|















| |
|
SEARCH PRECEPT AUSTIN WEB SITE |
|
|
|
ESTHER
RESOURCES
Esther Commentary, Sermon,
Illustration, Devotional
See
Disclaimer
|
CHECK
THESE OTHER COLLECTIONS
Commentaries, Word Studies, Illustrations |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Adam Clarke
(1760-1832) Clarke was
Methodist, Wesleyan,
Arminian, (e.g.,
Clarke "suggested that although God can know all future events, he
chooses not to know some events beforehand" Baker Encyclopedia of
the Bible, page 808). He did not always interpret Scripture
literally
and so was amillennial (he
interpreted Revelation as a
Historicist) which led him to
interpret the church as fulfilling many OT promises to Israel.
Influential in development of doctrine of entire sanctification.
Affirmed the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, but held a belief of "plenary
dynamic inspiration" (idea of every thought inspired), thus falling short of "plenary verbal
inspiration" (every single word inspired) (Bib. Sacra: Vol 125,
p 163, 1968). In summary, a useful, respected commentary but as with all these resources
you are advised to "Be a Berean!" |
|
|
|
Commentary
Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David
Brown. Published 1871 |
|
|
|
Dave Guzik
Brief
Notes from Conservative, Evangelical, Millennial Perspective |
|
|
Matthew
Henry's Commentary
(1706) |
|
|
|
Net Bible Notes
Commentary
Enter chapter& click "Search" |
|
|
|
Our Daily Bread
Excellent
devotional illustrations from
RBC Ministries
|
|
|
|
Ray
Stedman
"The Way to
Wholeness- Lessons from Leviticus"
Peninsula Bible Church |
|
|
|
C. H. Spurgeon
Sermons
available on the Web (as of March, 2005) |
|
|
|
C H Spurgeon
Devotionals from...
Morning and Evening,
Faith's Checkbook |
|
|
|
|
OUR
DAILY BREAD
Devotionals |
|
Esther 3:1-7
Esther 7:1-10 (Our
Daily Bread)
Danger!
The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of
the unfaithful will destroy them. --Proverbs 11:3
Haman had enormous power in Ahasuerus' kingdom, but he wanted more. When
Mordecai the Jew would not bow to his arrogance, Haman was not content
just to get even. He wanted to destroy all the Jews in Persia. But his
lust for revenge cost him his own life (Est. 7:10).
So too, we today can self-destruct on our own pride, selfishness, greed,
lust, or thirst for revenge.
According to Daniel Schaeffer in his book Dancing With A Shadow, the
Eskimos devised a way of killing wolves. They planted a knife in the ice
with the handle buried. Then they put chunks of fresh meat on the blade
and let it freeze. The wolves would smell the blood from afar and come to
devour it. As they licked the frozen meat, they worked themselves into a
frenzy. Soon they cut their tongues on the razor-sharp blade and began
feeding their hunger with their own blood. They would lick until they
slowly bled to death.
When we fail to recognize the danger of sin and allow ourselves to become
obsessed with it, we are in danger of self-destruction--as was Haman. To
avoid that end, let's daily open our hearts and lives to God's
examination, and ask Him to forgive us for the sin He exposes. --DCE
O Lord, if I am full
of self,
I can be blind to danger;
I would be free from pride and greed,
To anger be a stranger. --Hess
Self-indulgence leads to self-destruction.
|
|
Esther 4:10-17
(Our
Daily Bread)
The Price of Freedom
I will go to the king...and if I perish, I perish. --Esther 4:16
When I talked to young men shortly before D-day during World War II, I
observed that they were scared. None of them wanted to die. However, the
vast majority expressed their conviction that the cause for which they
were fighting was right and worthy of the risk.
Queen Esther had similar feelings. She didn't want to die. She called for
a 3-day fast to acknowledge her need for God's special help. According to
Persian custom, if she went uninvited to the king and he was displeased,
he could order her execution even though she was his wife. Yet Esther
loved her people enough to take that risk.
Today in the United States, we honor the men and women who died in the
service of their country. Their sense of patriotism compelled them to put
their lives on the line. Whether they had volunteered or had been drafted,
they joined in the defense of their homeland. Sometimes they traveled to
faraway places to support other countries in a fight for freedom. They
risked their all and died.
