Category: “Listening to God” Devotional

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Esther+006

 

CHAPTER 6 (ESV)

1 On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 3 And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king’s young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” 4 And the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 5 And the king’s young men told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” 6 So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” 7 And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8 let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown is set. 9 And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.’” 10 Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.”

 

REFLECTION:

King Ahasuerus could summon women, sing, and dance and drink when he could not sleep. However, on that night, the king gave an order to read the chronicles, and it so happened the great achievement of Mordecai（2：21-23） was read. It seemed to be coincidental, but it was actually God’s great work. At the critical moment when Haman was going to execute Mordecai unreasonably, God made King Ahasuerus reward Mordecai and turned the situation completely. This was not by accident but the result of God’s intervention on His people’s life. Today, although God promises to reward our good work, sometimes we will be disappointed when the reward is late. You should know that God is always working in your life. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28). You should learn to persevere when you are disappointed and despaired. Our God is almighty and faithful. He will intervene and change everything at the most suitable time. Those who persevere to the end will receive God’s great reward.

 

PRAYER:

Come before God with a godly heart and praise Him for His righteousness, holiness, love and faithfulness. Tell God the disappointment and despair in your heart and ask Him to walk with you everyday. Ask God to sooth your heart and give you peace so that your will have hope in perseverance. Just as a farmer who diligently does the farming work, you will reap abundant harvest when the harvest season comes.

 

HYMN:

Trading My Sorrows – www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KsfwvpcQhY

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Esther+005

 

CHAPTER 5 (ESV)

9 And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11 And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king. 12 Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king. 13 Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” 14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.

 

REFLECTION:

Once bitterness and resentment is planted in our heart, it will gnaw into our life. Haman was full of excitement when he was invited to the feast by Esther, but his mood suddenly changed because of his hatred for Mordecai. Haman’s wife and friends were equally domineering and arrogant as Haman. They suggested making a gallows fifty cubits, which was almost 23 metres high. The gallows was to be placed at the city wall or on some conspicuous building so that all the people in the city would not disobey Haman after witnessing the death of Mordecai. What was ironic was that this tall gallows was later used to hang Haman with all the people looking. The Bible teaches us: “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.” (Heb. 12:15) Don’t let resentment and bitterness sprout in your heart or else you will reap what you have sown like Haman. Today, reflect if you still have bitterness in your heart. If there is hatred in your heart simply by hearing someone’s name, you should immediately confess your sin of bitterness. It is not enough to underestimate or cover up bitterness, or just change superficial behaviour. If you don’t thoroughly eliminate bitterness, it will cause you to suffer more.

 

PRAYER:

Quietly come before God. Tell God about the bitterness and resentment in your heart and ask for His enlightenment. If there is pain caused by others, ask God to give you strength to forgive those who hurt you. If you have pride and prejudice, confess and repent to God and ask Him to give you a broad-minded and inclusive heart to live out God’s love diligently.

 

HYMN:

O Come to the Altar – www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycWDFd0yCHA

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Esther+004

 

CHAPTER 4 (ESV)

13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” 17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.

 

REFLECTION:

Esther and Mordecai believed that God would save His people. They took courageous actions instead of sitting and waiting. Although God is always in power, He often works through humans to fulfill His Will. It is not enough to just pray and wait and see. Many people believe in God’s promises but just stay away from the matter. Esther was different. Not only did she fast and pray, but she decided to risk her life to see the King of Persia. Mordecai also acted according to her instruction. God’s preparation is not without trace. Today when God’s calling comes upon you, could you see God’s preparation as with Esther and Mordecai? Don’t wait for other people to do the things that you should do. Take action with courage to participate in God’s plan and you will taste the great joy when God’s Will is accomplished.

 

PRAYER:

Come before God in silence and seek for God’s Will on the things He wants you to actively participate in. Ask God to give you the courage to bravely take on those challenges even though it may require you to pay a great cost. At the same time, ask God to give you humility to give glory to God instead of yourself on all your accomplishments.

