Bibledoorajar remembers godly heritage in the face of danger

     I recently had a conversation with a young woman who told me that her ex-husband sent her and her son a letter from the prison where he is incarcerated. He signed the letter with a common skinhead closure which included lightning bolts around his signature. The son was infuriated that he would send a letter to them that reflected such hate for certain peoples. Though young, her son confronted his father. I find this a brave act, but a sad one, that a son would have need to correct his father. The mother and I spoke about how good it was that the son recognized racism at such a young age and
about how sad it was to know this about one's father. I silently prayed that the son would be safe in his father's presence and that as he grew he would continue to condemn his racist behavior.
     When we think of Mordecai being so hated by Haman, it is good to remember his godly heritage. Moses had prophesied over his tribe's (Benjamin) future:
    

       The BELOVED of the Lord shall dwell in

SAFETY by HIM, and the LORD shall

cover him all day long, and he shall

stand between HIS SHOULDERS.

     This is a wonderful heritage because Mordecai and his people are indeed standing in need of covering. Haman is trying everything he knows to do to kill God's people. He consulted the occult (PUR) about a successful date on which the Jews could be killed. The occult spoke: "In the month of Adar on the 13th day, you can successfully annihilate God's people". Haman's confidence soared.

     Another son of Benjamin covers us. We are his beloved because we love Him. We can dwell safely in Him and He will cover us all day long.

Bibledoorajar Looks at Discerning God's Will About People

     For Christians, each of us has to decide which people (kingdoms) to honor. When Saul was leading the Jews in the battle for God's will among people, he was called upon to distinguish among the peoples. Amidst the battle against the Amalekites (Agagites), Saul paused to make sure he and the Jews did no harm to the Kenites who were descendants of Jethro who so aided Moses as he led the children of Israel from Egypt. This was a noble and absolutely right thing to do. However, Saul did not show the same wisdom when he captured Agag. God's will was that he be completely annihilated because of the degree of his evil toward the purposes of God. I think Saul's problem was that he did not know his God intimately enough to absolutely do his will on all occasions. "Know the king intimately and enjoy Him forever---Ps. 16:11." Saul knew his God but did not always want to pursue mutual enjoyment with Him. Consequently, he made a terrible mistake that not only interrupted his relationship with God, but placed God's people in continuing peril.
     Just as Esther was seeking the king with all her heart, with all her mind and with all her soul knowing that he was sovereign and in control, so Mordecai was pursuing God. Mordecai incensed Haman because he refused to worship anyone or thing above God. We must realize that there are just some  people like Haman who are going to be incensed about our devotion to the will of God. It is of more interest to them that we worship differently. But, faith in God often calls for sacrifice. Honor of some peoples and their ways simply cannot take place. Christians are called to give honor to whom honor is due. This is a key component to victory.
     So evil were the Amalekites, that God had sworn perpetual war with them. Now, everyone was bowing down to Haman except Mordecai. This infuriated Haman. When "friends" encouraged Mordecai to follow through and bow down, Mordecai proclaimed that he was a Jew and as a Jew he could not dishonor his God in that way. Be careful what you tell so called "friends" because, as we will see in our story, the "friends" went straight to Haman with the news that Mordecai was a Jew. Everyone was watching to see who would be victorious in the battle, Mordecai or Haman. But here's some of the difference.

Mordecai                                        Haman

resolved and brave                    prideful and evil

Our heavenly Mordecai was resolved and brave that day that Satan came to Him and tempted Him. He withstood the prideful evil Satan by proclaiming the truth of God's word. God help us to be so resolved and brave when our enemies tempt us.

Bibledoorajar Admires Esther's Calm Spirit

     After the purification process, Esther was pleasant to be with and was not a silly young girl. The king realized how special she was and set the royal crown on her head making her his queen. He gave a great feast in her honor throughout His kingdom. Then, just when it seemed that things were going so well for Esther, intrigue entered her life. It seems that Mordecai overheard two of the king's doorkeepers planning a plot to assassinate the king. Mordecai advised Esther and she was able to tell the king what her uncle Mordecai had overheard. The plot was exposed and the plotters were hanged. The failed event and the name of the man who had exposed it were recorded in the king's chronicles. At about this same time, the king elevated a man named Haman who was an Agagite (Amalekite) to be his prime minister. He was the king's number 1 person and he could act in the king's absence. The fact that Haman was even on this scene was due to Israel's unwillingness to obey God to the letter. Amalek was a grandson of Esau. His clan attacked the children of Israel as they came out of Egypt on the way to the mountain of God. They became eternal enemies of Israel. Agag (the ancestor of Haman) descended from this clan. King Saul was told by God to kill Agag after he was captured but Saul did not. Before the prophet Samuel could catch up to Agag and kill him,  Agag had had opportunities to sire more children. Now Haman, his descendent, was poised against Mordecai, Saul's descendent.

Saul Vs. Agag                                 Mordecai Vs Haman

Partial Victory                           Full Victory over Agag's seed

     How will the victory be won?
        

Bibledoorajar sees Esther getting stronger through humility

     "What can wash away my sin?...."

     Esther had been thoroughly washed and anointed. She was ready to approach the King as he sat on his throne. She had waited until she was ready and had not gone before the king prematurely and unprepared. She had met Hegai's every requirement to become fully prepared. She had also met regularly in the courtyard with her uncle Mordecai during those days of preparation. He had reinforced two things in her mind which might have seemed strange to Esther. However, she took his wishes to heart: 1) do not tell the King you are a Jewess; 2) do not tell the king you are related to me.

     Many women came before the king but still he waited for that special someone. 

"Waiting, I keep waiting, still anticipating love,

Never hesitating to become the fated ones,

Turning every turn to some secret place to hide,

Watching in slow motion as you turn to me and say, my love

Take my breath away..."

