense against their enemies was strong and certain.  They killed five hundred of their enemies in Shushan alone.  The phrase"did what they would" in verse 5 would indicate that the Jews were given a free hand without official interference. "But the spoil laid they not their hand" indicates the purity of their motives, which is evident to all.

All ten of Haman's sons were killed, because the survival of even one one his sons might mean trouble for the next generation of the Jewish people.  In verses 11-14 Queen Esther renewed her original request for the Jews to have authority to protect themselves against attack.  The king agreed and he also ordered the ten sons to be hanged on the gallows, even though they were already dead, their bodies were displayed as a warning to anyone who planned evil toward the Jewish people.

In verses 26-28,  the name of the two day festival is explained.  "Purim" is derived from the word "pur" meaning "lot," the lot that was cast  to determine that day of the Jewish people's death.  Purim reminds the Jews of God's deliverance from their day of destruction.  The feast was established as an annual festival.  This is one of only two festivals celebrated by the Jewish people that is not commanded in Scripture by God.  The other is "Hanukkah."

In Chapter 10, the concluding chapter of Esther, we see that the king imposed a "tribute" on the land.  The word tribute, may refer both to taxation and forced labor that he imposed on all of his territory.  The Book of Esther concludes, with high praise of Mordecai, whose deeds were recorded in the official chronicles of the Persian Empire.  Mordecai held the "second" highest rank in the land, which would be the same of that of Joseph in the land of Egypt. 

Today's Biblical Truth: "God is  always there for us when we struggle and fall to pick up the pieces and to bring us closer to Him."

Click on this link www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for  Bible Verses from Luke 21:5-38. .

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. Pray for our Brothers and Sisters in Christ who are being persecuted for their Faith and Trust in Jesus. Always remember that when you have a spiritual, physical, or financial issues in your life and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN." 

"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." John 11:25-26

JESUS REIGNS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi






  

 

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 27 August 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "Esther Saves the Jews"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Esther 8:1-17
Today's Blog Key Verse: Esther 8-9: "Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, "Indeed, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he tried to lay his hand on the Jews.  You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king's name, and seal it in the king's name and sealed with the king's signet ring no one can revoke."

Now that Esther had revealed her nationality to Xerxes (Esther 7:4), Esther was happy to present Mordecai to the king as her guardian and cousin.  The word "house" refers to "all that he had" meaning that Esther set Mordecai over Haman entire estate (verse 2).  The king also gave to Mordecai the kings ring, and he was appointed chief minister of the empire just as Joseph was in Egypt under the Pharaoh (Genesis 41:42).

In spite of Haman's death and Mordecai's exaltation, the Jews were still doomed to destruction that had already been sent out in a irreversible decree.  The king reminds her of his favor toward her and that he loved her.  But he adds that "no one," not even the king of Persia himself, had the power to reverse the laws of the Medes and Persians.  But that Mordecai did have the full right, to issue a counter decree in the king's name, which would be just as irreversible, as the one issued by Haman.

The counter decree of Mordecai was issued in June 474 B.C., a little over two months after the first decree written by Haman was issued, allowing more than eight months for the Jews to prepare their defenses.  The "posts" in verse 14, were the couriers riding the mules and camels.  "Many of the people of the land became Jews" is the only Old Testament reference to people of other races becoming Jews.  The New Testament bears ample witness to the process in the first century A.D. (Matthew 23:15; Acts 2:10; 6:5; 13:43). 

Today's Biblical Truth: "God wants spiritually healthy Christians that are focused on Him, and on Him ALONE."

Click on this link www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse from Exodus 20:3.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today.  Pray for our Brothers and Sisters in Christ who are being persecuted for their Faith and Trust in Jesus.  Always remember that when you have a spiritual, financial, or physical dilemma in your life and your yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."

"A man's pride will bring him low,But the humble in spirit will retain honor." Proverbs 29:23.

JESUS REIGNS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.

