Category: Daily Bible Reading Blog

A blog following the daily readings from the Revised Common Lectionary.

Esther 4:1-17

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            Queen Esther was a Jewess.  Normally, this would not have been a problem in the ancient Media-Persian kingdom ruled by Ahasuerus.  But it was not a normal kind of time.  The top aide of King Ahasuerus was an arrogant man, Haman.  Haman so loathed the Jewish people that he connived a way to get the king to issue an edict in which a holocaust of horror would be unleashed against the Jewish people so that they would be destroyed. 
 
            Esther found herself between the proverbial rock and hard place.  Neither the king nor Haman knew that she was a Jewess.  If she revealed herself, Esther could be killed.  On the other hand, if she used her position and influence in an inappropriate way by entering the king’s presence without being summoned, Esther could be killed.  There was no good option.  But in the kingdom of God, there is always an option.
 
            Being thrust into an impossible situation through circumstances not created by herself, Queen Esther came to the point of decision:  she would approach the king, but she would do it with all the prayer and fasting of her people behind her.  Esther had all the Jews in her city gathered for a three-day fast on her behalf.  Then, she would face the king and deal with the adversity that she did not ask for.
 
            When confronted with the face of evil; when dealt a set of circumstances you do not deserve; when hissing tongues breathe slander about you; when there seems to be no possible solution to your problem and no apparent possibility of hope; then, what do you do?  Everyone, at some point in their lives, faces a quandary beyond their ability to handle.  It is at such times, God is at his best.  If we will confidently face those times with all the humility we can muster through devoted fasting and prayer, who knows?  Perhaps God will show up and turn the tables….
            Sovereign God, you see and know all things.  Yet, I don’t always know you are there and I don’t always see you working behind the scenes.  When devious people plot behind my back and situations rise up to my neck, I look to you so that the plans of the wicked will not come to pass.  May the righteous thrive and not be destroyed.  May the mighty name of Jesus prevail.  Amen.

Psalm 124

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            A healthy way of viewing the biblical Psalms of the Old Testament is to look at them as the church’s prayer book.  The Psalms give voice to the experiences of our lives, especially when we have become mute with overwhelming circumstances.  One of the ways in which the ancient Israelites remained faithful was to take at least one annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem.  As they walked the slow journey to the city, and ascended the mountain to its pinnacle where the Temple stood, the Jews used the psalms of ascent to help them remember the Lord’s faithfulness and praise God.
 
            The actual physical trek up the mountain would mimic the spiritual experiences of the Israelites coming from the valley of the shadow of death, only to rise above seeming tragedy to the heights of God’s deliverance.  Israel was often alone in the world, with many enemies and only God to help them.  Imagine a large coterie of Jews joyfully ascending the temple mount shouting to heaven:  “Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”  Picture them searing the character of God on their hearts through loudly proclaiming:  “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side… then they would have swallowed us up alive.”
 
            If you have a flight of stairs in your house or your church, try a little exercise in this week:  leave a small copy of the Bible at the foot of the staircase and each time you ascend to the next floor say Psalm 124 or one of the other psalms of ascent aloud as you go up.  At the end of the week, take some time to discuss your experience with your spouse, friend, or pastor.  Think about how to further engraft the Psalms into your life so that they form and shape you in fresh ways.
            Saving God, just as you delivered the ancient Israelites from their bondage and brought them into a good land, so help me to rise above my circumstances and see your guidance in all things, through Jesus Christ my Lord.  Amen.

James 4:8-17

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            The classic comic book story of the origins of Spiderman has Peter Parker, after being bitten by a radioactive spider, acquiring the commensurate strength and skill of a spider on the human level.  Young Peter comes up with a way to make some easy cash by putting on a spider costume and entering a wrestling ring.  After the match, the promoter takes advantage of Peter and shafts him of much of his money.  As Peter leaves, a robber enters and steals the promoter’s money.  Peter sees the thief flee and does nothing to stop him, although he could have overpowered him easily.  Tragically, the thief proceeds to jack a car with Peter’s Uncle Ben in it.  Through a twist of fate, Uncle Ben is murdered by the man Peter ignored. 
 
            This story illustrates for us the importance of doing the right thing, even when it appears that our inaction will do no harm.  Today’s New Testament lesson reinforces a teaching that comes from the best held wisdom tradition of Scripture.  “Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”  Maybe we too often think about sin only in overt actions like stealing, murder, and adultery.  But on the other side of the coin, sin is also about all the things people do not do – ignoring the poor, presuming that someone else will help, or simply not paying attention to the inner promptings of God.
 
            In our hectic society we tend to be so crazy busy making money, trying to make ends meet, and planning for the future that we fail to see the divine appointments that God has for us in the present.  The alternative to all this striving for potential gain is to slow down and humble ourselves before the Lord.  A good place to start is to take some unhindered time right now to carefully and attentively read these verses from the epistle of James.  Then, ask God:  What do you want me to do?  Perhaps if we created the necessary space on a regular basis to genuinely ask that question, we would not find ourselves later regretting, like Peter Parker, our sins of omission.
            All-wise God, you are the One who sees all things and has called your people to faith in action.  Help me to see the people and the divine appointments you put in my way so that I might follow your will, not mine.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            My late Dad was, I think, one of the smartest guys I have ever known.  That is saying something, since I have three academic degrees and studied under intelligent professors and worked with gifted students.  Yet, he would sometimes say in the course of a cerebral conversation, “But what do I know? I’m just a dumb farmer.”  The self-deprecation came from the fact that he never attended college and did not study formally. 
 
            Today’s New Testament lesson shifts the focus away from any earthly wisdom.  Whether a person has a formal education and much learning; or, has a well-developed common sense; or, possesses a perceptive social intelligence; the Apostle Paul places the onus for Christianity in none of those attributes of the wisdom of humanity, but, rather, in the power of God.
 
            Although I believe Paul was a very gifted individual with every kind of human wisdom available to him, he himself did not ultimately put his trust in any of it.  What was of ultimate importance to Paul was that people would know Jesus Christ and him crucified.  Paul did not want people to be persuaded by his eloquence, or lack thereof, nor did he want to develop people who would follow him personally.  No, Paul wanted people to rest their faith squarely in Jesus Christ.
 
            It is the Spirit of God which uses us to demonstrate the power of God to a needy world.  Therefore, developing our connection with God in the Holy Spirit is of paramount importance.  And this is something everyone can do, not just an elite few.  This is the beauty of Christianity, that the most common of persons, as well as the most extraordinary of people, can both be equally used by God if they maintain a faith relationship with God.  Take time today and every day to foster such a relational experience in Christ.
            All-wise God, all power, glory, and honor belong to you.  My faith and hope rest securely and confidently in you.  Fill me to the full with your Holy Spirit so that the words that come out of my mouth and the actions that I do are a demonstration of God’s power to the glory of Jesus Christ.  Amen.