Abide Together: Reflections on Esther 6

Esther 6 is one of the most ironic chapters in the entire Bible.  King Ahasuerus discovers that nothing had been done to honor Mordecai after he had saved the King’s life by reporting the two men that were plotting to kill the King.  Therefore, the King was determined to honor Mordecai.  He called in his right hand man, Haman, and asked him what should be done to the man the king desires to honor.  Haman, in all his pride, thought the king was speaking of him.  Therefore, Haman said they should put the royal robe on him, have him ride on one of the king’s horses, put a royal crown on his head and then have one of the king’s princes lead him on a parade through town. The King liked the idea and then had Haman do this for Mordecai. Haman had just planned a party for himself that made him the guest of honor, only to discover that he would have to throw a party for Mordecai as the guest of honor.  The Lord has a way of humbling those who are against HIS purposes and people and Haman is a great example of this truth.  Lord, once again I am reminded of the importance of humility.  True Humility is based in total trust in You.  Connie to grow me in humility.

– Bryan McKenzie

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Abide Together: Reflections on Esther 5

In Esther 5, Esther approaches the King and he gives her favor (really it is the LORD who gives her favor) and receives her request.  She asks that he and Haman attend a banquet prepared for them.  The king and Haman attend and she request they come to anther banquet in their honor the next day.   Human is thrilled and goes home to brag to his wife and friends.  In fact he recounts to them “the glory of his riches, and the number of his sons, and every instance where the king had magnified him and how he had promoted him above all the princes and servants of the king.”   He even bragged how he was the only one Esther had invited to the banquet bedsides the king.  He says however, that all this does not satisfy him as long as Mordecai lives.  So he has a gallows built to have Mordecai hanged on it.  Human pride and arrogance are exaggerated to emphasize how ugly this behavior is.  Pride surely comes before the fall and Haman’s fall will be great.  1 Peter 5:6 exhorts followers of Jesus to, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.”  Lord, keep me humble and always relying on Your grace.

– Bryan McKenzie

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Abide Together: Reflections on Esther 4

In Esther 4, Mordecai and Esther learn of Haman’s plot to kill all the Jews. Mordecai sent would to Esther to have her go to the king and plead for her people, the Jews.  Esther sent to Mordecai and told him the danger of approaching the king when uninvited.  Mordecai sent word back to her and said, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any ore than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish.  And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such as a time as this?” Esther then replied for Mordecai to ask all the Jews to pray for her as she approaches the king to plead for her people.  She said, “if I perish, I perish.”  She came to understand that this was what God was calling her to do and she did it.  Mordecai was a great example to Esther in trusting the LORD, as he refused to bow to Haman with the real possibility of being executed.  Esther followed his example and trusted the Lord in the face of death.  Indeed, the answer to Mordecai’s question of Esther attaining royalty was for this very time.  Her actions would be used by God to protect His people and the promise of the coming Messiah.  Lord, help me trust You and stand for Your truth regardless of the cost to me.

– Bryan McKenzie

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Abide Together: Reflections on Esther 3

“Haman is Hitler.” That was my first thought today as I read this chapter. Like Hitler, he was working toward the extermination of the entire Jewish race. Haman was so prideful and arrogant that he couldn’t stand to have one Jew, Mordecai, who would refuse to bow down to him. Haman understood that other Jews would probably follow Mordecai’s example and so rather than addressing his one issue, he decided to just kill everyone who might rise up against him. Haman was not flexible.

Like Haman, how often have I allowed my pride to influence my decisions? Like Mordecai, have I stood up for God and refused to bow down to idols?  

I’m also struck by how easily the King is convinced by Haman. He seemed to have complete trust in Haman and didn’t appear to ask anything about the details of Haman’s plan.

Like the King, when have I trusted the wrong people? Do I seek God’s counsel in my decision making? 

The last thing I noticed today was how the king’s edict was similar to our own situation. The edict was put in place by the king and could not be changed. It called for the death of the Jews. There is a similar edict against each of us that we read about in Romans 6:23 – “The wages of sin is death.” This was also issued by the king and cannot be changed. We find ourselves in the same position as the Jews in Esther’s time. We are doomed unless someone comes to rescue us. As the story of Esther continues we will see a rescue. In our own lives, Jesus has come! We have a Savior! I cannot express how grateful I am for a Sovereign God who has already worked in the Esther story to put the right characters in place for Israel’s rescue. He has done the same for me. In addition to Jesus’ provision and salvation, I discover His sovereign hand each and every day. He is so good to me.