Just as we are indebted to those who died to make freedom possible, so we
ought to thank God for His Son who died to set us free from the bondage of
sin. On this day we have much to be thankful for. --HVL
Lord, keep us mindful
of the cost,
The price of liberty--
Brave men and women gave their lives
To conquer tyranny. --DJD
The price of our freedom from sin was paid in blood.
|
|
Esther 4
(Our
Daily Bread)
Your Place In Time
Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
—Esther 4:14
During a visit to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, I was
intrigued by an exhibit called "Your Place In Time." It was a nostalgic
and revealing walk through displays of national and world events. This
included popular entertainment and living conditions in the United States
for people in the War Generation, the Eisenhower Generation, the Baby
Boomers, and beyond. I left with the inescapable conclusion that though
you and I cannot choose the period of history in which we live, we must
decide how we will live during our place in time.
This truth is illustrated by the courageous actions of young Queen Esther
and her cousin Mordecai. When a hate-filled man named Haman sought to
destroy their people, Mordecai urged Esther to risk approaching the king
on their behalf. He said, "Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom
for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14). It's an important question that
every Christian should consider.
Like Esther, each of us is a unique individual in history. Our birth was
no accident and neither is God's call to be His representatives wherever
we live, work, or go to school. It's a great privilege to belong to Christ
and a high calling to stand boldly for Him during our place in time. —DCM
All things work out
for good we know—
Such is God's great design;
He orders all our steps below
For purposes divine. —Peterson © 1961 Singspiration, Inc.
Every child of God has a special place in His plan. |
|
Esther 9:20-28
(Our
Daily Bread)
Charity
Sell what you have and give alms. --Luke 12:33
Purim is one of the most unusual of the Jewish feast days. It was
instituted to celebrate the death of Haman and the escape of the Jews.
Today it is marked by reading the book of Esther (interrupted by raucous
noisemakers whenever Haman's name is read) amid a party atmosphere.
Purim is also a time for charity, a concept rooted in the Old Testament
(Dt. 15:7-8; 26:12-13). The joy of Israel's deliverance from Haman's
diabolical plot is expressed in generous charity to all who request it.
In his book Jewish Literacy, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin tells about a rabbi
who felt so compelled to keep the day of Purim that he gave alms to two
Jewish women who asked, even though he knew they were frauds.
Because we have been liberated from sin through Jesus Christ, we should be
generous to the needy. From hearts of compassion, we are to be benevolent
and help the poor. We won't be charitable, however, if our hearts are
hardened by a self-protective spirit, or if we think charity is someone
else's responsibility.
Christ commanded His followers to be charitable (Mt. 6:1-4; 12:33), and He
demonstrated charity by the ultimate gift of Himself. --DCE
You have bought us,
and no longer
Can we claim to be our own;
Giving freely, naught withholding,
We shall serve You, Lord, alone. --Murray
The highest kind of giving
springs from deep within the heart.
|
|
DEVOTIONALS BY SPURGEON
from
Morning and Evening and Faith's Checkbook |
|
Esther 10:3 (Morning and evening)
“Seeking the wealth of his people.” —
Esther 10:3
Mordecai was a true patriot, and therefore, being exalted to the highest
position under Ahasuerus, he used his eminence to promote the prosperity of
Israel. In this he was a type of Jesus, who, upon his throne of glory, seeks
not his own, but spends his power for his people. It were well if every
Christian would be a Mordecai to the church, striving according to his
ability for its prosperity. Some are placed in stations of affluence and
influence, let them honour their Lord in the high places of the earth, and
testify for Jesus before great men. Others have what is far better, namely,
close fellowship with the King of kings, let them be sure to plead daily for
the weak of the Lord’s people, the doubting, the tempted, and the
comfortless. It will redound to their honour if they make much intercession
for those who are in darkness and dare not draw nigh unto the mercy seat.
Instructed believers may serve their Master greatly if they lay out their
talents for the general good, and impart their wealth of heavenly learning
to others, by teaching them the things of God. The very least in our Israel
may at least seek the welfare of his people; and his desire, if he can give
no more, shall be acceptable. It is at once the most Christlike and the most
happy course for a believer to cease from living to himself. He who blesses
others cannot fail to be blessed himself. On the other hand, to seek our own
personal greatness is a wicked and unhappy plan of life, its way will be
grievous and its end will be fatal.
Here is the place to ask thee, my friend, whether thou art to the best of
thy power seeking the wealth of the church in thy neighbourhood? I trust
thou art not doing it mischief by bitterness and scandal, nor weakening it
by thy neglect. Friend, unite with the Lord’s poor, bear their cross, do
them all the good thou canst, and thou shalt not miss thy reward.
|
|