Your Sister in Christ
Cindi

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greeting in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 24 August 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "Haman Hanged Instead of Mordecai"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading Esther 7:1-10
Today's Blog Key Verse: Esther 7:5-6 "So king Ahasuerus answered and said to Queen Esther, Who is he, who dare presume in his heart to do such a thing?" And Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!" So Haman was terrified before the king and queen."

The "second day" is the second day of the banquet and the king now will ask Esther a second time, "What is thy petition?"  Esther now will ask the king to be spared along with her people, "for we are sold, I and my people."  Here she finally identifies herself with the Jewish people who had been "sold" referring to the bride of Haman in Esther 3:9; 4:7.

We see here that Esther's plea had a dramatic effect upon the king.  His curiosity was aroused, along with his anger.  The life of Esther his queen was in danger, because of a plot by one of his trusted aids.

In verse 6, Esther finally exposed Haman as the adversary and the enemy.  Haman was terrified before the king and Esther.  In his desire to destroy the Jewish people, he had unwittingly included the queen in his wicked plan.

The king who was angry and left the room and went out into the palace garden.  The king's enraged response, was a signal of the precariousness of his situation.  When the king came back into the palace, he found Haman draped over the queen's "couch" in a compromising position.  He was probably seeking Esther's mercy, but the sight of Haman being close to the queen enraged the king, and as the king spoke, eunuch's covered Haman's face, which signified that he was condemned to death.

In verse 9, Harbonah, the eunuch, who was first mentioned in Esther 1:10, told the king about the gallows that Haman had erected for Mordecai, and told him where they were located, and reminded the king of Mordecai's bravery on behalf of the king.  The king then ordered that Haman be hanged on the very gallows, that he had made for Mordecai.

Haman was hanged, and the king's wrath subsided.  Haman's execution is a pure example of poetic justice.  Haman's lies about the Jews were intended to bring about the death of the Jewish people, but it brought about his death on the gallows.

Today's Biblical Truth: Personal pride is a burden too heavy for anyone to bear. It makes us so vulnerable to the opinions of others that we can take no pleasure in the good things God provides."

Click on this link www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse from Luke 4:18-19.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness.
Love God More Today. Pray for our Brothers and Sisters in Christ who are being persecuted for their Faith and Trust in Jesus. Always remember that when you have a spiritual, physical, or financial dilemma in your life and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN." 

"You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created." Revelation 4:11

JESUS REIGNS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi

 

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 22 August 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "The King honors Mordecai"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Esther 6:1-14
Today's Blog Key Verse: Esther 6:10 "Then the king said to Haman, "Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king's gate!  Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken."

As chapter 6 opens, we observe a s series of events that unmistakably point to God's sovereign hand controlling all events.  Only because of a sleepless night (verse 1) did the king command that the Book of Records of the Chronicles be brought and read to him.  "The Book of Records of the Chronicles" was the source from which the king's honors list was drawn, and as a general rule special services were promptly rewarded.  Since Mordecai's good deed in saving the king's life had been overlooked, something must be done and done quickly.

In verses 4 and 5 we see again the hand of God sovereignly at work on behalf of His people, for no sooner had Mordecai's reward been discussed than Haman appears in the "king's court".  Ironically, Haman who knew nothing of the recent discussion, and was coming to recommend that Mordecai be hanged.

When the king in verse 6 asks Haman, "what shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?" Haman, thinking that king was speaking of him, suggested a course of action that he would like have happen to him.  The king obliged, but this reward was to be for Mordecai, the man Haman regarded as an enemy. Considering Haman's hatred of Mordecai and his plot against him, the kings command to honor his enemy was devastating.  Even Haman's wife and friends failed to comfort him, and even predicted his downfall.

In verse 13, the issue of the ongoing survival of the Jewish people is the point of this verse.  Here we see Haman's wife and friends telling him that he would "not prevail"for the very reason of Mordecai's Jewish descent.  The Hebrew wording here is quite strong.

