Bibledoorajar begins our visit with Hadassah or Esther

      After the Nuremberg trials, ten of Hitler's henchmen were hanged for war crimes against the Jews. As Julius Streicher, Hitler's minister of propaganda approached the gallows, he was heard to say, "Purim 1946! Purim, 1946!" Apparently, somewhere along the way someone had taught Streicher about the lesson of Purim circa 583 B.C. (as recorded in the book of Esther). Streicher had apparently learned it well enough to apply it to the events leading to his death. And indeed, from the book of Esther and from the war crimes against the Jews, one learns that anti-semitism will not go unaddressed by the God of the heavens even if it is made the law of the land. God did not intend for the historic events of this book to be forgotten by Jews or their enemies. The festival of Purim is celebrated annually among the Jews to remember the defeat of a plot to exterminate them and the Esther scroll is read. The Holy Spirit has seen that the story is a permanent part of the Holy Scriptures. Enemies of the Jews, read and beware! Purim is the Persian term for "casting of lots." Men may see casting lots as chance involved with random events, but the book of Esther reveals a sovereign God behind the scenes controlling outcomes. Because of so great an assurance, Jews celebrate Purim with unbridled joy and they don't mind mocking their enemy Haman, the villain of the book! They drown out his name with noisemakers and loud shouts when it is mentioned in the retelling of the story.
     There is much to be learned about the historic events that led to this festival. For me, it warns me against believing that the Jews are forever cursed and are no longer regarded by God. For me, righteous Gentiles will love Israel and pray for their salvation even as we pray for all other men under heaven.  There are two main plots in the book of Esther. The first involves how a series of events leads to Esther becoming queen. The second involves how circumstantial happenings places Mordecai, Esther's uncle, in a place to receive the generosity of the king and to avoid death. So next week, we will begin our look at this story humbling beseeching God to deliver us from any deceits or biases of tradition that would hinder our reaping the most from this teaching and its purpose for our lives.

"Beware, lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit,

after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not

after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."

     Colossians 2:8-9

Bibledoorajar concludes our visit with the King and His beloved

"You who dwell in the gardens, The companions listen for your voice,

Cause me to hear it. Make haste, my beloved, And be you like a roe

deer or a young hart, On the mountain of spices."

Song of Solomon 8: 13-14

     When we started our discussion of the country girl's relationship with the shepherd she expressed awareness that the virgins loved him and ran after him. But early on, she asked him to draw HER in such a way that she alone hears him. Now in the last passage that we will consider from the Song, our girl addresses the King as his wife. She reminds him that she offers herself to be his completely. She is aware of all the activities of his sphere--his garden--his dwelling place. She is aware of all the companions of the court who attend him and constantly are listening to his voice. But she asks, "cause ME to hear it." The courtiers are ever alert to the King, but she says he must have a unique bidding for her, for after all, she is his wife. She would rather not have to wait for him. She wants him to be so attracted to her that he comes quickly to the place they share together. Let their relationship be full of joy and happiness. Let him "leave the guys" and swiftly come to her, his one and only. In the garden, among the spices, a beautiful aroma ascends from such dedicated love.

     Israel was supposed to have such a dedicated love to God. From the temple mount in Jerusalem, incenses from the spices were to ascend to their Holy Husband. Traveling to the Temple Mount to find Him was meant to be consumed by mutual love. He was there, if only they would respond in truth. Those who were "caused to hear" would journey from afar to be in that Holy place with Him.

     As modern "country girls" turned Bride of Christ," our challenge is to ask Him to "cause us to hear" so that we might spend time alone with Him. Just where will we be together? The Bible says that we may be seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2)--the heavenly Jerusalem--the mountain of spices. Here we may talk and share together as we await the time when we will be with Him continuously and forever.

     As we close this lesson, I wish to give special honor to the Holy Spirit. Praise Him for the bond of our union with Christ. Surely, He will accomplish the complete work of this bonding. If He raised our Christ, then we the bride will surely follow as a body following its' head. This will happen through the power of the Spirit of Holiness. Thus our journey from a nondescript country life will have been completed and our conformation to His glory will be manifested. All the Way with Jesus--thank you Holy Spirit for the process of bringing us from death to eternal, glorious life. Even so, CAUSE US TO HEAR!  Help us to remain faithful. Amen.

     Next week, join us as we begin lessons from the book of Esther. See you then.                 

