Psalm 31

This Psalm of David has our Lord Jesus Christ written all over it!  It is not simply that it contains the last words of Jesus on the cross (v5).  It presents a picture of one in reproach (v11), a broken tool (v12), and in deep trouble.  He will be ashamed, unable to be what God intended him to be, apart from God’s help. 

The picture that best expresses this is that of the Son of God on the cross, slandered by those who passed by as well as those watching as His life ebbed away.  The thought of His enemies was that they had won, that the purpose of Jesus’ life was now unattainable.  Yet He is confident as He faces the end.  Like Jonah in the belly of the fish (Jonah 2:8) Christ has hated useless idols and trusted instead in God’s mercy (Ps. 31:6-7).  And as Jonah was delivered from the fish, so the Son of Man would be delivered from the grave, redeemed (set free, 31:5) by His God (31:14). 

And yet let us now remember that the sufferings of our Lord are both for our salvation (He suffered in our place, bearing our sins, my iniquity became His iniquity, v10, when He was numbered with the transgressors, Isaiah 53:12) and for our encouragement.  For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted (Heb. 2:18).  He can sympathize with our weaknesses, having been tempted as we are, yet without sin (Heb. 4:15).  He is our faithful High Priest!  We are saved by His faith in God (Rom. 3:22; Gal. 2:20).  Let us have the same faith!

For your own study purposes consider this approach to the Psalm …

·         The God of the Faithful, v1-4.

God is both the strong rock on which to stand (v2) as well as the rock in which the faithful can hide (v3).  He is the house of defense (v2), a term used often of the temple/tabernacle (the house of the Lord) and truly we find comfort in the fellowship we experience when in His presence (cf. v20).

·         The Faith of the Faithful, v5-8.

Faith entrusts itself to God completely.  He rejects worthless idols (lying breaths or objects that are nothing; the same word as used in Ecclesiastes for vanity).  The picture of Christ on the cross, in the last moments, simply entrusting Himself as to a faithful Creator (1 Peter 4:19) expresses this faith perfectly.  He is about to take the last breath.  He will then be the “dead man” those around Him imagine Him to be (cf. 31:12).  He will be bound by an enemy that has never been defeated.  And yet His faith is well-situated.

·         The Adversity of the Faithful, v9-13.

This picture again perfectly fits the cross of our Lord.  His life is about ended.  And those around Him hurl their insults, imagining that IF He were the Son of God He would not be in this predicament.  And yet the truth of Scripture is that the very fact that Jesus was the Son of God is the reason He was faithful in affliction.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son … (John 3:16). )

·         The Plea of the Faithful, v14-18.

These verses are an expanded version, if you will, of the simple statement of faith in v5: Into Your hand I commit My spirit.  Here He confesses what we must be convinced of: My times are in Your hand.  What appears to be the highly celebrated victory of the enemy is given to His God that He might not be ashamed. 

·         The Confidence of the Faithful, v19-20.

Even in the face of death, having prayed the prayer of faith, He can say with deep conviction: How great is your goodness that You have laid up for those who fear You.  Here is the Old Testament version, if you will, of Romans 8:28: All things work together for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. 

·         The Worship of the Faithful, v21-24.

First the blessing of God is personal.  Think of our Lord Jesus again, awakening in that tomb near Jerusalem.  I am cut off from before Your eyes.  Nevertheless, You heard the voice of my supplications.  He had submitted Himself to the will of His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He did not call on the legions of angels to deliver Him from the pain of death.  He has been preserved through faith in His God!  His story is completed.  He then calls on those who would follow Him to love the Lord and walk in faith as He has.  Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

Let us note that we have here the perfect example of how the believer in Christ is to grow in grace and knowledge.  We are called again and again to look unto Jesus, setting our affection on Him (Col. 3:1-4; Heb. 12:1-2, etc.).  Here we have seen the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus that then resulted in His powerful resurrection, breaking the bonds of death.  But we all with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Cor. 3:18).

