Day 9/11 – The Time of Esther

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Thoughts from the Diary of a Desperate Man by Walter A Henrichsen (“Walt”)
The Time of Esther
Day Two Hundred Fifty-four

“Think not that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, 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?” Esther4:13-14

Haman the Agagite was an enemy of the Jews. The Jewish historian Josephus says that Haman was an Amalekite, a tribe that opposed Israel entering the Promised Land during the Exodus. Haman did not take kindly to Mordecai’s slight and began to plot the extermination of the Jews. As the plot unfolds the calamity in which the Jews found themselves turned to their advantage, although no one but God could have seen this before the fact.

When Mordecai became aware of Haman’s plot, he approached Esther for help. None but the court jester and the heir of the king were allowed into his presence uninvited. Esther, knowing this, expressed her reluctance to approach the king. Mordecai reminded her of God’s Providence with these well-known words.

When God presents you with an opportunity to participate in what He is doing, you can either be cooperative or passive. In either case, God will execute His will. You cannot alter the plan of God, either by your opposition or inattention. He is no more dependent upon you to accomplish the Great Commission than He was upon Esther to approach her husband. The only person that can be hurt by disobedience is you, and who knows, our Father may have brought you “to the kingdom for such a time as this.”

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Proverbs 10-12 2 Corinthians 4 (New King James Version)

Proverbs 10-12
Wise Sayings of Solomon
10 The proverbs of Solomon:
A wise son makes a glad father,
But a foolish son is the grief of his mother.
2
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,
But righteousness delivers from death.
3
The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish,
But He casts away the desire of the wicked.
4
He who has a slack hand becomes poor,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5
He who gathers in summer is a wise son;
He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.
6
Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
7
The memory of the righteous is blessed,
But the name of the wicked will rot.
8
The wise in heart will receive commands,
But [a]a prating fool will [b]fall.
9
He who walks with integrity walks securely,
But he who perverts his ways will become known.
10
He who winks with the eye causes trouble,
But a prating fool will fall.
11
The mouth of the righteous is a well of life,
But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
12
Hatred stirs up strife,
But love covers all sins.
13
Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding,
But a rod is for the back of him who [c]is devoid of understanding.
14
Wise people store up knowledge,
But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
15
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city;
The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
16
The labor of the righteous leads to life,
The wages of the wicked to sin.
17
He who keeps instruction is in the way of life,
But he who refuses correction [d]goes astray.
18
Whoever hides hatred has lying lips,
And whoever spreads slander is a fool.
19
In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.
20
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
The heart of the wicked is worth little.
21
The lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of [e]wisdom.
22
The blessing of the Lord makes one rich,
And He adds no sorrow with it.
23
To do evil is like sport to a fool,
But a man of understanding has wisdom.
24
The fear of the wicked will come upon him,
And the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25
When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
26
As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy man to those who send him.
27
The fear of the Lord prolongs days,
But the years of the wicked will be shortened.
28
The hope of the righteous will be gladness,
But the expectation of the wicked will perish.
29
The way of the Lord is strength for the upright,
But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.
30
The righteous will never be removed,
But the wicked will not inhabit the [f]earth.
31
The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
But the perverse tongue will be cut out.
32
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.
The Folly of Wickedness
11
Dishonest[g] scales are an abomination to the Lord,
But a [h]just weight is His delight.
2
When pride comes, then comes shame;
But with the humble is wisdom.
3
The integrity of the upright will guide them,
But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.
4
Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But righteousness delivers from death.
5
The righteousness of the blameless will [i]direct his way aright,
But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
6
The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.
7
When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish,
And the hope of the unjust perishes.
8
The righteous is delivered from trouble,
And it comes to the wicked instead.
9
The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
10
When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
11
By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted,
But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12
He who [j]is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor,
But a man of understanding holds his peace.
13
A talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.
14
Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
15
He who is surety[k] for a stranger will suffer,
But one who hates [l]being surety is secure.
16
A gracious woman retains honor,
But ruthless men retain riches.
17
The merciful man does good for his own soul,
But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18
The wicked man does deceptive work,
But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.
19
As righteousness leads to life,
So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.
20
Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord,
But the blameless in their ways are His delight.
21
Though they join [m]forces, the wicked will not go unpunished;
But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.
22
As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,
So is a lovely woman who lacks [n]discretion.
23
The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24
There is one who scatters, yet increases more;
And there is one who withholds more than is right,
But it leads to poverty.
25
The generous soul will be made rich,
And he who waters will also be watered himself.
26
The people will curse him who withholds grain,
But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27
He who earnestly seeks good [o]finds favor,
But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.
28
He who trusts in his riches will fall,
But the righteous will flourish like foliage.
29
He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind,
And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And he who [p]wins souls is wise.
31
If the righteous will be [q]recompensed on the earth,
How much more the ungodly and the sinner.
The House of the Righteous Shall Stand
12
Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,
But he who hates correction is stupid.
2
A good man obtains favor from the Lord,
But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn.
3
A man is not established by wickedness,
But the root of the righteous cannot be moved.
4
An[r] excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.
5
The thoughts of the righteous are right,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6
The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,”
But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.
7
The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the house of the righteous will stand.
8
A man will be commended according to his wisdom,
But he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.
9
Better is the one who is [s]slighted but has a servant,
Than he who honors himself but lacks bread.
10
A righteous man regards the life of his animal,
But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11
He who [t]tills his land will be satisfied with bread,
But he who follows [u]frivolity is devoid of [v]understanding.
12
The wicked covet the catch of evil men,
But the root of the righteous yields fruit.
13
The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
But the righteous will come through trouble.
14
A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,
And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.
15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But he who heeds counsel is wise.
16
A fool’s wrath is known at once,
But a prudent man covers shame.
17
He who speaks truth declares righteousness,
But a false witness, deceit.
18
There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise promotes health.
19
The truthful lip shall be established forever,
But a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20
Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
21
No grave [w]trouble will overtake the righteous,
But the wicked shall be filled with evil.
22
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal truthfully are His delight.
23
A prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.
24
The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.
25
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,
But a good word makes it glad.
26
The righteous should choose his friends carefully,
For the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27
The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting,
But diligence is man’s precious possession.
28
In the way of righteousness is life,
And in its pathway there is no death.
Footnotes:
• Proverbs 10:8 Lit. the foolish of lips
• Proverbs 10:8 be thrust down or ruined
• Proverbs 10:13 Lit. lacks heart
• Proverbs 10:17 leads
• Proverbs 10:21 Lit. heart
• Proverbs 10:30 land
• Proverbs 11:1 deceptive
• Proverbs 11:1 Lit. perfect stone
• Proverbs 11:5 Or make smooth or straight
• Proverbs 11:12 Lit. lacks heart
• Proverbs 11:15 guaranty
• Proverbs 11:15 those pledging guaranty, lit. those who strike hands
• Proverbs 11:21 Lit. hand to hand
• Proverbs 11:22 taste
• Proverbs 11:27 Lit. seeks
• Proverbs 11:30 Lit. takes, in the sense of brings, cf. 1 Sam. 16:11
• Proverbs 11:31 rewarded
• Proverbs 12:4 Lit. A wife of valor
• Proverbs 12:9 lightly esteemed
• Proverbs 12:11 works or cultivates
• Proverbs 12:11 Lit. vain things
• Proverbs 12:11 Lit. heart
• Proverbs 12:21 harm

2 Corinthians 4
The Light of Christ’s Gospel
4 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor [a]handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Cast Down but Unconquered
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.
13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
Seeing the Invisible
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Footnotes:
• 2 Corinthians 4:2 adulterating the word of God