 

HYMN:

Here I Am to Worship – www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaUTv1pXRyU

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Esther+003

 

CHAPTER 3 (ESV)

1 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him. 2 And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage. 3 Then the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the king’s command?” 4 And when they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury. 6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Mordecai refused to bow down before Haman. We may think that Mordecai was not flexible as it was not a big mistake to bow down before senior government officials to show your respect. However, the King of Persia and his senior officials were regarded as sacred and inviolable in the country. Mordecai refused to bow down before Haman because it would be equivalent to worshipping him as god. Similarly Daniel and his three friends also refused to worship the golden image (cf. Dan. 3:1-30). We can only worship the one and only true God and no others.
2. Why did Haman want to wipe out the whole Jewish race just because of the act of Mordecai? (1) Haman hated the Jews because he was an Agagite who was the descendants of the Amalek, the fatalistic enemy of the Israelites. (2) With the high position in the country and the lust for power, Haman desired for people’s respect. However, the Jews only respected God as their highest authority and were not afraid of other power. Haman knew that the only way for him to satisfy his conceit was to kill this race who respected God more than him and the king. The pursuit of power and racial hatred caused him to plan this racial genocide. God will punish all those who are proud and arrogant and will eventually destroy them under His judgment.

 

PRAYER:

Pray that God will help you learn from Mordecai’s example to insist on worshipping God under pressure rather than worshipping powerful persons or other idols. Ask God to help you take Haman as a warning and understand that hatred and pride will receive serious judgment by God. If you still have resentment for others and pride for yourself, lay them down before God, confess your sin and ask for God’s forgiveness.

 

HYMN:

At the Cross – www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ONVG8DaREA

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Esther+002

 

CHAPTER 2 (ESV)

16 And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign, 17 the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 Then the king gave a great feast for all his officials and servants; it was Esther’s feast. He also granted a remission of taxes to the provinces and gave gifts with royal generosity.

19 Now when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. 20 Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him. 21 In those days, as Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 22 And this came to the knowledge of Mordecai, and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai. 23 When the affair was investigated and found to be so, the men were both hanged on the gallows. And it was recorded in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.

 

REFLECTION:

Esther won grace and favour in the king’s sight and the king made her queen instead of Vashti. However, following the advice of Mordecai, she did not disclose her identity as a Jew as she did not have real power and not see the king often. As God’s people, we have the responsibility to reveal our identity so that others can see the acts of God from us. However, it can still be considered as wisdom in obeying God’s will when we keep silent at certain times and disclose our identity at a suitable moment. We can see God’s work throughout history. Before the Jews faced the danger of extermination, God already put Esther at the position of Queen of Persia. When difficulties occurred, He called Esther to come forward bravely and save the people of her race.  Today when you face life changes, you should know that God has put you at a certain position even though you may not fully understand His will. God may work through you when there is a need in the future. You should seek for God’s Will and obey Him in all things.

 

PRAYER:

Ask God to give you wisdom so that you can see God’s sovereignty when you face major changes in your life. Even though you have doubt with some specific changes and you are not sure of God’s will, ask God to give you faith to obey Him. Your heart will be filled with peace and hope when you look to the future.

 

HYMN:

Do It Again – www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B_lnQIITxU

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Esther+001

 

Esther

The book of Esther explains why Jews in the Persian period began celebrating a new festival called Purim. The Law of Moses had earlier described how God’s mighty acts of deliverance lay behind holidays such as Passover and Tabernacles. The book of Esther shows how God intervened once again to save the Jews, leading to a commemoration of this great rescue in the feast of Purim.

This fast-moving story occurs during the reign of the Persian King Xerxes (most likely Xerxes I, 486–465 BC). It relates the adventures that take place when a Jewish exile named Esther and her cousin and guardian Mordecai work to rescue their people from a plot to destroy them. While the story never mentions God by name, God’s hand of protection can be detected in the timing and combination of events as they unfold.

