Humility, Gratitude, and Guidance

Last week our morning group began the Hello Mornings Study, Then I Will Go . In the coming four weeks, we hope to learn lessons from the book of Esther on Obedience, Victory, and God’s Providence.

We began with reading 2 Chronicles 36:11-21. I read it the first time in the NASB and then had to reach for The Message as I found the verses to be very timely.

Some things I took note of:

Zedekiah became king at 21 years of age, ruled for 11 years, and was considered by God to be an evil king.
There was no sorrow or repentance for the things he did wrong.
He did not listen to Jeremiah and the prophets.
He compounded his troubles by not respecting what he had promised to King Nebuchadnezzar.
He was stubborn.
Did not give thought to God.
This evil mindset spread.
God repeatedly sent messages, wanting to give every chance possible.
God permitted captivity.

I sat sobered by this passage as I recognized myself at times in my life. Us humans can be stubborn at times, not heeding the advice given to us, going our own way, not giving any thought to God some days.

May we recognize any of our ways that are not of God and humble ourselves before Him.

The cross references in my Bible brought me to read Proverbs 1:24-33:

“They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices … But he who listens to me shall live securely and will be at ease from the dread of evil.” (verses 30, 31, 33, NASB)

Oh the grace and mercy of our Lord who patiently reaches out to us!

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Mid week found us reading Esther 1:1-4. Here we find King Ahasuerus throwing a banquet. But the strange thing to me is that the purpose was not to bless the people with fine food and entertainment.

“And he displayed the riches of his glory and the splendor of his great majesty.” (verse 4, NASB)

Eastern rulers of that time threw lavish banquets often because each time it gave them opportunity to impress their guests with their wealth and their power. In so doing, the people were more apt to follow along with their rule.

Before I can go hard on King Ahasuerus for being prideful or having wrong motives, I had to think for a bit.

What about social media?

There we find posts to show our “best” lives. How wonderful things are going for us – success, happiness, friendships, families. It’s called “platform building” but is it not the same concept which King Ahasuerus was using?

This was quickly brought to mind:

“But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” (Deuteronomy 8:18, NASB)

The Message words it powerfully:

“If you start thinking to yourselves, “I did all this. And all by myself. I’m rich. It’s all mine!”””well, think again. Remember that God, your God, gave you the strength to produce all this wealth so as to confirm the covenant that he promised to your ancestors””as it is today.”

All that we have comes from God alone. All that we don’t have has been withheld by God out of His love and wisdom.

The study asks: Do you struggle with pride or focusing on the temporal?

May we not boast or become prideful in order to impress others or gain popularity. May we be grateful, humbling ourselves before God and man. And may we give a helping hand to those in need.

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In Esther 1:10-15, we find King Ahasuerus still at his banquet, probably having had a little more wine than was wise. His pride quickly took told of him and he went further with his boasting.

Queen Vashti was beautiful and has been described as a “trophy wife” in commentaries. He wanted her paraded around before his eunuchs “in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials” (verse 11).

But she refuses to be exploited.

In his embarrassment, we are told “his anger burned within him.” His anger led to a bad decision he will soon regret.

The Wiersbe Study Bible provides this insight:

“The anger that King Ahasuerus expressed toward his lovely queen was ignorant, childish, and completely inappropriate. Had the king been sober, he would never have asked his wife to display her beauties before his drunken leaders. In his angry pride, the king decided he had to do something to save both his ego and his reputation … To be sure, a holy anger ought to burn in the heart of every godly person … but we must be careful that our anger at sin doesn’t become sinful anger.”

(Wiersbe Study Bible, page 683)

As we face decisions, may we remember to lean upon the Holy Spirit who gives guidance and wisdom to us. May we trust the Lord to continually guide us.

“And the Lord will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.” (Isaiah 58:11, NASB)

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May we humble ourselves before our God,
recognizing that all that we have comes from God alone,
and letting Him continually guide us in all our decisions.

Today I am joining … Tell His Story and InstaEncouragements .