As Christians, the greater our expectations, the more sever our disappointments.  Paul in Philippians 4:11, tells us "that he has learned to be content whatever his situation."  We as Christians should not fix our hopes, as Haman did, on the satisfaction of some sinful desire.  We need to settle for the contentment Paul found in the knowing the Lord.

Today's Biblical Truth: "We as Christians need to have a strong determination to Praise and Glorify God."

Click on the link www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com to read a Bible Verse from Psalms 139:23-24.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. Pray for our Brothers and Sisters in Christ who are being persecuted for their Faith and Trust in Jesus. Always remember that when you have a spiritual, physical, or financial dilemma in your life and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."

"For you are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name's sake, Lead me and guide me. Psalm 31:3

JESUS REIGNS!!!  May God's love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi



    

Bible Scripture Redaing

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 20 August 2012"

Today's Bog Title: "Esther's Banquet"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Esther 5:1-14
Today's Blogs Key Verse: Esther 5:3 "then the king said to her, "What do you wish, Queen Esther?  What is your request?  It shall be given to you--up to half the kingdom!"

We see that Esther dresses in her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace.  Here again we see the providence of God which was demonstrated by the king's response of his approval of Esther's presence by his holding out the golden scepter to her.

It certainly was providential that Esther did not express her desire to the king at the first banquet, since the events in Chapter 6 will transpire between the banquets, making it much easier for Esther to expose Haman at the second banquet.

There have been reasons as to why Esther invited Haman.  Perhaps to make Xerxes jealous, to defuse any suspicions Haman might have, perhaps he invied him so that his guily reaction might reveal his quilt, but the reason that I like like to think that she acted in the best tradiyions of her people and that was to confront Haman face to face rather than speak behind his back.

In verse 7, we are given no reason for Easter's delay in accusing Haman.  Perhapsthe delay allowed for the king's sleeples night and the events that would follow in Chapter 6.  It  would be best to credit her with the spiritual discernment necessary to sense God's timing. 

It would seen that Haman's good spirits on the way home from the banquet were from the wine he had drunk and from the honor of being invited along with the king to the feast at Esther's table, but we read his mood changed quickly when he encountered. Mordecai, who did not even raise in his presence.  We note that Mordecai showed no fear before him, despite the death decree against the Jewish people.

In verses 11 and 12, we see Haman's vanity matched that of the king he served.  He bragged to his wife and his friends about his wealth, his sons and his high status in the kingdom.

The word gallow, is the word usually used for wood the material used to built gallows,  Haman had a gallow made of about 75 feet high.  Impaling was a typical means of execution in Persia.  Its more likely that the gallow was high pointed pole rather than the wooden structure that we are accustomed to.  In an execution by impaling, a person was forced to sit on a pointed stake which penetrated deeper and deeper as they struggled until finally vital organs were reached.  It was propbably this cruel death Haman had planned for a man who had done nothing more than to insult him.

JESUS REIGNS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strenth, and Grace be with you all. 

Your Sister in Christ
Cindi

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 17 August 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "Esther Agrees to Help the Jews"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Esther 4:1-17
Today's Blog Key Verse: Esther 4:15 "Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day.  My maids and I will fast likewise.  And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!"

In verses 1-3, we read that Mordecai "rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes."  These customs were attested in widely separated Old Testament Periods (genesis 37:34; 2 Samuel 1:11; Isaiah 3:24; Daniel 9:3) and were practices by other nations (Isaiah 15:3; Ezekiel 27:30-33) as well as by the Israelites. the law against wearing sackcloth in the king's gate is not otherwise attested, but it is certainly credible (Nehemiah 2:2).

Access to the king was strictly limited, since he needed to be protected both from attempts on his life and from vexation with peoples problems.  Even his wife had no right to approach.  That she had not been called for "thirty days" is just one more indication how abnormal life was in the palace at Susa. 

