Today's Readings and Stuff -- Monday, 06 August 2018

Another Monday is upon us.
I can't let the day go by without mentioning that today would have been the birthday of one of my uncles, my dad's older (oldest) brother.  Homer was a good man, a life-long bachelor, in part because he stepped up to the duty of taking care of the two orphaned kids when the middle brother and his wife both died (before I was born) and his own dad, my grandfather, also died (also before I was born).  Thus leaving him to provide for and take care of two orphaned kids and his widowed mother on a small farm.  So he was a framing carpenter by day and a farmer in the evenings and weekends and a substitute dad all the time.  Later, when my cousins were grown and gone and grandma had passed, he sold the farm and went to Uruguay doing missions work, building churches and medical clinics down there.  Came back and died within a year, his assignment complete.  Wish I could say as much.
But we shall see him again, one day.

Wife is next door to "watch" the kids.  Niece is at work, and her husband begins training on the 11 p.m.-7 a.m. shift tonight, and needs to get some sleep before then.  So I'll take her some coffee and perhaps help with the Little Urchins in 30 minutes or so.  Keeping them quiet will be the challenging part.



=============================
Today, chapters 3 and 4 of Esther.
I made reference yesterday to a book, When God Met A Girl.  You can see more of that here.  I recommend it highly.
And, to be consistent, an accompanying song of the day.  For Such A Time As This, as you see in verse 14 of chapter 4.

Why are we here?  It's an old question, with specific answers for every individual.  None of this is by chance, by accident.
Wife was telling me yesterday about something in an audiobook she'd been listening to while I was at church.  The account, and it's not fiction,  was of a man who had been a prisoner in a death camp run by the Japanese during WW2.  (Yes, the Japanese had some that were intended to kill off as many of the prisoners as possible without just lining them up and machine-gunning them at one swoop, though that happened sometimes as well.  I knew a man who survived the Bataan Death March).  Against all odds, he survived that gruesome experience.  Later, somewhat after the end of the war, responding to the Lord's urging, he made an effort to meet with the guards of that and similar camps, and to express his forgiveness.  And the potential for the Lord to forgive them as well.  A truly remarkable story!   And, praise God, quite of few of those guards became Christians themselves!  And, now, they have a story to tell of love and forgiveness and redemption.  None of which could have happened without that man being a prisoner under those awful conditions, and using that experience to show the love of God.  No, it wasn't just an accident.  Nor was Esther's presence in these conditions.  Nor is your situation, nor mine.  The Lord is at work in the midst of some highly improbable situations.

Esther 3

1After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

2And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

3Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?

4Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.

5And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

6And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

7In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.

8And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.for the…: Heb. meet or, equal, etc.

9If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.that they…: Heb. to destroy thempay: Heb. weigh

10And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.enemy: or, oppressor

11And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.

12Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.scribes: or, secretaries

13And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

14The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.

15The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.

Esther 4

1When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;

2And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

3And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.many…: Heb. sackcloth and ashes were laid under many

4So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.chamberlains: Heb. eunuchs

5Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.appointed…: Heb. set before her

6So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate.

7And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.

8Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.

9And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

10Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;

11All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.

12And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.

13Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.

14For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?enlargement: Heb. respiration

15Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

16Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.present: Heb. found

17So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

===================================
===================================

Psalm 135

1Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the name of the Lord; praise him, O ye servants of the Lord.

2Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God,

3Praise the Lord; for the Lord is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.

4For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

5For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.

6Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.

7He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.

8Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.both…: Heb. from man unto beast

9Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.

10Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;

11Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:

12And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.

13Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations.throughout…: Heb. to generation and generation

14For the Lord will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.

15The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

16They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;

17They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.

18They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.

19Bless the Lord, O house of Israel: bless the Lord, O house of Aaron:

20Bless the Lord, O house of Levi: ye that fear the Lord, bless the Lord.

21Blessed be the Lord out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.

====================================
====================================

2nd Corinthians 7

1Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

3I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

4Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

5For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

6Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

7And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

8For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

9Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

10For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

11For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

12Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

13Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

14For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.

15And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

16I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.