Esther 5:9
“and Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. but when Haman saw
Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.”
reflection: Why is it that people can not be happy with what they have? A person secure with himself would not have even noticed Mordecai or would have easily let it go. That kind of hatred can eat a man’s soul…. and it did.
Prayer: Help me to keep it simple and be glad with what I have.
Esther 4:14
For if you keep silent at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
reflection: I think of the weight this young woman carried. She had the counsel of her uncle but had no mother or father. She had to dig deep within to find the strength to do what needed to be done.
As she said “and if I perish, I perish”
prayer: A prayer to know when I need to speak and have the strength to do so and to also know when silence is the right way.
Esther 3:6
verse “But he distained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made know to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus”
reflection: So much hatred. Where does this deep hatred come from? Where does this need to destroy others come from? Just yesterday a young student at Wesleyan was shot dead as she worked in the bookstore cafe during the early afternoon. The murder, an anti-Semitic had apparently bothered her a few years before and found her again.
I think of what she might have become. I think of the people who were in the store at that time. I think of the two families, who have just entered a nightmare. I think of how blessed I was to be able to call my daughter that night and have her answer.
Prayer: If I ever come face to face with that kind of hatred, guide me.
Esther 2:8
verse “So when the king’s order and his edict were proclaimed, and when many maidens were gathered in Susa the capitol in custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken into the kings palace and put in custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women.”
reflection: I think of all those young women taken from their homes, probably never to go back. Young people whose choices are made for them. Young boys made into eunuchs to be trained to take care of the king’s concubines.
Then I think of the Living Proof students who had an amazing time on retreat. I’m grateful they live in a country where they are free to openly express their beliefs. A country where they can dream about their futures and not have everything decided for them.
In verse 9 it mentions that the maiden [Esther] pleased him and won his favor. There must have been so many young women there, yet she caught his eye. Divine intervention? I wish there was more information about what Esther did that pleased him so much.
Prayer: Every day I give thanks that I live in a country where I can make my own choices about my future.
Esther 1:12
But Queen Vasti refused to come at the king’s command conveyed by the eunuchs. At this the king was enraged, and his anger burned within him.
Reflection: Queen Vasti puzzles me. Why did she refuse to go? Did she have any idea of what the consequences might be? What happened to her? where did she go? Had she been in the kings favor for so long that she felt she could refuse him? Did she not have any confidants that might have advised her of the cultural repercussions? That lose of face for the king would not be tolerated? Needless to say I’ll have to do some research.
prayer; May I be aware of the long term effects a decision of mine can have.
Job 42:3
Who is this that hides councel without knowledge?
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
reflection: It has been something to finally come to the end of Job. I wasn’t sure I was going to make it but I just kept plugging along. It will seem odd not to be working on Job. I sat on the last two chapters for a long time. 41 because the imagery was so rich, and 42 because it was the end. I decided on 42:3 because it reminded me of a show about astronomy that I had seen years ago. A woman was describing a galaxy that had been discovered. As she talked about the galaxy and showed images she pointed out one that seemed so much like a figure. Her face went through a marvelous transformation as she spoke. She said she didn’t believe in God but… that image…. she smiled and shook her head a bit. It have given her pause.
“things too wonderful for me, which I did not know”
Prayer: May I be open to those things which I do not know.
Verse Job 41:27
He counts iron as straw,
and bronze as rotten wood.
reflection: Job 41 describes a leviathan. The imagery creates a nightmarish being that can not be overcome. “He laughs at the sound of javalins”. The epitome of evil. This chapter is so rich with imagery. The storytellers from the beginning of time to now, could not describe the hardness of evil more clearly.
It would seem as though only unselfish, purified good could meet and overcome evil
Reminds me of Mai Lai, Vietnam. American soldiers who realized in a horrifying moment that the evil enemy was their own kind. Soldiers who went against everything that they had been taught in order to do that which was most right. Who saved innocent people.
Prayer: I hope I will be able to face evil and not be fooled by the shape it may take. I hope if asked by life that I will have the strength to do that which is most right.
Job 40:6 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind
reflection: Whirlwind, why does God speak out of a whirlwind? The word reminded me of a poem that I had written down years ago. There was something about that poem that stuck on my mind. I looked through the regular places that I might have tucked it with no luck. Then a few weeks later I found it while looking for something else.
I have bowed before the sun
by Anna Lee Walters
My name is “I am living”
My home is all directions and is everlasting
Instructed and carried to you by the wind
I have felt the feathers in the pale clouds and bowed before the sun
who watches me from a blanket of faded pale blue.
In a gentle whirlwind I was shaken,
made to see on earth in many ways.
And when in awe my mouth fell open
I tasted a fine red clay.
It’s flavor has remained after uncounted days.
this gave me cause to drink frm a crystal stream.
that only I have seen.
So I listened to all it’s flowing wisdom
and learned from it a song.
This song the wind and I
have sung together.
Unknowing, I was encircled by its water and cleansed
Naked and damp I was embraced and dried
by the warmth of your presence
Dressed forever in the scent of dry cedar. I am purified and free.
And I will not allow you to ignore me.
I have brought you a gift
It is all I have but it is yours.
You may reach out and enfold it.
It is only the strength in the caress of
a gentle breeze.
But it will carry you to meet the eagle
in the sky.
My name is “I am living” I am here
My name is “I am living” I am here
I was glad to find the poem. It was just on the surface of my memory.
Prayer: help me to strengthen my discipline in memorizing verses, and poems so that they will always be at hand.
Job 39:22
God is talking about a war horse.
“He laughs at fear, and is not dismayed;
he does not turn back from the sword.”
I’m facing some challenges so this phrase really stuck in my mind. I like the picture of power and strength that it creates. You will not mess with this horse. Anxiousness, worry etc. are not part of it’s thought pattern. I really like how he laughs at fear, which takes away the power fear can have in your life.
Prayer: May I also develop the manner of laughing at fear.
Job 38:7
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
At the beginning of the chapter God answers Job out of the whirlwind. I feel as though I have been on a long rope bridge over a deep gorge. The first part of Job being one side of the bridge and now that God is speaking I feel as though I’ve put my feet on terra firma again. Job’s “friends” were something else.That was a long, intense stretch but I am determined to complete Job. The imagery is so rich in this chapter. It’s as if everything has been grey and now we finally have color again.
I chose this verse because of it’s reference to the stars. I stretch each morning and give myself a bit of time to just look out the window and be. Now the mornings are dark and I stretch with the stars and moonlight. In that short amount of time the stars move from one part of a tree to another, reminding me that we are constantly in motion, moving in space.
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