Esther 2:1-11, The Rise of Esther

When you read Esther 2 you might be able to imagine a lurid Hollywood movie.  You also might think negatively of Esther.  First, your imagination does not need to go there.  We don’t have to fill in the “blank spaces” of every story in Scripture.  We always have enough from God to do what He wants to have done in our lives.

Furthermore, the point here is not so much what kind of person we find Esther to be.  We are not told that she had a choice in the matter.  She was apparently beautiful, not her fault.  The king’s goons didn’t ask her if she wanted to be in the beauty contest.  Again, this is just the way it was in the days of Ahasuerus.  He had the power to lock up all the gorgeous women in his harem.  It was expected.

The question really is: how is God going to work in this situation?  All that is in the world is “the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life” and what we see in this story is full-on worldliness.  Undoubtedly, in Israel, there had been the same types of situations going on (David and Bathsheba? Solomon and his 900 wives and concubines?).  But at least in Israel there was such an understanding as “righteousness” and kings were supposed to toe the mark.  In Shushan, there were fewer boundaries, though there were some, as the story reveals.  So now, if there is going to be a rise in antisemitism, and the Jews will face annihilation, what can God do about it given the wickedness of the king and the kingdom?  The answer is always the same two possibilities with the Lord: stand back and watch what I do (Ex. 14:13), or I am going to use you, so get ready to be used (Ex. 3:8-10).  It is always God working, but sometimes (usually?) He uses humans to fulfill His will.

In Esther 2:10-11 we see that Mordecai told Esther not to reveal her Jewish lineage.  I have heard some criticize Mordecai for this, that the role of the Jewish people was to be God’s witnesses, as God told Isaiah (Isa. 43:10, etc.).  Again, you can hold this viewpoint if you want because we are not told that this was good or bad.  I do have a story to tell, about a wonderful young man who worked with us at the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem.  This man was Jewish in that his mother was a Jew.  The man himself was an American citizen with Paraguayan lineage.  He always hoped to live in Israel and become an Israeli citizen, which was possible given his mother’s identity.  But when he was being questioned by the authorities, he boldly proclaimed that he was a “Messianic Jew,” not wanting to be silent about it.  The result was that he was denied entrance to Israel as a Jew and was only able to get temporary permits to be in Israel.  Today, to my knowledge, he is back in the United States and unable to return to Israel.  He told me that he realized he had been unwise.  To me, Mordecai was wise.  And he was also a good guardian for Esther as he was regularly keeping an eye on her (2:11).  Here is a devotional thought.  We need to be subject to the leading of God in our witnessing, never fearful, but always wise, walking circumspectly (Eph. 5:15-16; Col. 4:2-5).

Esther 1:12-2:1, The Fall of Vashti

Let us begin our journey through Esther with a simple overview:

·       Ch. 1: The fall of Vashti.

·       Ch. 2: The rise of Esther.

·       Ch. 3: The rise of Haman.

·       Ch. 4: Esther’s renewed mind.

·       Ch. 5: Answered prayer and antisemitism.

·       Ch. 6: Delayed reward (the fall of Haman and the rise of Mordecai).

·       Ch. 7: The Defeat of Satan (Haman).

·       Ch. 8-9: The Mortification of Sin (Haman’s legacy).

·       Ch. 10: The exaltation of Christ (Mordecai’s legacy).

In 1:10-12 we read of Vashti’s refusal to come to the king’s feast and show off her beauty.  What was the problem here?  One of the first sermons by Billy Graham that I heard and that stuck with me was the one (he preached it more than once) where he described Vashti as a virtuous woman.  He saw the king’s request, as have some commentators, as wanting her to display her beauty in a wicked manner, perhaps being naked on the stage before the king and all his friends.  That is quite possible.  It does, in my view, put Esther in somewhat of an evil position, in that she was put in some sort of “fornication” situation, going in to the king and trying to please him sexually more than the other candidates for queen (Ch. 2). 

The Bible doesn’t tell us much about Vashti.  What it does say is that, on advice of council, Ahasuerus’ motivation to remove and replace her was that she refused to do what her husband asked and this could make a problem all over the kingdom. 

