Nov 28, 2022
ESTHER 1-2:
In the final two chapters of Nehemiah, we heard
of the culmination of Nehemiah’s work— the ceremony for the
dedication of the wall. The people proved that the wall could stand
up to more than just a fox walking on it. Then Nehemiah went back
to Babylon. When he came back to Jerusalem, he needed to right
several wrongs, as the people had allowed a deterioration in the
temple worship.
We now turn to the book of Esther, which may have been written by Mordecai (a major character in the book), or by Ezra or Nehemiah, who would have known this story. The king Xerxes was defeated in a famous naval battle against Greece. From the historian Herodotus we find that the feast mentioned in the first chapter of Esther was the occasion for planning that battle. Esther has been compared to Joseph and David. She also started out as just an ordinary person, but God planned something great for her.
ISAIAH 40b:
The
three memorable musical compositions in Handel’s Messiah that quote
from this chapter are taken from just verses 1-11. We will find
more memorable verses in today’s reading.
PHILEMON:
In
chapter 4 of Colossians we heard Paul encourage alertness in prayer
and making the most of every opportunity to share the Good News.
Our speech should be— when literally translated, ‘seasoned with
salt’. NLT does a nice job translating that meaningfully as
‘attractive’, and GNT also get’s right to the point with
‘interesting’.
Along with other people, Onesimus was mentioned at the end of Colossians. He was the slave of Philemon. It is likely that the letter Paul mentioned “from Laodicea” at the end of Colossians was the letter that we will read now! I wish that we knew if Onesimus was so attracted to the Gospel after over-hearing Paul speak at Philemon’s house that he ran away to search for Paul during the time when he was under house arrest in Rome. Or did Onesimus just run away as any ordinary slave might do and just ‘happen’ to ‘end up’ in prison with Paul in Rome? Each story would be fascinating!
GNT Translation
notes:
Est.
1:3 In the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his
officials and administrators. The [military commanders//armies] of
Persia and Media were present, as well as the governors and
noblemen of the provinces.
====
5
For I hear of your love for all of God's people and [your full
belief//the faith you have] in the Lord Jesus.