365 Days of Pursuit.org

OVERVIEW:

Eliphaz’s scathing accusations against Job; Job’s desire to plead his case before God; Bildad’s attack on Job; Job’s desperate seeking for God.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we continue today in the book of Job, we find that Job’s counselors, called “friends”, are increasingly losing control of their emotions in this “discussion” they are having with Job. Up to this point, they have twisted words and circumstances to fit their own ideas and agendas, but in chapter 22, Eliphaz enters into the realm of just blatantly saying things that are not true. Notice that in the list that Colossians 3:8–9 tell us to “put off”, that there is a progression: “But now ye also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.” That progression can most certainly be followed with Job’s friends. They first became “angry” with Job’s refusal to confess his “secret sin”, and now they have worked themselves up through “wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of their mouth.” and now, through Eliphaz, lying! Take note of this progression the next time you allow “anger” to move back into your being. Deal with it immediately, lest you find yourself in the vortex described in Colossians 3:8–9!

As we begin chapter 22, we enter into the third and final round of this bout with Job and his three friends who came with the intention of confronting and counseling him through his time of trial. There is a great overriding lesson to be learned through the “ministry” of Job’s counselors. They remind us that even those of us who seek to minister the word of God to others with the absolute best possible intentions, can be guilty of breaking people to pieces with our words, even while we think we’re doing what God would have us do, and thinking we’re saying what God would have us say. Job’s friends had all of their theological “i’s” dotted just right, and all of their doctrinal “t’s” crossed to perfection, they just didn’t have a clue about how to apply them. We must allow their negative example to cause us to totally depend upon God’s grace to help us to learn to listen as we counsel those in need, and to be sure that we actually understand the biblical meaning of the words that can, at times, so easily roll off of our lips.

After Eliphaz delivers his scathing address in chapter 22, Job is so incredibly low that he has nowhere else to look, but up. All he can do is desperately seek for God. As tough as that is, it’s actually not a bad place to be in the light of Deuteronomy 4:29, the theme verse of our 365 Days of Pursuit! In chapters 23 and 24, Job does just that; he desperately seeks God.

In chapter 25, Bildad re-enters the ring. He opens his final remarks by declaring an indisputable truth, followed by a leading question, which leads to a series of questions that form his conclusion. In response, Job will ask some questions of his own in chapter 26. He fires back six questions that Job’s friends absolutely cannot answer. It is interesting to consider these same questions as questions that could and may be asked each of us at the Judgment Seat of Christ! After firing out these questions in 26:1–4, the remainder of the chapter is an unbelievable cosmological discourse that has proven to be several years ahead of “modern” science.

As we move into chapters 27 and 28, we are able to get a glimpse of Job’s incredible spirit. As you read through his “speech”, ask yourself whether you could maintain the integrity of your heart the way Job has. It is sobering to think that every one of us makes the choice of whether or not we will offer our absolute surrender to Christ every single day of our life. Let’s all make that surrender this day.

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through JOB’S faithfulness to God through his suffering — Job 23:1–12 (Christ’s faithfulness to the Father is seen as He prayed for the Father’s will to be done – Luke 22:42)

OVERVIEW:

The continuation of Job’s defense of himself; Bildad’s continued accusations; Job’s response to Bildad; Zophar’s accusation that Job is a wicked man; Job’s response to Zophar.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As yesterday’s reading came to a close in chapter 16, we saw that Job’s expression of what he was going through speaks prophetically of what was taking place in the heart and mind of our Lord Jesus Christ as He hung on the cross.  As Job continues his speech in chapter 17, the picture also continues. When Job says in verse 7, “Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow,” we see a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ consumed with the weight of our sin. “The innocent” in verse 8, who “shall stir up himself against the hypocrite”, is obviously a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ, of Whom Job’s innocence is simply foreshadowing. Christ is the innocent Saviour who died for the guilty.  

Note that chapter 17 is also a great reminder of one of the great paradoxes of life: winners don’t always win and losers don’t always lose. Many times the godly suffer, while the wicked prosper. 

In chapter 18, Bildad presents his second “sermon” to convince Job that there must be some secret sin that has been the cause of his intense persecution and suffering. As only God’s supernatural book has the ability to do, God’s record of Bildad’s words provide us unbelievable information about the antichrist and the time of Tribulation. The subject of the passage appears for the first time in verse 5, as reference is made to “the wicked”.  The reference to “the wicked” in the book of Job is a prophetic foreshadowing of “that Wicked” (the antichrist) whom Paul mentions in 2^nd Thessalonians 2:8. Verse 21 of this 18^th chapter looks to the coming antichrist, and to his ultimate destination in hell: “Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.”   

Chapter 19 opens with Job’s response to Bildad’s discourse. Job’s words are like a triple-exposure picture pointing to Christ’s suffering on the cross, the Jew suffering in the Tribulation, and the lost man suffering in hell. The common denominator shared by these three pictures is the fact that they are all the objects of God’s wrath. (19:11–12) The three-fold imagery is further seen in 19:13–19, as it points to:

• ISRAEL as a proverb and a by-word of reproach.
• CHRIST counted as an enemy by the armies of God as He hung on the cross.
• the LOST MAN forever separated from everyone he knows and loves in hell. 

Verses 25–27 of chapter 19 are the spiritual climax of the book. Job’s words in these verses comprise one of the greatest confessions of faith in the entire Bible. He declares that the Redeemer is alive and well; that He will physically be present on the earth in “the latter day”, and that the believer will live in a new physical body! That’s some pretty awesome theology for a guy who didn’t have a single page of the Bible!