But an interpretation of Vashti is not important.  In the story, Mordecai will suggest to Esther that she came to be queen at that time for the carrying out of her part in the deliverance of the Jewish people.  For that to happen, Vashti must be gone and Esther must be chosen.  Remember: it is the “times of the Gentiles.”  Ahasuerus is not a “Davidic king.”  He is a typical tyrant, operating within the boundaries of the laws of the Medes and Persians.  And there is Someone working here who, as Daniel put it, “rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses” (Dan. 4:25).  That is a profound “devotional” thought!  It is still true.

Esther 1:1-12, Understanding Esther

 Esther is a unique book in all of Scripture and comes with some challenging issues with respect to interpretation.  The chief “uniqueness” probably is the fact that Esther seems full of the work of the Sovereign LORD on behalf of His earthly people; yet, not once is there a reference, by name or title, to the Sovereign LORD.  There are no references to the Law of Moses or the Writings or the Prophets.  It tells a story that takes place entirely in what we could call the “Diaspora,” although that term is not used.  Nor is there seen in Esther the longing of the Jewish people to return to their land.  It seems that Mordecai and Esther and the Jewish people have done, with excellence, what Jeremiah told them to do in his letter (Jer. 29) where he told them to settle down in Babylon, makes homes, and pray for the king. 

With all this comes a challenge to those of us who believe that, not only is all Scripture profitable (2 Tim. 3:16), but that all Scripture points to Christ.  How is Christ revealed in this book of Esther?  At the very least, the story involves the possible annihilation of the people of Israel, through whom would come the Messiah.  But by the time of this story there have already been many Jews who have returned to Jerusalem and Judea.  The kingdom of Ahasuerus is placed by many in the time between Ezra (rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem) and Nehemiah (rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem).  Thus, the story of Esther and Haman and Mordecai “could” rank along with the slaughter of the innocents, the days of Queen Athaliah, and the time of the Flood as being times of Satanic attack on the Messianic line.  The kingdom of Ahasuerus would have extended to Judah, as Esther 1:1 indicates: “who reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from India to Ethiopia.”  So in that sense, the story relates to the Incarnation, the coming of God the Son to earth, “born of a (Jewish) woman, born under the (Mosaic) law” (Gal. 4:4).

But can we go further with the story of Esther?  Some view it as an “allegory” where Ahasuerus is in the role of the Sovereign God, Mordecai is like Christ, Haman the antichrist or Satan and Esther being the believer or “saint.”  You may think this strange, that such “secular” people could be the means of telling a story deep in New Testament truth.  But before I tell you to be careful, let me remind you of the allegory Paul used in Gal. 4, using Sarah and Hagar to depict the old and new covenants.  Sarah and Hagar were no “saints” in the sense of strong, righteous women.  Yet both, in Genesis, were blessed by the Sovereign Lord. 

The problem with designating stories as “allegories” is that, without Scripture, we lack the ability to interpret the story accurately.  The correlations in the preceding paragraph are my view of Esther.  I have seen others where Mordecai is a picture of the believer, Esther is Christ, and Ahasuerus is nobody (note that everyone sees Haman as the Satanic villain).  So, having said all this, I am going to use the term “devotional.”  What I want to point out are devotional thoughts that can encourage us in our walk with Christ.  Whatever we see in Esther will be corroborated with passages elsewhere.  In the end, you can decide is the story needs to rise from devotional literature to allegorical literature.  Our hope is that you find this story what it must be: inspired by God and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness, so that you will be better equipped for the life of good works in which God made us to walk (2 Tim. 3:16-17; Eph. 2:10). 

Read Romans 11:25-36, Obama, Trump and 2017 (yes, a REPEAT!)

(This was first posted Dec. 30, 2016 in anticipation of Donald Trump's first inauguration.  We are now anticipating his second.  I'm not writing because I am all excited about him and his presidency.  I really don't know what the future holds, but as we often say, "I know Who holds the future. "  And it isn't any American president.  I do believe the future of the world, even as the past, revolves around a piece of land about the size of New Jersey that is in the Middle East.  And the world and the people who live on that land are way different than they were 8 years ago.  But I do believe the issues are the same because it is the Bible that tells me what are, in fact, the real issues.  It's a bit lengthy, but with plenty of Scripture.  I hope you will be encouraged as we head into a new year.  Encouraged that our future as believers in Christ is in the hands of the Sovereign God of heaven and earth who has promised that His Son will rule the nations.  Again, THIS IS A REPEAT FROM 2017.)

