Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Job chapter 1.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+1&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“¹³ Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, ¹⁴ a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, ¹⁵ and the Sabeans attacked and took them.  They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”  ¹⁶ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”  ¹⁷ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”  ¹⁸ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, ¹⁹ and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

²⁰ Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped.  ²¹ He said,

²² Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.”  Job 1:13-22.

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“As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came.  He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand.”  Ecclesiastes 5:15.

So, what should our attitude be toward riches?

We will consider three Scriptures and points.

1.  “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’  For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things;  for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  Matthew 6:31-33.

Seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness and do not not worry about obtaining riches or preserving riches.  

2.  “Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting:  to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him;  for this is his reward.  Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor;  this is the gift of God.  For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.”    Ecclesiastes 5:18-20.

Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself with a loose grip on these temporary gifts of God.

3.  “Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed;  for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”  And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive.  And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’  Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come;  take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’  But God said to him, ‘You fool!  This very night your soul is required of you;  and now who will own what you have prepared?’  So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”  Luke 12:15-21.

Treasure God and heaven.  Our real treasure is not material riches;  our real treasure is spiritual riches of our present relationship with God and our future inheritance “which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you“.  ! Peter 1:4.

In summary, to put these three points in one point, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”  Colossians 3:2.  The acronym “SET” may help us to remember to “Seek God, Enjoy Gifts, Treasure Heaven”.   

Today’s devotion comes from Esther chapter 10.

“Now King Ahasuerus laid a tribute on the land and on the coastlands of the sea.  And all the accomplishments of his authority and strength, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia?  For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews and in favor with his many kinsmen, one who sought the good of his people and one who spoke for the welfare of his whole nation.”  Esther chapter 10.

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Mordecai “sought the good of his people and … spoke for the welfare of his whole nation.”  (Emphasis added by Bill)  Verse 3.  Let us follow Mordecai’s example and do good to people in our church (and other believers) and also do good more broadly to others (“all people”) in our neighborhood, city, state, and nation.

“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.  So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”  Galatians 6:9-10.

“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?  Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others?  Do not even the Gentiles do the same?  Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Matthew 5:46-48.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  Romans 12:21.

“See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.”  1 Thessalonians 5:15.

“27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.”  Proverbs 3:27-28.

“And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”  Hebrews 13:16.

Who can go such good to all people?

But, there is hope!

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

“So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.”  Matthew 7:17-18.

Christ created us, prepared us, and caused us to do such good deeds to all people:  “who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”  Titus 2:14.

Today’s devotion comes from Esther chapter 9.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+9&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now in the twelfth month (that is, the month Adar), on the thirteenth day when the king’s command and edict were about to be executed, on the day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, it was turned to the contrary so that the Jews themselves gained the mastery over those who hated them.  2 The Jews assembled in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm;  and no one could stand before them, for the dread of them had fallen on all the peoples.  3 Even all the princes of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and those who were doing the king’s business assisted the Jews, because the dread of Mordecai had fallen on them.  4 Indeed, Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces;  for the man Mordecai became greater and greater.  5 Thus the Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying;  and they did what they pleased to those who hated them.

…

20 Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually, 22 because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday;  that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

…

26 Therefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur.  And because of the instructions in this letter, both what they had seen in this regard and what had happened to them, 27 the Jews established and made a custom for themselves and for their descendants and for all those who allied themselves with them, so that they would not fail to celebrate these two days according to their regulation and according to their appointed time annually.  28 So these days were to be remembered and celebrated throughout every generation, every family, every province and every city;  and these days of Purim were not to fail from among the Jews, or their memory fade from their descendants.”  Esther Chapter 9:  Verses 1-5 and 20-22 and 26-28.

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“11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,
12 That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.”  Psalm 30:11-12.

“6 Many are saying, “Who will show us any good?”
Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord!
7 You have put gladness in my heart,
More than when their grain and new wine abound.
8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.”  Psalm 4:6-8.

“4 You are my King, O God;
Command victories for Jacob.
5 Through You we will push back our adversaries;
Through Your name we will trample down those who rise up against us.
6 For I will not trust in my bow,
Nor will my sword save me.
7 But You have saved us from our adversaries,
And You have put to shame those who hate us.
8 In God we have boasted all day long,
And we will give thanks to Your name forever.  Selah.”  Psalm 4:4-8.