In chapter 20, it’s Zophar’s turn to take his shots at Job. Once again, the record of his words give us greater insight into the coming antichrist, “that wicked”.

In chapter 21, Job has been brought to a place of utter frustration with his counselors. His words point to the future judgment and conquest of the antichrist’s false system by the Lord Jesus Christ. 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As “THE INNOCENT” — Job 17:8 (Christ is the innocent Saviour who died for the guilty – Matthew 27:4)

• Through JOB as the one whom God’s WRATH was presumably kindled against – Job 19:11 (2^nd Corinthians 5:21)

• As the REDEEMER – Job 19:25 (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:14; Revelation 5:9)

OVERVIEW:

Job’s affirmation of faith in God’s wisdom; Job’s defense of his righteous testimony; Eliphaz’s intensified accusations and condemnation; Job’s complaint of God’s dealing with him.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As yesterday’s reading ended in chapter 11, Zophar had just completed his scathing accusations against Job. As Job’s three friends have all taken their turn to pound him, Job has been so overcome with grief he hasn’t actually addressed the attacks they’ve hurled against him. That changes in chapter 12. He’s had just about all of their pious, “godly counsel” he could stand! Something in our humanness says, “Go, Job! Put ’em in their place!” Job tells his friends, in effect, that their problem is that they have a whole lot of knowledge, they just don’t have a whole lot of wisdom and understanding. Nothing could be more descriptive of many (or shall we go as far as to say most?) believers in the 21^st century!

In chapters 13 and 14, Job continues his answer to his critics, who see themselves as his self-appointed counselors. Job is finally collecting his thoughts and verbalizing them with much greater boldness, as he defends the righteousness of his testimony. In 13:9–12, Job hurls some accusations of his own. He accuses his three friends of mocking God, of secretly being “respecters of persons”, of not fearing God, and failing to remember that they are also mortal bodies of clay that will ultimately return to ashes.

By the time we come to verses 20–22 of chapter 13, Job presents God with two ultimatums: “Knock off the tribulation. Let’s talk! Either You ask me, or allow me to ask You, what in the world is going on?!” 

Recognizing that God hadn’t seen fit to take away his trials, Job decides that he’ll ask God a series of four questions that he wants Him to answer. (13:23-25)

As we move into chapter 14, Job is still addressing God, not his human “counselors”. In chapter 15, however, Eliphaz throws his hat back into the ring. He begins with a series of questions for Job, along with a few carefully placed and spaced “digs”. Basically, Eliphaz tells Job that he has a heart problem, and that it can even be detected in his eyes. He tells Job that his spirit is in rebellion against God, and the proof of it is in the words that he has spoken. May God spare us from ever being so judgmental of people, especially when we don’t know all of the facts, and especially since we never really know how God is actually working in a person’s life!

As we begin chapter 16, Job begins to unload his frustration. From an historical standpoint, he is simply sharing what he is going through. It is, however, an incredible chapter from a prophetic standpoint. Chapter 16 is one of six chapters in the Old Testament that show us what was taking place in the heart and mind of the Lord Jesus Christ as He hung on the cross. The other chapters are Job 30, Isaiah 50, 52, and 53, and Psalm 22. In this chapter, Job is a picture of Christ, deserted by the Father, and hanging on the cross in our place.

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• Through the SMITING OF JOB — Job 16:10 (Christ was also struck by His accusers — Matthew 27:29–44; John 18:22–33; Psalm 22:7–8; 109:25; Isaiah 53)

• Through JOB SUFFERING NOT FOR HIS OWN SIN – Job 16:17 (2^nd Corinthians 5:21)

OVERVIEW:

Job continues his response to Eliphaz: Job reproaches his friends; Bildad’s theory about Job’s tribulation; Job’s response to Bildad; Zophar’s accusations against Job.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we saw in yesterday’s reading, Eliphaz was the first of Job’s friends to offer his “counsel”. (Job 3-4) In chapter 6, Job responds to Eliphaz’s speech. As we move into chapter 7 today, Job is in the midst of continuing his response. It’s as if he opens his soul and cries out, “If there is a set time for man to be upon the earth, surely my time is about up!” (7:1) Through all that has befallen Job, he has been brought to the total depths of despair. He feels there’s nothing left to look forward to in life but long, empty days and sleepless nights. (7:3–4) On one hand, he’s afraid his life is over, and on the other hand, he’s afraid that maybe it isn’t! In the midst of it all, however, Job has no clue that the things that have happened to him were actually the result of how blessed God was with Job’s godly character and pure heart. Job simply assumes that because all of these horrific things happened to him, for some unknown reason, God must have been displeased with him. As we read of Job’s awful plight, certainly our hearts go out to him. If we put ourselves in Job’s situation, we certainly have no problem understanding why he is so distraught. As Job brings his response to Elizphaz to a conclusion at the end of chapter 7, he readily admits that he is a sinner like everybody else, but holds tenaciously to the fact that his “tribulation” is not because of some secret sin in his life that he is refusing to confess.