Steve Corn

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Abide Together: Reflections on Esther 2

In Esther 2, King Ahasuerus, at the advice of his attendants, sent out people to gather all the young beautiful virgins together.  It would be from this group of girls that he would choose the next Queen.  In Susa, the main city, lived a Jew named Mordecai who was bringing up his young cousin, Esther, as his own daughter.  She was chosen to be part of the harem from which the King would choose the next Queen.  Mordecai instructed her not tell anyone that she was a Jew.  King Ahasuerus chose Esther to be the next Queen.  Near the same time, Mordecai heard of a plot to kill the King and he reported it, which saved the King.  All these things the LORD was using to eventually preserve His people, the Jews, from whose line the Messiah would come and bring Salvation from sin.  The every day events of life that often do not make sense, are being used to bring about the LORD’s plan of redemption.  LORD, help me see every event in life as meaningful to Your purposes and plans to redeem people from all over the world.  Thank You for always being at work to bring about Your gracious plan.

– Bryan McKenzie

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Abide Together: Reflections on Esther 1

In Esther 1, King Ahasuerus of Persia threw a 7 day banquet to celebrate his greatness.  On the 7th day of the banquet after 7 days of drinking, he decided to have Queen Vashti come and parade her beauty before his guests.  Queen Vashti refused to come.  King Ahasuerus was furious and ended up banning her from his presence.  He also decided to give her position to someone else.  His sin of pride and wanting to expose his wife was awful, yet the LORD was still Sovereign and would use this unbelievers’ sin to bring about his purposes of protecting the Jews and the promise of the Messiah coming through the Jews.  Lord thank You, that You are not intimated by sin, nor can Your purposes be hindered by sin.

– Bryan McKenzie

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Abide Together: Reflections on Nehemiah 8

In Nehemiah 8, Ezra the scribe was asked to bring out the book of the Law of Moses and read before people.  The people stood in reverence as he read the Word. Upon hearing the Word of God read the people worshipped the Lord. The Levites read from the Word of God and then translated it to give the meaning so the people would understand.  Then the people obeyed the the Word of God that said they should celebrate the Feasts of Booths, which had not been done since the days of Joshua. The Word of God is read, it is explained and the people obey.  This is the pattern in the Bible that brings about change in the lives of people.  This is the wain which the Lord makes His people more like Jesus.  Lord, help me be diligently to read, study, teach and obey Your would so that You will be glorified in and through me.

– Bryan McKenzie

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Abide Together: Reflections on Nehemiah 2

In Nehemiah 2, Nehemiah approaches King Artaxerxes of Persia to request permission to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls around the city.  The King grants his request and even sends letters giving Nehemiah the authority to rebuild as well as providing the materials to rebuild the walls.  Nehemiah surveys the damage and then shares his plan with the Jews living in Jerusalem. As they began the work, they received opposition.  Nehemiah understood that the rebuilding of the wall would not happen, because he was a great leader or had a great plan – but instead it would happen because the LORD gave him favor.  In verse 8 Nehemiah says, “And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me.”  When Nehemiah shares his plan with the Jews in Jerusalem he says in verse 18, “I told them how the hand my God had been favorable to me…”  And when there was opposition Nehemiah encouraged the people in verse 20 with, “The God of heaven will give us success.”  If anything is to be accomplished for the glory of God, HE must be in it providing favor and the power to accomplish it.  LORD, remind me that if I am to be used for Your glory, it will be because You have granted me the favor and power to accomplish the good work which You have prepared for me to walk in.

– Bryan McKenzie

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Abide Together: Reflections on Zechariah 8

In Zechariah 8, the LORD through Zechariah promises to come and dwell with is people in Jerusalem.  Based on this promise HE charges the people to live righteously before him.  God’s promises should always be an encouragement to live righteously.  He promises peace and blessing to Israel.  Based on HIS grace to Israel many other nations will seek HIM.  These promises were initially and partially fulfilled in the first coming of Jesus and will ultimately be fulfilled in HIS second coming and the establishment of a new heaven and new earth.  The thing that stood out to me this morning was the statement in verse 3 that says, “Then Jerusalem will be call the City of Truth.”  It will be called the City of Truth, because Jesus will be there and HE is the Truth. What a great day that will be!  However, as one who knows Jesus now – HE lives in me.  Therefore, Truth lives in me and empowers me to walk in Truth.  LORD, remind me daily that Truth live in me in the person of Jesus, so that I might talk in Truth.

– Bryan McKenzie

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Abide Together: Reflections on Haggai 1

Haggai 1 records the LORD’s message to the people who had return from Babylon to Jerusalem.  Although they had finished the foundation of the Temple in 536 BC they had not continued to work on completing the Temple. Instead, they had become self centered and focused on their own concerns, not those of the LORD.  Now 16 years later in 520 BC the LORD speaks through Haggai and calls the people to obey HIS Word and get back to the work of the Temple.  The people obeyed and the Temple was completed in just 4 years in 516 BC.  It is a constant battle to not become distracted by the things of this world and place those things as priorities over the LORD and HIS work.  LORD, by Your grace empower me to always put You and Your work of taking the Gospel to the world before all else.

– Bryan McKenzie

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