Today’s devotion comes from Esther chapter 8.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+8&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 On that day King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews, to Queen Esther;  and Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had disclosed what he was to her.  2 The king took off his signet ring which he had taken away from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

3 Then Esther spoke again to the king, fell at his feet, wept and implored him to avert the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite and his plot which he had devised against the Jews. 4 The king extended the golden scepter to Esther.  So Esther arose and stood before the king.  5 Then she said, “If it pleases the king and if I have found favor before him and the matter seems proper to the king and I am pleasing in his sight, let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces.

…

9 So the king’s scribes were called at that time in the third month (that is, the month Sivan), on the twenty-third day; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, the satraps, the governors and the princes of the provinces which extended from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to every province according to its script, and to every people according to their language as well as to the Jews according to their script and their language.   10 He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horses, riding on steeds sired by the royal stud.  11 In them the king granted the Jews who were in each and every city the right to assemble and to defend their lives, to destroy, to kill and to annihilate the entire army of any people or province which might attack them, including children and women, and to plunder their spoil, 12 on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (that is, the month Adar).

…

15 Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a large crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple;  and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.  16 For the Jews there was light and gladness and joy and honor.  17 In each and every province and in each and every city, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree arrived, there was gladness and joy for the Jews, a feast and a holiday.  And many among the peoples of the land became Jews, for the dread of the Jews had fallen on them.”  Esther chapter 8:  Verses 1-5 and 9-12 and 15-17.

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“10 Hate evil, you who love the Lord,
Who preserves the souls of His godly ones;
He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown like seed for the righteous
And gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Be glad in the Lord, you righteous ones,
And give thanks to His holy name.”  Psalm 97:10-12.

When we consider that “Light is sown like seed for the righteous”, let us consider that seed is too numerous to count.  It is thrown lavishly in handfuls. It showers upon every inch of the soil where it is thrown.  Likewise, the LORD sows light and gladness to surround us and to touch and bless every inch of our lives.  

“Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of them,
They would be too numerous to count.”  Psalm 40:5.

“For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord,
You surround him with favor as with a shield.”  Psalm 5:12.

“The righteous man will be glad in the Lord and will take refuge in Him;
And all the upright in heart will glory.”  Psalm 64:10.

“10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
But he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.”  Psalm 32:10-11.

“11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
12 O Lord of hosts,
How blessed is the man who trusts in You!”  Psalm 84:11-12.

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:32.

“14 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
15 “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16 “With a long life I will satisfy him
And let him see My salvation.”  Psalm 91:14-16.

“I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing.  And I will cause showers to come down in their season;  they will be showers of blessing.  …   “As for you, My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, you are men, and I am your God,” declares the Lord God.”  Ezekiel Chapter 34:  Verses 26 and 31.

Today’s devotion comes from Esther chapter 7.

“1 Now the king and Haman came to drink wine with Esther the queen.  2 And the king said to Esther on the second day also as they drank their wine at the banquet, “What is your petition, Queen Esther?  It shall be granted you.  And what is your request?  Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done.”  3 Then Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me as my petition, and my people as my request;  4 for we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed and to be annihilated.  Now if we had only been sold as slaves, men and women, I would have remained silent, for the trouble would not be commensurate with the annoyance to the king.” 5 Then King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who would presume to do thus?”  6 Esther said, “A foe and an enemy is this wicked Haman!”  Then Haman became terrified before the king and queen.

7 The king arose in his anger from drinking wine and went into the palace garden;  but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm had been determined against him by the king.  8 Now when the king returned from the palace garden into the place where they were drinking wine, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was.  Then the king said, “Will he even assault the queen with me in the house?”  As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.  9 Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs who were before the king said, “Behold indeed, the gallows standing at Haman’s house fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai who spoke good on behalf of the king!”  And the king said, “Hang him on it.”  10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai, and the king’s anger subsided.”   Esther chapter 7.

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“Hold them guilty, O God;
By their own devices let them fall!
In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out,
For they are rebellious against You.”  Psalm 5:10.

God indeed held Haman guilty and caused him to be hung by his own “devices” (gallows) that he had prepared for Mordecai.

“4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
No evil dwells with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;
You hate all who do iniquity.
6 You destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.”  Psalm 5:4-6.

“His mischief will return upon his own head,
And his violence will descend upon his own pate.”  Psalm 7:16.

“He has dug a pit and hollowed it out,
And has fallen into the hole which he made.”  Psalm 7:15.