Then in chapter 8, Bildad, the second of Job’s friends begins his “counsel”. Whereas Eliphaz at least made an attempt to grace his accusation that Job must be guilty of some secret sin, Bildad goes right for Job’s spiritual jugular. In effect, he tells Job that he’s sick of listening to his excuses, and that he’s full of hot air. If that weren’t assaulting enough, he even has the audacity to tell Job that his 10 children also had to be guilty of sin, and that they had gotten from God’s hand exactly what they deserved. Wow! With friends like Bildad who needs enemies?! Do be aware, however, that there are “Bildads” in every church. They are typically well-intentioned, but they are majorly misinformed! The typical problem with these people, however, just as in Bildad’s case, is that it is impossible to convince them of that. Basically, Bildad points the finger at Job and tells him that if he would simply pray and earnestly seek God, all of his “tribulation” would go away. As our wealth of biblical knowledge increases, we must be very careful that we don’t turn into a bunch of “Bildads”! We must guard against the pride that causes us to think that we know why every person goes through the things they go through. As Job can tell us, that arrogant and judgmental attitude can be extremely hurtful. Like Bildad, we can also be very wrong!

In chapter 9, Job responds to Bildad’s accusations. Though there were many things he could have said to defend himself, much of what Job chose to do was admit the truth of Bildad’s words. Do note that most of the things that all three of Job’s friends said to him were actually true. They all possessed a great deal of information about God and His ways. They were simply off in their timing and application of that truth.

Note the seven “IF’s” in chapter 9: 

• the 1^st “IF” – (9:16–18);
• the 2^nd “IF” – (9:19);
• the 3^rd “IF” – (9:20a);
• the 4^th “IF” – (9:20b–26);
• the 5^th “IF” – (9:27–28);
• the 6^th “IF” – (9:29);
• the 7^th “IF” – (9:30–35).

As chapter 10 begins, Job sets forth a series of questions for God. Job wants to know how God could understand the sufferings of a man, since He had never been one. Obviously, Job could say that in his day. But no one in the world has been able to register that complaint against God for the past 2000 years, because God has since become a man. We now have a God who is “touched with the feeling of our infirmities” (Hebrews 4:15a) because He became one of us, and was “tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15b) Because of that, Paul tells us in Hebrews 4:16, that we can “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help him in time of need.”

In chapter 11, Zophar, the third of Job’s friends begins to offer his “loving counsel.” He, too, comes on with both feet, saying, in effect, “Job, I’m not going to let you get by with all of your meaningless talk and lies!” (11:2–3) Like Bildad and Eliphaz, he also tells Job that it’s obvious that what he needs to do is repent, get his heart right with God, and everything would be all right.

Have you ever been an Eliphaz, Bildad, or Zophar, all up in somebody’s face, thinking you knew what they needed, when what they really needed was someone to simply be a loving friend to them? Maybe there’s someone you need to contact today, seeking their forgiveness for your haughty spirit and judgmental attitude.

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• Through JOB’S SORROWFUL CONDITION — Job 7:1–6 (Christ is called “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” — Isaiah 53:3; Mark 15:34)

• Through the “DAYSMAN” (mediator) Job longed for — Job 9:33 (The Lord Jesus Christ is the only mediator (daysman) between holy God and sinful men. —  2^nd Timothy 2:5)

OVERVIEW:

Job’s godly character and wealth; the dialogue between God and Satan; Satan permitted to afflict Job; the negative counsel of Job’s wife; Job’s three friends come to visit; the first speech of Eliphaz; Job’s response.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Job is one of the most incredible men in the entire Bible! In fact, he was of such impeccable character that God Himself used the sacrifice, service, and surrender of Job to get in Satan’s face in Job chapter 1. As God and Satan dialogue concerning him, Satan basically told God that the only reason Job did the things he did, and was the man he was, was because of all the good things God had done for him. In other words, Satan accused God of “buying” Job’s affection. Satan tells God, “You take all of your blessing away, and see how worthy Job thinks You are of his follow-ship and service!”

God tells Satan to go ahead and do whatever he wanted to do to Job, without harming Job’s physical condition. And boy, did he! In one day, Job gets word that all of his oxen and donkeys had been killed, along with all of his servants who kept them; that fire had fallen from the sky and burned up all the sheep, along with those who tended them; and that all of his camels had been stolen, and his servants who kept them had been murdered. His entire fortune had been lost in only a few hours! But then to make the news of all of those dreadful things seem rather trivial and somewhat insignificant, he gets word that all of his sons and daughters had been at the eldest brother’s house for a family gathering when a tornado hit the house, killing every last one of them!

What would your response to God be if all of these things had befallen you? Would God still be God to you? Would you still consider Him good? Would He be worthy of your follow-ship? Would you, or could you praise Him?

Note also, a few practical things it will be important for us to glean from these chapters:

Concerning Satan: Satan is extremely powerful, but not all-powerful. Though he “goes to and fro in the earth…walking up and down in it,” the book of Job lets us know he is actually on God’s leash! He can only go as far as God permits him. That lets us know that everything that takes place in our lives is either APPOINTED by God, or ALLOWED of God. Take heart! 

Concerning Suffering: Suffering is not a matter of misfortune or bad luck, nor is it always chastisement from God for some wrong that we have refused to remove out of our lives. Sometimes we suffer for doing what is right. God’s own testimony of Job was that he “was perfect and upright and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” (1:1, 8) 

Concerning People: As well-meaning as people can sometimes be, they can also be used by Satan, as in the case of Job’s “friends”, to criticize, accuse, and condemn, thinking they have everything all figured out, when they don’t really know all of the facts, and are functioning off of human reasoning, temporal values, and half-truths.