The book features numerous banquets, including two hosted by Xerxes at the beginning, two given by Esther in the middle, and two celebrated by the grateful Jews at the end. Since this story was told to later generations during the feast of Purim itself, the audience is placed right in the middle of the action. Those who read it can not only join in celebrating God’s deliverance, they can ask themselves, as Mordecai asked Esther, for what great purpose God may have brought them to their own position in life.

 

www.bible.com/zh-TW/bible/111/EST.INTRO1.NIV

 

CHAPTER 1 (ESV)

13 Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for this was the king’s procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment, 14 the men next to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom): 15 “According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?” 16 Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, “Not only against the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For the queen’s behavior will be made known to all women, causing them to look at their husbands with contempt, since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.’ 18 This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s behavior will say the same to all the king’s officials, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty. 19 If it please the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. 20 So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, for it is vast, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike.” 21 This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed.

 

REFLECTION:

Kings are usually arrogant because of their powerful position and they have a superficial relationship with their queen. King Ahasuerus was no exception. As for many ancient kings, King Ahasuerus recruited a team of counsellors whom he sought advice from for all things. The success or failure of a king often depended on the wisdom of these counsellors. Even for the king, man is afraid of the contempt by a woman. Although it was King Ahasuerus who disrespected Queen Vashti first, he sought the advice from counsellors such as Memucan on how to deal with the contempt by the queen. The advice of the counsellors was to issue a law to force all the women in Persia to respect their husband. Obviously, this law would not achieve its result as mutual respect between men and women is originated from selfless love rather than the enforcement of the law. If you are a man, reflect if you love your wife. If you are a woman, reflect if you love your husband. Is there mutual respect and appreciation originated from love?

 

PRAYER:

Come before God with godliness and ask God to examine your heart. Do you have resentment and contempt for your wife or husband? If yes, confess your sin and ask for God’s forgiveness. Ask God to give you greater faith and more love so that as wife you can submit to your husband, and as husband you can love your wife and are willing to give up your life for her.

 

HYMN:

Power of Your Love – www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga6Qtxzd6vk

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Nehemiah+013

 

CHAPTER 13 (ESV)

23 In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people. 25 And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take an oath in the name of God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. 26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin. 27 Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?”

28 And one of the sons of Jehoiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I chased him from me. 29 Remember them, O my God, because they have desecrated the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

30 Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work; 31 and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits.

Remember me, O my God, for good.

 

REFLECTION:

Nehemiah re-emphasized the importance of a holy life. Therefore, he reaffirmed the Law of Moses and cleansed the sins and filth—especially those in the temple. The record by Nehemiah on the capture and return of the Israelites has great implication to our life today: we are also continuously captured by the world and need to return to God. However, knowledge in our head will only stop at a change to our mind. James Chapter 2 says, faith without works is dead. Reflect how you should lead a holy life and live out your faith in the sinful world today.

 

PRAYER:

Ask the Heavenly Father to teach you, consecrate you, and help you to be humble before Him. Guard your heart and your mind so that it will not to be captured by this world. Ask the Heavenly Father to increase your faith daily so that you will lead a holy life and live out your faith glorifying God.

 

HYMN:

Build My Life – www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZW4_8_zCBE

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Nehemiah+012

 

CHAPTER 12 (ESV)

27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres. 28 And the sons of the singers gathered together from the district surrounding Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites; 29 also from Beth-gilgal and from the region of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem.

 

REFLECTION:

During the era of King David, Israel was a vibrant and God-fearing country. The returning Israelites wanted to rebuild Jerusalem to be the centre of future restoration of the country. Therefore, they willingly offered themselves and the City of Jerusalem to God. The Israelites joyfully offered the walls to God in various ways because they finally saw the fruit of the great project after many years. Other than celebrating the completion of the project, this “Ceremony of Accomplishment” also signified a new beginning. Reflect on the reason of the joy for the Israelites. When did you experience great joy? Do you feel the great joy now that you are God’s child and a new being? How will you live a holy life filled with hope to start the new page of your life?