The response of Mordecai put pressure on Esther, for he reminded her that she risked death whether she approached the king or not (verse 13).  There are three lines to his argument: (1) Esther herself will not be exempt from destruction under the edict (2) He reveals his own conviction that God will not permit the extinction of His people, for if Esther were to fail, God will have another way of saving the Jewish people, since God's purposes are not thwarted by the failure of one individual to respond positively to His leading and (3) The outcome of her decision is so far reaching that, without exaggeration, she is now at the very moment when her life's purpose is at stake (verse 14).   

The reply of Esther is a confession of faith as she implies that she accepts the suggestion of Mordecai as her duty, but that she is full of apprehension at the thought of fulfilling it.  Her statement, "If I perish, I perish" is not a blind fatalism or a hopeless resignation, but rather a confidence in God's Will and His Wisdom.

JESUS REGINS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
  

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 15 August 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "Haman's Conspiracy Against the Jews"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Esther 3:1-15
Today's Blog Key Verse: Esther 3:5 "When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath."

Haman is called an "Agagite."  Jewish tradition identifies him as a descendant of the Amalekite king, whose people Saul failed to destroy (Exodus 17:8-14; 1 Samuel 15:7-33).  Mordecai was of Saul's tribe (Esther 2:5).  Jewish commentators see this conflict as the historic struggle of the Jewish people with Gentile enemies whose unreasoning hatred persists for thousands of years.  Haman was like his predecessors in that he "feared not God."

Jew customarily bowed before their kings (2 Samuel 14:4; 18:28; 1 Kings 1:16).  But when Persians bowed before their kings, they paid homage as to a divine being.  Because of this reason, Mordecai being a faithful Jew could not give a mere man such honor (Deuteronomy 6:13-14).

According to many the subject of the origin of the Feast of Purim (lots) is the main theme of this book.  Early in April 474 B.C., Haman had the astrologers and magicians cast the lot to determine which day of the year would bring destruction to Israel.  Little did he realize that when "the lot is cast into the lap...the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord" (Proverbs 16:33).
The lot fell on the "twelfth month" (February-March) which not only gave Haman time to prepare but also, in the overruling providence of God, gave the Jewish people time to thwart his plan. 

Haman in verses 8-11 is careful to ingratiate himself with the king by appearing to be motivated only by the "kings profit."  In effect, he offers the king a bribe (verse 9), which he expected to raise by confiscating the property of the Jews, "ten thousand talents of silver," or about 12 million ounces. 

We will note here that the king was not even interested enough to inquire who the people were.  Do he gives Haman his "signet ring."  With this seal of executive power, Haman would be able to send letters in the king's name (verse 12).  Later this ring would be given to Mordecai (8:2, 8).  Possibly to avoid the appearance of greed, Xerxes offered money to Haman.  The king's utter indifference to the fate of millions of his subjects has found modern parallels in Hitler, Stalin, Khrushchev and all those rulers who will kill those of there own race to stay in power and to get what they want.

The date in verse 12, was memorable to any Jew, because it was the day before the slaying of the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:6).  Would God be able to save His people now as He had done in the past?  Come back to find the answer to that question.

Click on this link www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse from Acts 1:9-11.
JESUS REIGNS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 13 August 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "Esther Becomes Queen"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Esther 2:1-23
Today's Blog Key Verse: Esther 2:17 "The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he made her queen instead of Vashti."

After these things..he remembered "Vashti" would suggest a lapse of time, and since verse 16 of Chapter 1 tells us that it was the seventh year of Ahauerus before Esther went into the kings' presence, perhaps the Greek war intervened before the king gave a thought to Vashti.  Esther would become Queen in December 479 B.C. (verse 16) and more than a year would have elapsed between the decree of verse 3 and her marriage.  The king may have become attracted to Vashti while he was still waging his great campaigns against Greece (481-479 B.C.).

The princes realizing that the restoration of Vasthi would spell doom for them, abandoned the precedent of providing a queen from among their own daughters, and suggested that the king choose a new queen from among the most beautiful virgins in the empire.  "Hege the king's chamberlain" was a eunuch in charge of the "house of the women," a very responsible position.  The leaders were very well aware of the weakness of the character of the king, and used to the advantage of their own purposes.