Some of the things in the book of Job that are not as easily seen as some of those practical gleanings just listed, have been laid out in one of the most incredible commentaries I have ever read. The commentary is entitled: Job: Adventures in the Land of Uz! and was written by Pastor Jeff Adams. (It can be obtained through realitylivingpublishing.com)

Jeff writes,

“In Job, God gives us an incredible illustration of believers in tribulation. If ever anyone qualified for enduring tribulation it was Job! Remember that the next major event on God’s prophetic calendar is a seven-year period we often call the “Tribulation” which will fall upon this earth. Some of the prophecies in the book of Revelation are incredible and probe the limits of our imagination. To help us understand, God has given us the story of a man named Job. More than a simple story about his trials, Job is a wonderful picture of the coming time of Tribulation, and helps us to better understand the future.

“As you approach Job’s book, consider the picture that is drawn. The parallels between what happened to Job and the prophecies of the coming time of Tribulation are too many to be mere coincidence…  

“The story of Job takes place in the land of Uz, exactly where the faithful remnant of Jews will be hidden during the Tribulation. Uz always has a connection with Edom in the Bible, and the famous “Petra” (from the Greek word for “rock”) is in Edom, the refuge God has prepared for His people… 

“Job sits in his misery for seven days, while his friends look on speechless. In the coming Tribulation, the Jews will suffer at the hands of the antichrist for a seven-year period. The world will be powerless to help, and most will genuinely believe that they are only getting what they deserve. Don’t think that World War II did away with anti-Semitism.

“Actually, the “Great Tribulation” is the last half of the seven years, though we often apply the word “Tribulation” to the entire period. The first three and a half years are a time of false peace, when the antichrist comes into power through a brilliant series of treaties that brings peace to the Middle East, and structures a disarmament. (Daniel 8:11-14, 25, 9:27; Isaiah 28:18)

“At midpoint of this seven-year period the antichrist breaks his treaty with Israel, and in the reconstructed Jewish temple, declares himself to be God. This is the abomination spoken of by Daniel. (Daniel 9:27; 8:13-14; 11:31; Matthew 24:15) These last three and a half years are of world war and great destruction. The book of Revelation counts it as a period of 42 months. (Revelation 11:2) Chapter divisions in the Bible were not added until several hundred years ago, and most people may not believe that God had anything to do with it.  But it is interesting to notice that Job has 42 chapters…  

“Very few people can boast that the devil himself has personally persecuted them, but Job could. He was the direct target of Satan. This is also a figure of what will happen to Israel in the time of Tribulation. Israel will be attacked by the very devil…

“At the end of the book of Job, Job’s captivity is turned, and he receives double all that he lost. In similar way, the captivity of Israel will be turned around after the purging of the Tribulation, and will be restored to the position of blessing.”

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In the dialogue between God and Satan — Job 1:6–12 (Through it we can understand the meaning of Christ’s statement to Peter, that Satan desired to “sift [him] as wheat”. — Luke 22:31)

OVERVIEW:

King Ahasuerus issues another decree allowing the Jews to defend themselves and destroy their enemies; the Jews defeat and destroy their enemies; the feast of Purim is instituted to commemorate this victory; Mordecai’s prosperity and promotion.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

To this point in our overview of the book of Esther, our emphasis has primarily been on the storyline, or the “historical” application. What an intriguing story it is! It is literally packed full of all the things that typically hold our interest as humans when reading a story: a villain, a hero, hatred, love, danger, and romance. While all of these things have been recorded in Esther’s book with precise historical accuracy, it is important to note that in the “doctrinal” or “prophetic” application, this story is actually an incredible picture of the unfolding daily “drama” of the Christian life as “the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.” (Galatians 5:17)

From the perspective of the “doctrinal/prophetic” application (i.e. what a verse, passage, chapter, or book of the Bible is actually “teaching” us through the “real-life” illustrations in pictures and types):

• King Ahasuerus is a picture of the human soul, and particularly our will. (Where DECISIONS are made, POLICIES are determined, and DECREES are put into motion.)
• Vashti is a picture of the fallen human spirit, representing our “old” or “fallen” nature.
• Esther is a picture of the human spirit, revived by the Holy Spirit, representing our “new” nature.
• Mordecai is a picture of the Holy Spirit.
• Haman is a picture of the flesh.  

With these pictures in mind, understand that it is a monumental thing when Ahasuerus gives his ring to Haman in chapter 3:10, for whoever has possession of the king’s ring has the “power” or, is “in control”. Chapter 3 becomes, then, a perfect picture of the flesh (Haman) in control, “lusting against the Spirit (Mordecai)”, and chapter 4 becomes a perfect picture of the “Spirit (Mordecai) lusting against the flesh (Haman)”.

Note also in chapter 4, that when the flesh (Haman) is in control, the Spirit (Mordecai) is “grieved”. What an incredibly graphic and horribly sad glimpse of what actually takes place in “the midst of our city” (or, on the inside of us) when the flesh is “wearing the ring” or, is “in control” of our lives. We “grieve” the Holy Spirit of God within us! (Ephesians 4:30) Oh, what a difference it would make if we could only see and hear what Esther 4:1 describes through the picture of Mordecai, as the Holy Spirit in us is wearing “sackcloth and ashes” and weeping with a “loud and bitter cry”. God help us!

Notice also in today’s reading in Chapter 8, that because of the law of the Medes and Persians (8:8), the king could not cancel the decree that had been written to put the Jews to death. The only way to prevent the execution demanded by the old law was to institute and implement a new law. It is a perfect picture of what Paul revealed to us in Romans chapter 8. The law of sin and death (the Old Testament) is binding and in effect. “The wages of sin” is most certainly “death”. (Romans 6:23a) There is no reversing that. The only remedy is the institution and implementation of the new law provided in and through our Lord Jesus Christ that supersedes the old law, “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus”. (Romans 8:2) Hallelujah!