“9 O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous;
For the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.
10 My shield is with God,
Who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge,
And a God who has indignation every day.

12 If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword;
He has bent His bow and made it ready.
13 He has also prepared for Himself deadly weapons;
He makes His arrows fiery shafts.”  Psalm 7:9-13.

“I will give thanks to the Lord according to His righteousness
And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.”  Psalm 7:17.

Today’s devotion comes from Esther chapter 6.

“1 During that night the king could not sleep so he gave an order to bring the book of records, the chronicles, and they were read before the king.  2 It was found written what Mordecai had reported concerning Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who were doorkeepers, that they had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.  3 The king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?”  Then the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”  4 So the king said, “Who is in the court?”  Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace in order to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had prepared for him.  5 The king’s servants said to him, “Behold, Haman is standing in the court.”  And the king said, “Let him come in.”  6 So Haman came in and the king said to him, “What is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?”  And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king desire to honor more than me?”  7 Then Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king desires to honor, 8 let them bring a royal robe which the king has worn, and the horse on which the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown has been placed;  9 and let the robe and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble princes and let them array the man whom the king desires to honor and lead him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, ‘Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.’”

10 Then the king said to Haman, “Take quickly the robes and the horse as you have said, and do so for Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the king’s gate;  do not fall short in anything of all that you have said.”  11 So Haman took the robe and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.”

12 Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate.  But Haman hurried home, mourning, with his head covered.  13 Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.  Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish origin, you will not overcome him, but will surely fall before him.”

14 While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hastily brought Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared.”  Esther chapter 6.

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God’s sovereignty is on magnificent display again in today’s Scripture.  Let us first meditate on God’s total and tight control over all the details. 

God caused King Ahasuerus to not sleep.

Out of the many, many things that could have gone through the king’s mind, God caused the dominating thought in his mind to be what Mordecai had done for him.

God caused the record to be found to show exactly what Mordecai had done for him.

Out of all the people who could have been in the court to answer the king’s question as to what is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor, God caused it to be Haman.

Although King Ahasuerus had no intention to trap Haman, God caused the words of the king to be so innocent that Haman thinks the king wants to honor him, so as to cause Haman’s pride and Haman’s own suggestion (of how to honor the man whom the king desires to honor) to be the cause of the honoring of Mordecai.  “So Haman took the robe and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.”  Verse 11.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;  …”  Psalm 23:5.

God delivers and otherwise blesses His people in the face of their enemies, such that their enemies know the deliverance and other blessings given to His people is from the LORD. 

(As a side note, consider that the deliverance and other blessings is a single total package from God like a single table holding all kinds of plates of food as in “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies”.  God’s sovereign coherent action is in sharp contrast to how man thinks and operates in terms of random, plural, contradictory, and insufficient actions.)

Accordingly, we see in today’s Scripture that the ungodly Haman’s wise men and Zeresh his wife knew that God’s turning the tables on Haman was from the LORD by their statement:  “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish origin, you will not overcome him, but will surely fall before him.”  Verse 13.

“The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst.”  Exodus 7:5.

“19 O Lord, my strength and my stronghold,
And my refuge in the day of distress,
To You the nations will come
From the ends of the earth and say,
“Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood,
Futility and things of no profit.”
20 Can man make gods for himself?
Yet they are not gods!

21 “Therefore behold, I am going to make them know—
This time I will make them know
My power and My might;
And they shall know that My name is the Lord.”  Jeremiah 16:19-21.

“I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations;  and they will know that I am the Lord.”’  Ezekiel 32:15.

Today’s devotion comes from Esther chapter 5.

“1 Now it came about on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace in front of the king’s rooms, and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room, opposite the entrance to the palace.  2 When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight;  and the king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand.  So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter.  3 Then the king said to her, “What is troubling you, Queen Esther?  And what is your request?  Even to half of the kingdom it shall be given to you.”  4 Esther said, “If it pleases the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”

5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly that we may do as Esther desires.”  So the king and Haman came to the banquet which Esther had prepared.  6 As they drank their wine at the banquet, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition, for it shall be granted to you.  And what is your request?  Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done.”  7 So Esther replied, “My petition and my request is:  8 if I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and do what I request, may the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king says.”