Moroder and Whitlock

     Scripture says that when with Esther, the king loved her more than any of the other women and he gave her grace and favor.

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Hebrews 4:6

Bibledoorajar wishes to drip with purity too

     Esther has been dripping daily as needed. Old has fallen off as a healing balm to increase beauty has been applied. During the last six months of her purification rite, she will be exposed to sweet spices and soon she will take on the aroma of them. Esther  is to be admired for her great willingness to take on this sweet aroma rather than the natural scent of her human flesh. This specialized and lengthy treatment went beyond any she had ever experienced and required a great deal of cooperation on her part. But, when done, Esther would be completely fit to be a queen.
     God gave Esther special favor with Hegai. He SPEEDILY gave her the things she needed for purification. He gave her seven maids out of the king's house to assist her. She and her maids were given preference and they were placed in the best quarters. Esther was ready to approach the king whom she had known but was yet to see. Now, she was ready to accept his power, his authority and to relate to him with the right attitude and traits. She was ready to relinquish her will to his. She was ready to be a queen, but would he like her?
     God has given us special favor with the Holy Spirit. He speedily and accurately gives us what we need to stand pure before our King. We are on a journey to take on sweet heavenly aromas. Anything we have to throw off as healing balms are applied will be well worth it. The Lord loves a contrite heart and a beautiful spirit and the good news is the Holy Spirit will help us accomplish just that if we trust and obey. It's a wonderful plan and He is delighted that we want to be with him for always. Sometimes, the Holy Spirit doesn't get His due. But like Hegai, he delights in bringing glory and honor to the King. We are so blessed to have Him in our lives encouraging us and helping us go forward with our task. We will be ready to approach our king whom we know but have not seen. Praise God!

Bibledoorajar wants to know how Esther is doing

"Every day Mordecai would walk around in 

the front of the courtyard of the harem's

house in order to know how Esther was doing

and what was happening to her."

Esther 2: 11

Esther has undertaken a full year of preparations as a part of the king's harem. Six months is to be spent in a treatment of oil with myrhh and another six months with perfumes and other cosmetics. The  harem is preparing to progress from the harem's house to that of the king. Each one from the harem will have one night with the king UNLESS he is especially taken by the girl and then he could summon her again by name. During all of this time of preparation, Mordecai has undertaken his own mission. Everyday he walks around in front of the courtyard of the harem's house in order to determine if his shapely and good looking niece is faring well. He loves her so much as demonstrated by his adoption of her after her parent's death. Mordecai's mission tells us how much he cared for Esther. But behind Mordecai's love is yet a greater love. God is watching over his hidden asset too. Mordecai may have had to say goodbye to Esther with no assurance of ever seeing her again, but his God understands the anxiety of his goodbye. He understands the longing for Esther's best because He has the same regard. His people may be in a foreign land, and may have strayed from His ways, but He has not forgotten them. He has not stopped caring.

     Where are you today? Are you in a place of preparation that the world does not understand? Have you had to say goodbye to some things or people who did not enhance your preparations? Do you love to "marinate" in the thoughts of glory and the palace of the king more than these? Do you know you have a heavenly Mordecai longingly watching to see how you are doing? It is His foremost desire to see you arrive in the halls of glory. Don't stop your preparations now. Honor Him today with them. There is a cheering squad made up of those who have arrived. Listen. They too, are cheering you on. We can do this. We must do this.

"Does Jesus care when.....

Is it ought to Him? Does He see?

O, yes, He cares, I know He cares...."

                                                              Does Jesus Care by Frank E. Graeff

Bibledoorajar reflects on spa treatments

"Where can I go to meet with God?

My soul is weak,

My body tired.

Can it be here, 

Can it be now?

I need to find that place again."

I Will Offer Up My Life by Matt Redman

"You have purified yourselves by obeying the truth--1 Peter 1:22

        I have only been to a spa once. When my sick friend arose from her sick bed, she took us (her two friends/caregivers) to a spa in grateful appreciation. We arrived early for our appointment and were ushered into a disrobing room. There we were given lush robes to put on. We stepped into heavenly hot tubs. There, we relaxed and meditated on how wonderful the process and our luxurious surrounding were. I really wasn't in touch with how our bodies were benefiting; I was just basking in the luxury. We ended with a pedicure and beautiful toenail polish. Snacks and drinks were provided in a meditation room to complete our relaxation process. We left declaring that we had found "the place of places"; I said, "How do you keep them down on the farm, after they've found Paris?" While my budget won't allow a full spa treatment, I have often wondered what it would be like to go for the full treatment--massage, facial, salt glows, body wraps, etc. It sounds like an indulgence, and I guess in some ways it is, but the benefits would be wonderful.

      Today, we follow Esther into the spa area. People learned to dip themselves in hot springs thousands of years ago and pursued other treatments. Hegai, the keeper of the women, determined that the candidates destined to come before the king needed such purification. Esther, though a natural beauty, still needed additional beauty treatments. After all, if selected as Queen, she would need to spend sustained time with the king. The queens' would not be a brief relationship where mars might not be noticed. Esther's spa treatment included 6 months of myrrh treatment. Myrrh is a mixture of lavender and frankincense and is usually mixed with oils. Not only is it a wonderful perfume, but it has many external and internal healing properties. After all, no one should come before the king with a "condition." These problems have to be purified.

"Purer yet and purer...

Calmer yet and calmer...

Higher yet and higher, Out of clouds and night;

Nearer yet and nearer, Rising to the light;

Oft these earnest longings swell within my breast;

Yet they inner meaning Ne'er can be expressed."

Purer Yet and Purer from Goethe