In light of these incredible pictures, Esther 8:8 also becomes a beautiful verse that pictures for us the New Testament teaching of the “eternal security of the believer.” As pictured in the law of the Medes and Persians, once something had received the “sealing” of the king, no man had the ability to reverse it, not even the king himself! In the New Testament, Ephesians 1:12–14 and 4:30 teach us that the moment we called on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, trusting Him alone for our salvation, He “sealed” us with His own Spirit! Ephesians 1:14 even calls this “sealing” the “earnest” (or “down payment” and literally, “engagement ring!”), guaranteeing our complete redemption, and the inheritance of eternal life. May we not only rejoice, but rest in the fact that when the King of creation and salvation seals us with His Holy Spirit, we are secure in Him for all of eternity! (Also see Daniel 6:17.)

Esther 8:10–14 is a beautiful picture of the urgency of taking the life and death message of the gospel to the ends of the earth. Observe how the scribes hurriedly wrote the message and the official ambassadors quickly took the “good news” to the four corners of the kingdom. Likewise, we have become the King’s “ambassadors” commissioned to take the message of “good news” to the four corners of the globe while we still have time! Note also, that when the Jews received the message of “good news”, namely, that the OLD law ensuring DEATH had been superseded by a NEW law ensuring LIFE, it not only provided deliverance, but incredible rejoicing! 

In chapter 9, note that the Jews avenged themselves of their enemies, trusting God to destroy them all; all 75,810 of them! (75,000 in 9:16; 500 in 9:6; 300 in 9:15; and the 10 sons of Haman in 9:13.) Note also in chapter 9, while comprehending the actual history of what actually was happening in Esther’s day, at least six powerful New Testament principles concerning the Christian life that apply directly to believers in our day:

Principle #1: What I do to ensure victory TODAY, is the same thing I must do to ensure victory TOMORROW.  (9:12–13)

The middle of verse 13 says, “…do tomorrow also according to this day’s decree…” The victory in the Christian life is simply a matter of reckoning our death to self and Christ’s life within us on a daily basis. (Romans 6:11; 2^nd Corinthians 4:10–11; 1^st Corinthians 15:31)

Principle #2: Even though my flesh is already dead, I must take it out daily and nail it to the cross. (9:13–14)

The end of verse 13 says, “…and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.”  Notice that the ten sons of Haman were already dead, but they still took them out and hanged them the next day. (See Romans 6:11–15)

Principle #3: In order to attain and sustain victory in my spiritual walk, my motives must be free of self-interests. (9:10b, 15b,16b)

Verse 10 says, “…but on the spoil laid they not their hand.” Verse 15 says, “…but on the prey they laid not their hand.” Verse 16 says, “…but they laid not their hands on the prey.”

See 1^st Corinthians 6:19–20.

Principle #4: As I walk in the victory of the fullness and power of the Spirit, God’s love will be shed abroad through me causing me to fulfill the “one another” commands of scripture toward my brothers and sisters and causing me to express compassion for the poor. (9:22)

See Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love…” See Romans 5:5, “…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” See the New Testament “one another” commands. (John 13:34; Romans 12:5, 10, 16; 13:8; 14:13, 19; 15:5, 7, 14; 16:16; 1^st Corinthians 4:6; 6:7; 11:33; 12:25; 16:20; Galatians 5:13, 15, 26; Ephesians 4:2, 25, 32; 5:21; Colossians 3:9, 13, 16; 1^st Thessalonians 3:12; 4:18; 5:11; 1^st Timothy 5:21; Hebrews 13:13; 10:24-25; James 4:11; 5:9, 16; 1^st Peter 1:22; 3:8; 4:9-10; 5:5, 14; 1^st John 1:7; 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11)

See Galatians 2:10, “…remember the poor.”

Principle #5: There is a memorial feast that I am to celebrate in remembrance of the day God turned my inevitable destruction into deliverance and salvation. (9:17–32)

See 1^st Corinthians 11:23–26.

Principle #6: I must constantly remember that God’s Spirit (Mordecai) will not override my will (King Ahasuerus), and only through yielding my will to Him will I ever experience the spiritual wealth and peace of the Spirit in the kingdom I call my life. (10:1–3)

See Romans 6:13–22.        

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through MORDECAI — Esther 10:3. He became “next unto the king” after delivering God’s people from sure destruction. Jesus “sat down on the right hand of God” after delivering us all from sure destruction. (Hebrews 10:12–14)


OVERVIEW:

Mordecai and the Jews mourn over the king’s commandment to destroy them; Esther and Mordecai work a plan to save the Jews; Esther plans a banquet for the king at which she makes her request of him to save her people, the Jews; the king belatedly honors Mordecai for his service to him in uncovering the assassination plot; Esther accuses Haman before the king and Haman is executed. 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

In chapter 4, Mordecai grieves and weeps in sackcloth and ashes in the streets of the city over the decree issued by the king to destroy the Jewish race. He does this right in the king’s gate where everyone could see him, without fearing the consequences, and certainly without being ashamed of his God or his people. Esther, not understanding why Mordecai was expressing such extreme public emotion (and commotion!), sends a servant to find out what was wrong. Mordecai sends word back to her explaining his actions, along with a copy of the king’s decree to exterminate the Jews, so she might understand just how desperate the situation actually was. Mordecai proceeds to convince Esther that she is the one that God wants to use to deliver His people, suggesting that her rise to such an exalted position in the kingdom might well have been “for such a time as this.” (4:14) We must admire Esther, for she presents herself before the king as a “living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1) to do God’s will, knowing she could die if the king doesn’t hold out the golden scepter to her. 