 

I confess to using a title simply to get your attention.  Although there is a connection.  This past 7 days has seen the United States, by abstention, allowing the United Nations to in essence censor Israel.  We have seen Secretary of State John Kerry blast Israel and tell her she cannot be both Jewish and a democracy.  These actions are part of a consistent pattern of President Obama in dissing Israel and her leadership.  At the same time we hear Donald Trump telling Israel to just hold on for another little while and things will be different.  Everyone expects the Donald to be much more supportive of Israel and many evangelicals are assuming this means good for America given the promise of the Abrahamic Covenant to bless those who bless Abraham’s descendants.

None of the aforementioned human beings are of any ultimate consequence as far as a secure future for Israel.  As the New Year begins it is quite proper to think about Israel.  The Bible makes it clear that the world turns on an axis that is centered in the Middle East and Israel in particular.  For that reason we are going to begin our blogs in 2017 with devotional thoughts based in Isaiah 40-66, one of the strongest sections of Scripture on the issue of God’s promise to restore and to save Israel.  Paul taught, And so all Israel will be saved.  The immediate base of his confidence was Isaiah 59:20-21.  But we need to know that this promise to Israel, that after she suffers double for her sins (Isa. 40:1f) she will be cleansed and will experiencing the great outpouring of the Spirit of grace, this promise is all over the Old Testament.  Following are bits and pieces of various passages.  It is in no way exhaustive.  But I will say each comes from a context by which we can agree that what was promised has not been seen yet; it has not yet been fulfilled.  Thus, given the nature of the God who made the promise, we are sure it is still in the future.  It will happen.  And who knows what movements in the direction of that fulfillment will happen in the year to come.

·        Isaiah 45:14: Thus says the Lord: ‘The labor of Egypt and merchandise of Cush and of the Sabeans, men of stature … they will make supplication to you, saying, “Surely God is in you and there is no other; there is no other God.”’

·        Dan. 12:1-3: And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation … And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book.

·        Hosea 2:14-23: Therefore, behold, I will allure her, will bring her into the wilderness (Rev. 12:13-17) and speak comfort to her. … in that day, says the Lord, ‘that you will call Me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer call Me ‘My Master,’ … I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord. … I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; then I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people!’ And they shall say, ‘You are my God!’”

·        Joel 2:28-3:2: I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; …And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.  For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the Lord has said, “Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.” For in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations.

·        Amos 9:8-12: Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the face of the earth; yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, says the Lord. … On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David … That they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the Gentiles who are called by My name.

·        Obadiah 17: But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

·        Micah 4:1-8: In the latter days the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains … He will teach us His ways and we shall walk in His paths … In that day … the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from now on, even forever.

·        Zechariah 2:11; 3:9; 9:11-17; 10:12; 12:10; 13:8: Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day ... And I will dwell in your midst…. And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. … (9:16) The Lord their God will save them in that day, as the flock of His people.  For they shall be like the jewels of a crown …So I will strengthen them in the Lord, and they shall walk up and down in His name, says the Lord … And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced.  Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. … But one-third shall be left in it; I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested.  They will call on My name, and I will answer them.  I will say, ‘This is My people’; and each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’

·        Malachi 4:1-2: The day is coming … that will leave them neither root nor branch.  But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves.  You shall trample the wicked … on the day that I do this, says the Lord of hosts. 

·        Revelation 11:13: In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell.  In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Obama cannot destroy what God has promised to save.  And Trump cannot deliver those who do not fear God.  One of Israel’s issues is her dependence on the USA and her presidents.  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem because peace can only come from God through Jesus Christ.  Pray that the people of Israel will see Christ whom they pierced and will mourn their sin and call upon His name (Rom. 10:13) and thereby receive Him by faith (John 1:11-12).