9 Then Haman went out that day glad and pleased of heart;  but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate and that he did not stand up or tremble before him, Haman was filled with anger against Mordecai.  10 Haman controlled himself, however, went to his house and sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh.  11 Then Haman recounted 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 the princes and servants of the king.  12 Haman also said, “Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the banquet which she had prepared; and tomorrow also I am invited by her with the king.  13 Yet all of this does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”  14 Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Have a gallows fifty cubits high made and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it;  then go joyfully with the king to the banquet.”  And the advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.”  Esther chapter 5.

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Haman had it all, but his pride let the very small and righteous act of Mordecai (of not standing up or trembling before him) bother him.  And, his irritation grew into his anger.  And, his anger grew into his plot to kill Mordecai.  And, we will later see in Esther chapter 7 that his plot grew into the death, not of Mordecai, but his own death.

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”  Proverbs 16:18.  (Although normally I cite verses in New American Standard Version, I use King James Version for this verse, because many of us remember from childhood the simple and summary phrase from this verse:  “Pride goeth before the fall.”)

“But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.  Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin;  and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”  James 1:14-15.

But, there is hope!

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.  Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:  immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”  Galatians 5:16-24.

Today’s devotion comes from Esther chapter 4.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+4&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“⁷ Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.  ⁸ He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict which had been issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show Esther and inform her, and to order her to go in to the king to implore his favor and to plead with him for her people.

⁹ Hathach came back and related Mordecai’s words to Esther.  ¹⁰ Then Esther spoke to Hathach and ordered him to reply to Mordecai:  ¹¹ “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live.  And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days.”  ¹² They related Esther’s words to Mordecai.

¹³ Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews.  ¹⁴ 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 a time as this?”

¹⁵ Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, ¹⁶ “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me;  do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way.  And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law;  and if I perish, I perish.”  ¹⁷ So Mordecai went away and did just as Esther had commanded him.”  Esther 4:7-17.

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Esther attained royalty for such a time as this.

We too have been created, prepared, and caused to do the work God has for us to do.

As Esther, particularly at the beginning, we may not know what work that may be at all times.  We see that Esther first resisted interceding (verse 11), and even later when she decided to intercede she still had doubts:  “if I perish, I perish” (verse 16).  

But, we trust God, pray often and hard, maybe even fast, and go forward, trying to follow God.

Sometimes, we may plan and start out in a certain direction, but God will pull us back and lead us in another direction.  God is the One Who holds our hand and leads us.  

“The mind of man plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.”  Proverbs 16:9.

“²³ The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
²⁴ When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,
Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.”  Psalm 37:23-24.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you.”  Psalm 32:8.

“Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.”  Isaiah 30:21.

Other doctrine trusts man’s alleged free-will and wisdom.

But, Reformed Doctrine trusts God’s sovereignty.

“9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken;  truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.”   Isaiah 46:9-11.   

Today’s devotion comes from Esther chapter 3.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+3&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 After these events King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and established his authority over all the princes who were with him. 2 All the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman; for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage.

…

5 When Haman saw that Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage to him, Haman was filled with rage.  6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were;  therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

7 In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, Pur, that is the lot, was cast before Haman from day to day and from month to month, until the twelfth month, that is the month Adar.  8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom;  their laws are different from those of all other people and they do not observe the king’s laws, so it is not in the king’s interest to let them remain.

…

13 Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces to destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to seize their possessions as plunder.”  Esther Chapter 3:  Verses 1-2 and 5-8 and 13.

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The Psalmist prays for protection in the following Psalm chapter 84 whose words could be used as a response to Haman’s plot to destroy all the Jews in today’s Scripture and could also be used as an appropriate response and prayer for protection at other times in history as well.

“1 O God, do not remain quiet;
Do not be silent and, O God, do not be still.
2 For behold, Your enemies make an uproar,
And those who hate You have exalted themselves.
3 They make shrewd plans against Your people,
And conspire together against Your treasured ones.
4 They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation,
That the name of Israel be remembered no more.”
5 For they have conspired together with one mind;
Against You they make a covenant:

…

13 O my God, make them like the whirling dust,
Like chaff before the wind.
14 Like fire that burns the forest
And like a flame that sets the mountains on fire,
15 So pursue them with Your tempest
And terrify them with Your storm.
16 Fill their faces with dishonor,
That they may seek Your name, O Lord.
17 Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever,
And let them be humiliated and perish,
18 That they may know that You alone, whose name is the Lord,
Are the Most High over all the earth.”  Psalm Chapter 84:  Verses 1-5 and 13-18.

Notice that the Psalmist identifies himself and his people as “Your people” and “Your treasured ones” in verse 3.  That is who we are in Christ.