Based on Mordecai and Esther’s behavior, we would do well to ask ourselves two simple but very sobering introspective questions: 

• Am I like Mordecai in that I am deeply concerned for those who are condemned?  
• Am I like Esther in that I am willing to sacrifice myself to intercede on behalf of those who are facing inevitable judgment?

Rather than just being forthright with her request to the king concerning her people, however, Esther very wisely presents herself before him, extending what might be considered somewhat of a formal invitation to attend a special banquet that she wanted to prepare for him and Haman. She was obviously keenly aware of the king’s strong affinity for food and wine, and decided her best chance for getting her request granted would be when the king was of a “merry heart”. (Proverbs 15:13, 15; 17:22) At the banquet, the king asks Esther what was on her mind, and confirms his willingness to grant her petition, even if it were for half of the kingdom! Once again, rather than present such a grave and monumental request at an inappropriate or inopportune time, she chooses to invite him to yet another banquet on the following day. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

As Esther’s first banquet came to an end, Haman walks out feeling like he was sitting on top of the world! He ponders the fact that not only was he the king’s “right-hand man” but that he was the only man in the entire kingdom that the queen invited to her special banquet. As he walks past the king’s gate after the banquet, however, he once again finds himself enraged because of Mordecai’s refusal to do obeisance to him. When he gets home, he tells his wife and friends about the “high” of his day, with the special “honor” of his exclusive time with the king and queen, and the “low” of his day, with that “despicable Jew” not bowing to him in the gate! They suggest for Haman to command gallows to be made for Mordecai’s “terrible insurrection” and that he be hanged on them the next day.

At the same time that Haman is plotting these things against Mordecai in his house, for some strange reason, the king, in his house, finds himself unable to sleep. He commands that the recent chronicles of his kingship be read to him, and as they are, he is reminded of how that it was Mordecai that was used to foil the recent assassination attempt against him. He is also reminded that no kindness had been extended to Mordecai for his heroic deed, so he decides to do something special to honor him but found himself at a loss for just exactly how to do it. He hears that Haman is in the court, and calls him in to seek his counsel on what he thought would be an appropriate way for the king to bestow honor upon a very special individual. Thinking that the king must certainly have been referring to him, Haman wastes no time concocting an extravagant plan to exalt himself before all the people. The king thought Haman’s plan was absolutely perfect and was excited to see it enacted. What a humiliating shock it was to Haman when the king gave him the personal assignment to see that every last detail of his plan be lavished upon “Mordecai the Jew”! (6:10) Haman was so beside himself that he immediately goes home to tell his wife and his counselors what had unfolded in his meeting with the king, and rather than attempt to encourage him, they basically tell him that this will prove to be something he will not be able to overcome. (6:13) While they were discussing this matter, the king’s chamberlains came to tell Haman that it was time for Esther’s second banquet.

As the banquet begins in chapter 7, the king is very anxious to find out just what the request is that Esther has in her heart, and why it was that she was being so mysterious about it all. When she finally tells the king that there was a conspiracy unfolding to exterminate her and her people, the king is absolutely wroth! He wants to know immediately “who” it is that has devised such a heinous plan, and “where” is he! What an unbelievable surprise it is to the king when Esther points across the table and says, “The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman.” The chapter ends with the king ordering that Haman be executed upon the very gallows that he had commanded to be built to hang Mordecai.                  

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through ESTHER – Esther 5–7.  Esther goes before the king pleading for the salvation of her people knowing it may cost a very high price: her own life! Jesus goes before the Father (or King) on our behalf as our Advocate (1^st John 2:1, Revelation 12:9–10) to plead our case for forgiveness considering the very high price He had to pay to obtain it: His own life!


OVERVIEW:

Vashti (a Gentile woman) is removed from her royal position as queen; Esther (a Jewish woman) is chosen to be the new queen; the evil plot of Haman against the whole Jewish race.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

The events of Esther take place between Ezra 6 and 7. When verse 3 of Esther chapter 1 sets the time as the third year of Ahasuerus, the year is actually 483 B.C. Note that the term “Ahasuerus” is not a particular man’s name, but was the title used to refer to the supreme ruler in Persia at this period in history, just as “Pharaoh” was the title of the supreme ruler in Egypt. 

It is interesting to note that God’s name is not found anywhere in the book of Esther, although Jewish scribes have found the name Jehovah “hidden”, as it were, in five different verses. It illustrates a beautiful spiritual lesson: when it seems that God is nowhere to be found, if we look beneath the surface, we will actually find Him working “behind the scenes” to accomplish His purposes for our lives! (Romans 8:28)

The book of Esther opens with the king holding a seven-day feast for all those in his palace. (1:5) After seven days of excessive drinking (1:10), Ahasuerus decides to show off Vashti, his beautiful “trophy wife” and queen, to all of his male friends. In her wisdom, however, and with her apparent high moral values, Vashti refuses to cater to the king’s selfish and carnal drunken request. This, of course, infuriates the male chauvinist king, and all his male chauvinist princes, so they collectively decide that it would be best for the king to remove her from her exalted position, and to spread the word of her removal, so that all the women in the kingdom might not follow her “rebellious example”, but would rather “learn from her mistake”, and would be sure to “honor their husbands”.