 

PRAYER:

Give thanks to God for His salvation and be joyful for your life has been “accomplished”. You are now the child of God and you will be with Him in eternal glory. At the same time, it also means that you are a new creation, the old has passed away and the new has come. Ask God to train you, guide you, and help your new life grow continuously to maturity.

 

HYMN:

No Longer Slaves – www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8TkUMJtK5k

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Nehemiah+011

 

CHAPTER 11 (ESV)

1 Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten remained in the other towns. 2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.

3 These are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the towns of Judah everyone lived on his property in their towns: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon’s servants.

 

REFLECTION:

1. The number of Israelites returning was much less than the population of Jerusalem during the period of the Kings. Because the rebuilding of the walls was based on the original foundation, the population within Jerusalem was scarce. Nehemiah migrated 1 out of 10 people from other cities to Jerusalem. However, those who migrated willingly were the minority. The majority did not want to live inside Jerusalem. Therefore, Nehemiah casted lots to decide who would migrate into Jerusalem. Many Israelites did not want to move into the city for the following reasons: (1) Gentiles rejected the Israelites and did not trade with them because of their faith; (2) if they moved into the city, their family and career would have to be rebuilt from scratch and this would take a long time and cost a lot of money; and (3) the social pressure was high living inside the city and closer to the temple as people had to obey God’s Laws more carefully.
2. Reflect as God calls you to be His people and to serve Him, did you respond enthusiastically and thankfully and consecrate yourself? Today are you willing to come close to God despite difficulties and sacrifices?

 

PRAYER:

Ask God to give you a heart that thirsts for truth and willingness to take part in His work. Ask God to help you understand that His grace is not cheap, as it requires you to respond by paying a price that could even be a huge price. However, if you are willing to do that, your spiritual life will grow and you will experience God’s boundless abundance.

 

HYMN:

All I Have Is Christ – www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg_gl3IpEFw

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Nehemiah+010

 

CHAPTER 10 (ESV)

32 “We also take on ourselves the obligation to give yearly a third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: 33 for the showbread, the regular grain offering, the regular burnt offering, the Sabbaths, the new moons, the appointed feasts, the holy things, and the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. 34 We, the priests, the Levites, and the people, have likewise cast lots for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according to our fathers’ houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the Law. 35 We obligate ourselves to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of the Lord; 36 also to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God, the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks; 37 and to bring the first of our dough, and our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the wine and the oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and to bring to the Levites the tithes from our ground, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all our towns where we labor. 38 And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive the tithes. And the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse. 39 For the people of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of grain, wine, and oil to the chambers, where the vessels of the sanctuary are, as well as the priests who minister, and the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not neglect the house of our God.”

 

REFLECTION:

1. The law of offering the firstborn of man and livestock originated from the time of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt (cf. Exod. 13:12-14). Nehemiah restored this ancient law and the Israelites had to learn to offer their firstborn to God. Although this law had been abolished in the New Testament period, the spirit of it still exists—to offer the best of our time, treasure, and talent to God first. Reflect if you have offered your best to God or if you only offer what is left over.
2. According to God’s Law, the Levites would collect the tithes from the ground from the Israelites (the Levites were responsible for managing the temple and conducting the rituals). The priests would then collect the tithes from the Levites. The original intention was to ensure support for the house and the servants of God. We must not ignore our responsibility to support God’s servants. Reflect who are the “Levites” and the “priests” in the church today? How would you support their ministries?

 

PRAYER:

Ask God to give you a fervent heart that you are willing to offer God your best. This is a rational service because everything you have belongs to God. Ask God to give you love and tenderness to care for the pastors and leaders who are diligently serving in the church as they really need your support.

 

HYMN:

I Will Offer Up My Life – www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWP05Fm39sY