And, notice that the Psalmist identifies his enemies as “Your enemies” (God’s enemies), “those who hate You”, and “Against You” in verses 2 and 5.

Some doctrine figuratively tries to pull us out of Christ to get us to examine ourselves under the Law and to deal whatever confronts us through our own alleged free-will and wisdom.

But, Reformed Doctrine continually hides us in God’s Unconditional Elect whom God placed in Christ as His people, His possession.

“Q. 1.  What is thy only comfort in life and death?

 A.  That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ;  who, with His precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil;  and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head;  yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto Him.  Heidelberg Catechism.

Today’s devotion comes from Esther chapter 2.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+2&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“¹ After these things when the anger of King Ahasuerus had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed against her.  ² Then the king’s attendants, who served him, said, “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king.  ³ Let the king appoint overseers in all the provinces of his kingdom that they may gather every beautiful young virgin to the citadel of Susa, to the harem, into the custody of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let their cosmetics be given them.  ⁴ Then let the young lady who pleases the king be queen in place of Vashti.”  And the matter pleased the king, and he did accordingly.

⁵ Now there was at the citadel in Susa a Jew whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, ⁶ who had been taken into exile from Jerusalem with the captives who had been exiled with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had exiled.  ⁷ He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had no father or mother.  Now the young lady was beautiful of form and face, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.

⁸ So it came about when the command and decree of the king were heard and many young ladies were gathered to the citadel of Susa into the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken to the king’s palace into the custody of Hegai, who was in charge of the women.  ⁹ Now the young lady pleased him and found favor with him.  So he quickly provided her with her cosmetics and food, gave her seven choice maids from the king’s palace and transferred her and her maids to the best place in the harem.

…

¹⁵ Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai who had taken her as his daughter, came to go in to the king, she did not request anything except what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the women, advised.  And Esther found favor in the eyes of all who saw her.  ¹⁶ So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus to his royal palace in the tenth month which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

¹⁷ The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found favor and kindness with him more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

…

²¹ In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s officials from those who guarded the door, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.  ²² But the plot became known to Mordecai and he told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name.  ²³ Now when the plot was investigated and found to be so, they were both hanged on a gallows; and it was written in the Book of the Chronicles in the king’s presence.”  Esther Chapter 2:  Verses 1-9 and 15-17 and 21-23.

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We read that Esther “found favor” with others three times in today’s Scripture.  Through the first favor, she received cosmetics, food, seven choice maids from the king’s palace, and was transferred to the best place in the harem.  Verse 9.  Through the second favor, she was taken to King Ahasuerus.  Verse 15.  Through the third favor, she received the royal crown and was made queen instead of Vashti.  Verse 17.   

“For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord,
You surround him with favor as with a shield.”  Psalm 5:12.

“¹⁰ He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man.
¹¹ The Lord favors those who fear Him,
Those who wait for His lovingkindness.”  Psalm 147:10-11.

“For he who finds me (wisdom) finds life
And obtains favor from the Lord.”  Proverbs 8:35.

“² A good man will obtain favor from the Lord,
But He will condemn a man who devises evil.
³ A man will not be established by wickedness,
But the root of the righteous will not be moved.”  Proverbs 12:2-3.

Although we receive personal blessings from receiving the favor of God and the favor of other people, there are sometimes more important other reasons why we receive such favor.  

In today’s Scripture, we read that King Ahasuerus was saved because Moredecai had the favor to be able to sit at the king’s gate and overhear a plot against his life and Esther had the favor of being queen to have King Ahasuerus’s attention to tell him of the plot and he trusted her to believe the plot and prevent it.  Verses 21-22. 

Later, we read of the more deadly plot of Haman who sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.  Esther 3:6.

This time, Esther was reasonably hesitant to approach the king and tell him who was likely much more concerned about saving his own life than saving the life of the Jews.   “Then Esther spoke to Hathach and ordered him to reply to Mordecai:  “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live.  And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days.”  Esther 4:10-11. 

“Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more 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 a time as this?”  Esther 4:13-14.    

Much later in Scripture, we read of a much more common reason why we receive favor.  God uses the favor that He gives us in the sight of others to save them.    

“Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe;  and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.  And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;  and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.  Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”  Acts 2:43-47.  

In conclusion, paraphrasing Esther 4:14:  “And who knows whether you have received favor with others for such a time as now and reason as this, being used by God to save them?”