Mordecai was a name current in Babylon incorporating "Marduk," the name of the state god of Babylon.  "Esther" is the Persian word for "Star"; it picks up the sound of Hebrew, and suggests the star like flowers of myrtle.  In verses 12-14 we see that each woman prepared herself for "twelve months," just for one night with the king (verse 12).  These verses highlight the inhumanity of polygamy.

In verse 19 it would seem that there was another occasion when the king added to his harem, after Esther had been made queen.  The sitting of Mordecai's "in the king's gate" would indicate that when Esther became queen, she had appointed him a magistrate or judge.  He is now in position to overhear what is being said by palace officials (verse 21) and to have access to the royal courts (verse 22).  He is found sitting at the king's gate on a regular basis (2:21; 3:2; 5:9,13; 6:10,12).  He would actually foil an attempt of an assassination against the king, and the report of this service was duly recorded in the king's diary (6:1,2).  Later Xerxes would lost his life through just a plot.

JESUS REIGNS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 9 August 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "The King Dethrones Queen Vashti"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Esther 1:1-22
Today's Blog Key Verse: Esther 1:12 "But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command brought by his  eunuchs; therefore the king was furious, and his anger burned within him."

The kingdom of "Ahasuerus" extended from "India" to "Ethiopia."  The Persian kingdom under Ahasuerus was divided into small areas called provinces and larger divisions called satrapies.  The capital of ancient Elam, "Shushan" (or Susa) was one of four royal residents for the Persian emperors.  Shushan was 150 miles north of the Persian Gulf.  It was the location of one of Daniel's visions (Daniel 8:2), and was where Nehemiah served as cup bearer to King Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 1:1-2).  The capital city had a palace fortress on the highest point of the city, the acropolis.

Ahasuerus in his third year of his reign made a feast of 6 months to display the riches of his kingdom.  White and blue were the royal colors of the Persians.  It was the custom of the Persians to recline on coaches at the table.  He had ordered that his guest's could drink as much or as little as they pleased.  This was different from the usual Persian custom by which every time the king at a banquet raised his cup to drink, the guest were required to do so as well.  Queen Vashti was giving a separate banquet for the woman guests.

Castrated men, or "eunuchs," were assigned to act as harem attendants and as agents of communication between the king and his harem (Esther 6:14).   In verse 13, "men who understood the times" were court astrologers and magicians gave advice and predicted the future on the basis of what they pretended to know about the supernatural.  The prophets of Israel often looked upon such chariatains with derisive scorn.

On the last day of the feast, the drunken king summoned his queen, perhaps to make a lewd display of her before his guests, but she refused.  Her refusal brought the king to great anger.  Acting as spokesman for the others, "Memucan" responded shrewdly by enlarging the offense beyond a personal affront to the king. 

His appeal was made to male-self interest.  You will note the whimsical way laws were made in a land where so much was made of law and judgment (verses 8,13,15,19).  The king dispatched his edict without so much as a further thought.  There was something ludicrous about this decree, that a husband was to take charge in his own household, for this was the standing rule in an oriental home.  This law was not even enforceable.  There is an ironic contrast between King Ahasuerus at the beginning of the chapter, where he is the world's greatest monarch, rich and powerful, aloof yet generous, and that same king, by the end of this chapter, where he attempts to maintain his dignity despite the defiance of his wife. 

This lawmaker of the Persians and Medes, whose law could not be altered, was prepared to pass an edict framed in a moment of pique, when he was not even sober.  Such is the measure of a king who reigned over the world, and had the future of all in his power.

Click on the link at www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse from Romans 8:13.

JESUS REIGNS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with all of you.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 8 August 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "Introduction to the Book of Esther"

The Book of Esther is a remarkably different biblical book because (1) neither the word "God" nor the name "Yahweh" (LORD) occurs in this Hebrew text; (2) the scene is Shushan (Susa) the winter capital of Persia, not Israel; (3) the book concerns the marriage of its Jewish heroine with a Gentile king; and (4) it solves the problem of an incipient anti-Semitism by a bloody self defense, which is repeated on the following day by Esther's request!