Bibledoorajar is drawn to thoughts of purity

     Yesterday was a wonderful day of fellowship and celebration of our nation's freedom. Late at night, as I watched a fireworks display from a dear family's boat on the waters of Lake Martin, I was reminded of our pledge of allegiance. As I recited it again in my mind, declaring my devotion to my country, I thought of those who wish to take out the phrase "under God" from the pledge.  The challenge to keep this aspect of one's devotion is ever the same. God called to Israel to be His and His alone, maintaining a spiritual purity. But alas, the prophets let us know that they dropped "under God" from their vocabulary and actively pursued false gods. In doing so they became unappealing to Him for they had dropped the most precious privilege--to be taught by God and to have a relationship with Him.
   As our story of the country girl and the king is drawing to a close, we find her protesting that she will not drop her allegiance to the king. The light and love that He has imparted has reached her heart. Unlike her country as a whole, she is willing to "board up" her heart with boards of cedar(Song of Solomon 8). This is surely a test for all of us--has all of the knowledge we have been taught of divine things reached our hearts and affected its' loyalty? The apostle Paul writes in 2 Cor. 4:6: "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Our beginning vineyard was not kept very well, but now we are like the country girl. We are so affected that we seek to prune and clean our vineyard for Him. The Spirit has elevated us to a higher plane and we are now better able to evaluate much of the silliness and vanity of the world. We place "cedar planks" around our heart to protect it from "this present world" and behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus so that we may be "changed into the same image, from glory to glory as by the Spirit of God." So here is our challenge, as we ponder our independence from the world, are we allowing spiritual fireworks to illumine our lives and to regulate our lives? Oh, Holy One keep shining in our hearts!

Bibledoorajar thinks of the passages of life with the King

     The King has brought our country girl a very long way. In the beginning he never told her what she must attain to, but conditions can be seen all along in their relationship. He first sought to bring her into union with him, totally accepting her just as she was. He spent hours admiring her and complimenting her. As she matured, she dropped certain unacceptable behaviors and began to accept traits of the king in her life. At the end of this process, and with marriage accomplished, she began to bear fruit. In this instance it was a concern for her younger sister. The king had not demanded this particular fruit, but was pleased to discuss the matter with her. He spoke of how important it is to do all possible to save the sister for the greatest of all graces---love. This made the country girl realize more fully that she herself had matured and was walking in this great grace. So she said to Solomon, "Then was I in his eyes as one who found peace." She had found peace through her relationship with Solomon because she had learned the importance of love. She assured Solomon that she had been true to him and wanted to settle any doubt in his heart. He could trust her to the utmost.
     In Galatians 5, the apostle Paul enumerates the graces of the Spirit. These are heavenly characteristics that come first to our mind as we abide with Him and then move into the operation of our personal conduct. These attributes become the basis for our social and practical behavior. The Bible calls them fruits because they issue forth from the life we spend with Christ. They are a welcome addition to life because they smell so sweet. All those around, including the owner of the fruit, feel the advantage of the fruit. During the recent tragedies of tornado, floods, etc., these graces are what victims speak as characterizing those who came to help. It gave them an advantage; it gave them hope that there could be love and concern in the midst of chaos.
     Some say that all the graces are just aspects of the greatest--love. I think this is true, but the Bible does seem to say that some may walk in greatness of a particular grace. For instance, I am thinking of Moses. The Bible says he was the meekest of men. He would have had to be to contend with the foibles of God people, Israel! And the King knew that and patiently weaved the trait into his life.  God is good. Together, with all our various graces, the body of Christ is indeed a sweet smelling savor in the world. Praise God!

Bibledoorajar joins the bride in concen for others

"God forgave my sin in Jesus' name,

I've been born again in Jesus' name.

And in Jesus' name I come to you

To share His love as He told me to.

All power is giv'n in Jesus' name,

In earth and heav'n in Jesus' name.

And in Jesus' name I come to you

To share His pow'r as He told me to.

He said, Freely, freely, you have received, Freely, freely give. Go in my Name, and because you believe, Others will know that I live."

Carol Owens, Freely, Freely

The bride is so secure and happy in her committed relationship with the king, that her thoughts now turn to others who have yet to experience such true love. She particularly thinks of her younger sister. She wants her to mature and for her love to be preserved for the one who will have a right to it. She wants her sister to experience total purity and reliability in marriage just as she has. The bride can speak this way, not out of anything she has done, but from the place of exaltation the king has given her. So she asks her lover, "what must we do about my sister?" The king speaks: She must be protected at all costs. Place her under lock and key if necessary! The husband is saying that her family must do all they can do to preserve her for a peaceful future. 