After about four years, however, the king begins to miss his wife, and regrets his rash decision to put her away. (2:1) Recognizing, not only his regret, but his loneliness, the king’s servants convince him to pick a new queen, from among the many beautiful women in his kingdom, by holding what might be considered the equivalent of a “beauty pageant”. “It just so happens”, that God had placed a Jew, a man named Mordecai, in a very important position, seated at the king’s gate. (2:21) Mordecai, a cousin of Esther, who had not only brought her up from her youth, but had actually become like a father to her (2:7), decided to enter her into this “contest” to potentially become the next queen. Per the instruction of Mordecai, Esther did not let it be known to anyone, however, that she was a Jew. (2:10, 20) 

In God’s sovereignty, and because of her distinct character and beauty, Esther was chosen by the king to be his new queen, and a feast was held in her honor. At the end of chapter 2, Mordecai finds out about a plot to kill the king. He notifies Esther, who in turn, tells the king in Mordecai’s name, and it all gets written down in the book of the chronicles of the king. While this may seem like a rather insignificant detail at the time, we’ll find that it ends up being the very thing that God uses to save His people from destruction! Isn’t it just like God to save His people by something written in “the Book of the King”?! (Romans 10:17)

Chapter 3 begins with a man named Haman getting a big promotion from the king. Haman becomes the king’s “chief advisor” and “right-hand man”! It might be important to note, that he just happens to despise the Jews! Haman, as a perfect picture of the flesh, is a selfish, self-seeking, self-serving, egomaniac. When he sees that Mordecai refuses to bow to him as he passed by, he becomes incensed. (3:5) Haman decided to offer the king the equivalent of about $25 million in silver if the king would pass a law condemning the entire Jewish race to death (including women and children). This money would, no doubt, come from the revenue acquired from the sale of the property of the slain Jews, much like what has happened at other times in history, such as with Hitler during WWII, and the Roman Catholic Church during the crusades. The king passes the law and the date for their execution was set by casting lots. (Esther 3:7, Proverbs 16:33) In God’s providence, the date for the extermination of the Jews was set an entire year away (3:7), providing plenty of time for the “plan of God” to unfold through the “plan of Mordecai”, to halt this satanically generated plot against the Jewish people.                   

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through KING AHASUERUS — Esther 1–2. There is coming a day very soon when God will remove (rapture) the church (His Gentile bride and queen) off this earth because of her unfaithfulness to Him and replace her with the nation of Israel (His Jewish queen) for His 1000-year reign on earth as King.

OVERVIEW:

The list of leaders who placed their seal on the covenant with God; the city of Jerusalem is populated by the Jews; the dedication of the city wall; Nehemiah condemns the people’s wicked ways and reforms the abuses.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

After making a “sure” covenant with God in chapter 9 to do all things according to His word, the leaders then “sealed” it. (9:38) Chapter 10 then lists for us the names of those that entered into this covenant with God that day by sealing it themselves. Little did they realize that their names would be recorded eternally in God’s word as an example for believers in every subsequent generation! In 10:28–39, we see the people actually applying the word in a practical way to their everyday lives. They gave evidence that they weren’t just coming to the word of God to gain INFORMATION but that they were coming to it because they were desiring TRANSFORMATION! It’s one thing for people to pray and sign a covenant; it is quite another thing for people to actually separate themselves from evil (10:28), straighten out their homes (10:28–30), honor the sabbath (10:31), contribute to the house of God (10:32–33), and serve God with their tithes and offerings! (10:34–39) In the 21^st century, too many Bible conferences, Bible studies, Bible lessons and church services end with people feeling emotionally stirred and blessed, but somehow it doesn’t seem to translate into repentance, obedience, and transformation of life! Maybe this is a good time for all of us to honestly ask ourselves:

Am I able to detect life change through the things God is teaching me through the ministry of the word in and through my own local church, and through the 365 Days of Pursuit?

In chapters 11 and 12, the city of Jerusalem is populated, and the wall of Jerusalem is dedicated. It was necessary to at least get a portion of the Jews to live in the city, both for the good of the city and for the glory of God. This, of course, demanded faith because it required them leaving their homes for an unspecified place. Notice that all of the leaders moved into Jerusalem, some of the people graciously volunteered to move there by faith, and the rest of the people cast lots to determine who was to go so that a minimum of 10% of the people were actually dwelling in the city of Jerusalem. (11:1–2) Were you to take the time to do the math in 11:3–19, it would reveal that 3044 men actually made the move into Jerusalem. If this represents 10% of the male Jewish population that had returned from exile back into the land that was promised, it reveals just how small the returning remnant actually was. It certainly reiterates the principle Jesus taught in Matthew 7:14: ”Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and FEW there be that find it.”

From Nehemiah 7:2 and 13:6, we learn that Nehemiah had returned to Babylon for a few years, leaving the actual governing of the city in the hands of his brother, Hanani. Even though Hanani was “a faithful man, and feared God above many” (7:2), when Nehemiah returned, he discovered that the people had fallen back into their old ways. We would be wise to force ourselves to both observe and meditate on the horrible biblical reality that sin in the lives of God’s people tends to find a way of repeating itself! We can certainly never allow ourselves to become complacent! When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem: he found that the inner parts of the house of God were being used to commit fornication (13:7); the Levites were not being supported for their work in the temple, forcing them to forsake their work in the house of God to work in their fields in order to sustain themselves (13:10); the sabbath day was being abused (13:15–22); and the Jewish men had repeated the sin of taking for themselves heathen wives. (13:23– 27; Deuteronomy 23:3–5) In fact, even the priests had sinned in this way! (13:28–31) It was necessary for Nehemiah, the courageous saint and leader that he was, to honestly confront the people with the reality of their sin, and to explain God’s judgment concerning it—and that’s exactly what he did! (13:1–3, 8–9, 11) Let his example cause us to examine whether we are judging the sin in our own lives, and whether we are being a good enough friend to those we say we love (or are leading) to confront them with their sin, that our Lord might receive the glory that is due His name through their lives.

