Friday, December 23 ~ tammi

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Esther 9-10; Revelation 15.

Today's reading in Esther wraps up this amazing story, and once again, we see much is left out of the story we hear as kids!  Since the laws of the Medes and Persians were irrevocable (Seriously, who thought that policy was a good idea?!  Did the particular ruler who made up that rule never change his own mind about anything??), the king can't repeal the decree to annihilate the Jews.  But he does what he can in chapter 8 and decrees the Jews are allowed to defend themselves.  Remember, the Jews are a conquered people, enslaved here in Persia ~ they have enjoyed many freedoms, but they have few rights.  Xerxes here gives them the "right to bear arms," as it were, and defend themselves and their property against attack.

So chapter 9 briefly chronicles a two-day, nation-wide bloodbath in which the Jews, as a people, are saved.  On the first day, the Jews kill 500 men in the royal city of Susa and Esther asks permission to extend the edict to the following day.  The king grants her request again, and on the second day, the Jews kill 75,000 Medo-Persians across the empire.  In both cases, the author of the book thinks it worth mentioning his people took no plunder.  They took no "spoils of war" ~ all they wanted was their own lives.

The book ends with a description of a new festival that is still celebrated by Jewish people to this day:  Purim, a commemorative celebration of the day they were once again incredibly delivered by the all-powerful hand of God.  I think, in a sense, Esther 9 ties in well with the reading in Revelation ~ two horrific days, followed by great celebration and a holiday that is still celebrated thousands of years later.  In Revelation, we approach the beginning of the end, the last cataclysm before the ultimate wedding feast of Jesus Christ that will be celebrated for the rest of eternity.

As if what's already occurred in the preceding chapters isn't bad enough, Revelation chapter 15 introduces us to the last of the last ~ the seven deadliest punishments that will complete God's anger towards sinful humanity and sin itself; the last cleansing purge that will finally satisfy His perfect holiness.  John sees the temple opened and the physical glory of God filling it, noting that no one can enter until justice is done and God's wrath is appeased.

My Life Application Bible notes that "The key to God's eternal glory and power is his holiness.  God's glory is not only his strength but also his perfect moral character.  God will never do anything that is not morally perfect.  This reassures us that we can trust him, yet it places a demand on us.  Our desire to be holy (dedicated to god and morally pure) is our only suitable response.  Our eternal reign with Christ won't begin until all evil is destroyed by HIS judgment.  We must wait for his timetable to be revealed." (emphasis added)

Those last two statements fly in the face of the idea more and more evangelicals seem to be embracing ~ that Christians are responsible for establishing the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth in order for Christ to return.  As if it were possible for mere mortals to make this place fit for the King of Kings and usher Him into OUR presence!  No, it will all be His doing, His timetable, His way.  No matter how hard we try, we will never be the kind of holy that He can ~ and WILL ~ make us someday.

I don't know why that's a problem for people ~ I'd much rather have Him be responsible for ultimately making me truly holy than leaving it up to ME!!

Something tells me He'll do a much better job of it!  ;)




Tomorrow's readings: Ezra 8-10; Revelation 16