When Christians come to know their secure place with their king and experience the wonders of being His, it is only natural that we think of those we know who have yet to experience such love. We must do everything we can to preserve them for their future relationship with the king. We have been given great power to share the good news with them. The news that He lives and that we have so much to tell them about Him. John wrote in 3 John 1:4 that nothing gave him more joy than to realize that his "children" were living according to the truth. That's our great task. To make sure others are exposed to just how wonderful He is and to what heights He can exalt us. He has freely given us the power to do it. Press On!

Bibledoorajar Sees the Country Girl Pursue Covenant with the King

      Our country girl has capitalized on a great promise. The promise was that she could live a much different life than the one she received when she was birthed by her mother. Her birth mother gave her life, but the king gave her a rebirth as it were and became the source for much greater blessings. From him, she received strength and life to assist her in her future. She asked for a seal on this love and speaks of how so great a love should not be quenched. This love flashes as the "very flame of Yah." The country girl speaks of "Yah" which is God's covenant name. It is as if she knows in her heart that the love she shares with the King has divine significance. Like God's love, it has come like lightening and is something that cannot be bought even if a man "would give all the substance of his house" for it. The country girl seems to be reminding the king that God "engraved Israel upon the palm of his hand" to help the nation know that she was not forsaken or forgotten. This is the kind of assurance the country girl has asked of the king. This assurance has a "forever" quality to it. Indeed, Paul writes in Eph. 1:13 that God has set His seal on us by giving us the Holy Spirit and the result of this covenant seal is security. "The beloved is mine and I am his." We are possessed by His Holy Spirit. Oh, how great is the love of God that pursues us and comes upon us like lightening and such great power as to be irresistible. To be marked with a mark has always been important to God. Jews leaving Egypt marked their doorposts and lintel with blood. On seeing the blood God would redeem them and as he said to them in Ezekiel 16:8 he "swore an oath to you and entered into covenant with you, and you became Mine..." The first five books of the Bible are details of the terms of this covenant. We know that the Jews were not faithful to God, were scattered among other nations and missed their Messiah who shed His blood for them in a New Covenant. I praise God that He went on to make this great love available to us. Let's pursue His Spirit and walk in Him, gladly showing the mark that says we are the Bride of Christ. Jesus will help us and answer our requests because He wants to glorify the God of covenant. Use His name, it gets the Father's attention! The country girl was right. Being sealed in Him is the most secure place that we can be. No one can hinder us unless we let go of the covenant and let them.

Bibledoorajar settles the question

     Someone who faithfully reads this lesson commented that the lesson last week was shorter than usual. I had not even noticed the length. I was so caught up in the perfectness of the "seal moment" that I guess I did not want to take away from the greatness of it. Just think, virgins and daughters of Jerusalem and companions of all stripes and service had all been keeping company with the king but this one, this beloved, was the one who wanted the king to seal their love in its pristine and perfect state. How she longed to establish once and for all that her love for the king was complete. Would he not believe her, now as her love had matured, and seal her heart and hand? She tells him that her love for him is as strong as death from which we know there is no turning back. Her passion for him flashes like flashes of fire; no amount of water can quench her love, not even torrents of rain can drown it. He is her "darling" exuding a freshness and an exuberance for the life they will share together. Leaning on him, she is so safe, so secure that she knows she will no longer be looked down upon.
     I have heard it taught that the Jews sang a song called the "LEKHA DODI" which means Come, My Beloved. With this song they would welcome the Sabbath. One verse goes, "Remember and observe, in one utterance announce to us the One and only God, God is One and God's name is One. This same phenomenon has happened to our country girl. Her shepherd and the king are one. His name is Solomon. She knows that now with all her heart, thus the request for the seal. As the Jews were to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy, so we Christians remember the first day of the week and keep it holy. There we remember that our gentle shepherd is also our king who loves us and like our Jewish antecedents we say:

One thing God has spoken;

two things have I heard:

that might belongs to God.  (Psalms 62:12)

The country girl's beloved had many voices but he was one. So it is with our king. He is our One, our beloved and we list to his many voices. Hear him? He's calling.