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the WALL OF JERUSALEM — Nehemiah 12:27. God is our fortress in whom we trust. (Psalm 91:2)


OVERVIEW: 

The anger of Nehemiah regarding the way the wealthy Jews had taken advantage of the poorer Jews; the enemy attacks with deceit, slander, and threats; the people who returned are numbered; the word of God is preached to the people; the Levites cry out to God praising Him for His mercy and goodness. 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Nehemiah 5 is just a sad chapter. The Jews are selfishly preying upon one another for the sake of material gain and wealth! It just so happens, that no building takes place in this chapter! There were great economic burdens on the Jews, not only because of the famine (Haggai 1:7–11), but also because of taxes and tributes that were being inflicted upon them. To provide food and the basic necessities for their families, the poorer Jews were being forced to mortgage their property and sell themselves into servitude to their own Jewish kinsmen. God had instructed and admonished His people, the Jews, just as He has Christians today, to watch out for one another; to love one another; to help one another; and to care for one another. They did the exact opposite! Rather than “PRAY FOR” each other, they “PREYED UPON” each other. Proverbs 3:27 tells us to, “withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.”  Philippians 2:4 says, “look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” It is a great reminder to us that if we aren’t careful, we can become so selfish and self-serving that we choose to make money on those to whom we should be ministering! Note that Nehemiah’s extremely angry response to witnessing the Jews gauging one another for personal gain is the same response our Lord Jesus Christ had when this same type of thing was happening in His day! (Mark 11:15–17) Nehemiah very wisely put this evil and selfish practice to an end, and refocused the people to the work at hand. (Nehemiah 5:9–12)

In chapter 6 the work on the walls resumes. Recognize that it is no coincidence that when the work restarted, the enemy also reappeared! This time, however, Sanballat and his men aim their attack against Nehemiah, the leader. Satan knows very well that everything rises and falls on leadership. He knows that if he can get Nehemiah to stop leading, the work of rebuilding the walls will soon come to a complete halt. It should be noted, that if you are in any type of leadership position (i.e. pastor, father, mother, teacher, discipler, etc.), there is a high price to pay! There is a large target on your back for which the enemy is constantly seeking to take aim. It is of great necessity and importance, therefore, that we learn to put on the whole armor of God on a daily basis! (Ephesians 6:10–18) 

Observe that Sanballat repeatedly tries to arrange a meeting with Nehemiah “just to talk”, as it were. Nehemiah did not fall for this deception, however, because he was “not ignorant of Satan’s devices.” (2^nd Corinthians 2:11) Let us, likewise, learn to beware of the smiles of the enemy, for Satan is often more dangerous when he appears to be our friend than when he appears to be our enemy! Sanballat extends four invitations to Nehemiah, and he wisely refused them all. (Nehemiah 6:3–4) Again, let us likewise, learn to keep ourselves focused on the task at hand when our enemy extends an invitation designed to deceptively redirect us in an attempt to halt the work of the Lord through us. When the first four “invitations” failed to get the response Sanballat was hoping for, notice that the fifth messenger was sent with a different strategy. He arrives with an “open letter” filled with slanderous accusations against Nehemiah. (6:5) “It is reported”, as it says in 6:6, is one of the devil’s chief weapons when wanting to disrupt the people of God and the work of the Lord. “People are saying…” or “I’ve been hearing…” and “Did you know…” are usually phrases that introduce gossip and lies. In this case, Nehemiah’s life and character, however, refuted every lie in the letter. Note that as a tremendous leader of God’s people, once again, Nehemiah takes this problem to the Lord in prayer. (6:9) As servants of God, may we learn that we can’t control what people may say about us but we can certainly control what kind of character and testimony we have! And we can certainly do with the accusations against us what Nehemiah did: we can take them to the Lord in prayer! Recognize that had Nehemiah stopped the work to defend his reputation, the walls would never have been built! Because he gave the problem to God, the walls were completed in just 52 days! (6:15) The result was, God was glorified and the enemy was embarrassed! (6:16). May all the work we allow the Lord to do through us end with this same incredible result!

Chapter 7 is a numbering of all the people who had returned from the exile. In Chapter 8, Ezra returned to Jerusalem to assist Nehemiah with the dedication of the walls and the sanctifying of the people. It is significant that the people gathered to hear the word of God at the “water gate” (8:1) as water, in the Bible, consistently pictures the word of God. (Ephesians 5:26) Notice also, that 8:1–9 provides a description of what we might refer to as the “perfect church service”! 

• The people all assembled to listen.
• The Word was exalted high.
• The preacher read and explained the word so the people could understand it.
• The people wept at hearing the word, which no doubt, revealed their sensitivity to the working of the Spirit as He revealed areas of sinfulness in their lives!  

This reading of “the word of God” in chapter 8, provoked the leaders to pray to “the God of the word” in chapter 9. All of chapter 9 is simply a prayer that provides us a beautiful spiritual summary of the Old Testament history of the Jews. In this prayer, they praise God for His mercy to them despite their unfaithfulness to Him. Let us praise Him today for the same!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through NEHEMIAH — Nehemiah 5:17–19. He was the governor of the people yet, he fed all who came to his table (Jews, nobles, and even Gentiles!) at no cost to them.