Even though the name of God in nowhere mentioned in the book, His sovereignty and providence are evident throughout.  Vashti's dismissal, Esther's regal position, Xerxes's indebtedness to Mordecai discovered during a sleepless night, and the miraculous deliverance of the the Jews all demonstrate God's control and care for His people.

The Book of Esther also explains the origin of the the Feast of Purim on the thirteenth and fourteenth days of Adar (February-March), when the Jews celebrate the deliverance from Haman.

Also in the book of Esther, a third theme is evident, that of anti-Semitism.  When fully developed, animosity toward the Jews results in genocide: the attempt to exterminate a race.  This satanic scheme is probably much older than the time of Haman, for even in the days of Moses, Pharaoh attempted to exterminate the Hebrew slaves.

Esther is the second of the two books of the Old Testament named after a women the other being Ruth which we just finished in the previous Blog Writing.  The key people in the Book of Esther are:

Xerxes: The powerful but erratic Persian ruler best known for his failed attempts to invade Europe and was defeated by the Greeks.

Haman: An influential Persian official who is angered by a Jew's failure to bow before him and then because of that determines to exterminate the Jewish race.

Mordecai: The lesser Jewish official in the Persian court who is hated by Haman.  He is the uncle of Esther.

Esther: The niece of Mordecai, who has recently  become Xerxe's queen and who intercedes successfully for the Jewish people.

The pattern of events that form this book, shows that despite the attempt of evil men to destroy the Jewish race, God shapes history to preserve His chosen people.     

JESUS REIGNS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 6 August 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "Boaz Redeems Ruth"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Ruth 4:1-22
Today's Blog Key Verse: Ruth 4:13 'So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife, and when he went in to her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son."

In verse 1, the city "gate" served as the place where public affairs were carried on, especially for the administration of justice (Deuteronomy 21:19; 22:21; Josuha 20:4; 2 Kings 10:8) or for the transaction of business arrangements (Genesis 23:10; 18:2; 2 Kings 7:1).

Although in verse 6, the nearer kinsman wanted to "redeem" the field that Naomi had up for sale, apparently the additional expense of providing for a wife, together with the probability of losing the property if a son should be born to the widow, caused the nearer kinsman to relinquish his rights to Boaz.

Since Boaz had arranged all the business details relative to acting as the near kinsman, no disgrace would attach to the nearer kinsman (Deuteronomy 25:9).  The transfer of the "shoe" in verse 7, symbolized the relinquishing of the right to act as the nearer kinsman and the exchange of his authority in the matter to another.

Boaz was able and willing to serve fully in the redemption of the field and in marriage to Ruth.  This story serves as a vivid reminder of the Son of Man who, being rich (2 Corinthians 8:9), willingly died in behalf of a destitute mankind (Romans 5:6-11; Hebrews 21:1-2), which He took into union with Himself as His beloved bride (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:6-9).

In verses 17-22, is the list of 10 generations from Pharez, Judah's illegitimate son, to David, seems to reflect the prohibition in Deuteronomy 23:2 and serves to legitimize David's claim to the throne of Israel.  From the union of "Boaz" and "Ruth" was to come the line of descendants that gave birth to King "David," through whom came Jesus Christ.  Thus, through the union of Jew and Gentile would ultimately come the Savior of all men (Acts 4:12).  The story of Boaz's redemption of a Ruth, a foreign woman, points to the great redemption of Jesus, of all those who believe in Him.

Today's Biblical Truth: "Our tragedies can turn into triumphs as we trust God and keep on doing our best."

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. Pray for our Brothers and Sisters in Christ who are being persecuted for their Faith and Trust In Jesus.  Always remember that when you have a spiritual dilemma in your life and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."

Click on the link at www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse from Hebrews 10:19-22.

"Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other, I am God, and there is none like me." Isaiah 46:9

JESUS REIGNS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi