to start things off, i want to share some of my thoughts from note-taking in week one. for each lesson, i picked one thing that particularly stuck out to me|that i liked|was fascinated or encouraged by. maybe you'd like to do the same as you are reading through the lessons with us. i would so enjoy hearing more thoughts on chapter one.
week one.
01. i loved getting the historical background of Esther in my head. putting the story in its proper place and time made it feel that much more lifelike and significant. it really happened! the history books can prove it.
02. reading psalm 96.4-6 (read this!) was one of my favorite parts of this lesson, as well as beth's reminder that 'our status is infinitely higher as a servant in God's kingdom than a ruler in ours.' what a great reminder. we are to have hearts of servants.. something i pray for each and every day.
03. the speculation over reasons for vashti's refusal was especially interesting to me. oddly, i haven't ever thought about her motives in saying 'no' before. also, i liked that beth set one of the goals for this study to be 'to let God heal our world-torn souls and make us experience His security in our reality.' i have started to pray that for myself, and for all of you.
04. what i took away from lesson four was that popular opinion (what our peers think) is very powerful, but God is infinitely more powerful. beth makes the statement that, 'we have a sovereign God who reigns over all and is threatened by none.' doesn't that just make you sigh with relief? we don't have to worry about pleasing other people!
05. in lesson five, the thought that really hit me was that although we do not see God's name even once in the book of esther, we can see His providential plan worked out perfectly, as always. we may wonder why we have to go through hard times and why our plans fail and why life has to be so frustrating, but God always has a perfect plan for our good and His glory. deuteronomy 7.9.. 'know therefore that the Lord your God is God: He is a faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations..'
onto week two.
as you dive into chapter two of esther, and week two of our study, you will finally get your first glimpse of the lady herself. watch and note these essential things as you hit the books..
a. the king's new plan
b. esther's heritage and family
c. how king xerxes differs from our King
d. esther's amazing qualities
e. how God preserves esther through a potentially tragic experience, and blesses her beyond expectation.
while you are studying this week, i've picked some handy verses to read|ponder|remember.
each of them tie in beautifully with the events or themes found in esther. look them up as you read chapter two and you will see why.
01. proverbs 21.1
02. hebrews 6.10-12
03. 1 peter 5.6-7
04. romans 8.28
05. titus 3.1-2
06. colossians 3.12
07. 1 peter 3.3-4
week two, off you go. please chime in whenever you can. will be back soon!
wishing you bits of marvelous study time throughout the week.
yours, summer
don't have my book yet, so I don't know if Beth makes any comments on Queen Vashti's refusal. Not so much the why? she refuses, but just the fact that she DID refuse. Not too many commentaries, (especially written by women!) like to focus on the fact that she refused to do something asked of her by her husband, and the disrespect that was shown him in that disobedience.
ReplyDeleteI think the footnote verses are a much needed reminder to all of us wives! Eph 5:33b..."and the let the wife see that she respects her husband." Col 3:18 .."wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord."...and I Peter 3:1.."Wives, be submissive to your own husbands, THAT EVEN IF SOME DO NOT OBEY THE WORD, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives..." Respect is HUGE to our husbands! Even if we don't think someone is worthy of respect, for whatever reason, we are commanded to give it. A short little side-lesson from Esther chapter 1!