Week of December 11th Old Testament Part 1

First of all, a HUGE thank you to everyone who brought food to share for our Christmas pot luck lunch.  We really enjoyed the variety of foods from around the world, the fellowship time just chatting over lunch, and a relaxing time to get to know one another better.  A real blessing!

We began a new study booklet called "God's Amazing Book".  This is a 12 lesson study which will take us all over the Bible as we take an overview of this book which is the most important book in the entire world!  Even if you have studied the Bible for years and years, there is more to discover, and in fact, oftentimes the more you learn, the more you realize there is still more to learn.

The lesson focused mostly on the first five books of the Old Testament, which are often referred to as The Law, The book of Moses, the Pentateuch, or for Jews, the Torah.   

In Genesis we learn about the creation of the world and our origins.  God is unexplained.  He is unexplainable.  Exodus details the Israelites deliverance from Egypt.  Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy describe the rituals, sacrfices, offerings and regulations for the priests. 

The historical books of the Old Testament give accounts of the lives of the Israelites and their struggle to maintain not only order within their people but also hold of their promised lands.

But we now have the New Testamanet, and Christ came and changed it all.

Well can’t we just get rid of these Old Testament books then?  I mean, why do we need them?

If you are a Christian, the Old Testament is your spiritual history. The promises and calling of God to Israel are YOUR historical promises and callings. 

The sacrificial system established in Leviticus lays the foundation for the New Testament.  I didn’t understand this until very recently, really, about 5 years ago, when I studied the Old Testament.

In order to understand who Christ was and what He did, we must begin with the Old Testament, which contains prophecies concerning the coming of Christ as a “guilt offering” (Isaiah 53:10). In fact, the whole sacrificial system established by God in the Old Testament set the stage for the coming of Christ, who is the perfect sacrifice God would provide as atonement for the sins of His people (Romans 8:3; Hebrews 10).  The Old Testament system is a process of substituting something for our sins in order to be right with God.  

The sacrifice of lambs played a very important role in the Jewish religious life and sacrificial system. When John the Baptist referred to Jesus as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), the Jews who heard him might have immediately thought of any one of several important sacrifices. With the time of the Passover feast being very near, the first thought might be the sacrifice of the Passover lamb. The Passover feast was one of the main Jewish holidays and a celebration in remembrance of God’s deliverance of the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. In fact, the slaying of the Passover lamb and the applying of the blood to doorposts of the houses (Exodus 12:11-13) is a beautiful picture of Christ’s atoning work on the cross.

The sacrifices had to be done again and again, but with Christ - he was the perfect sacrifice - and the final sacrifice, the once and for all sacrifice, designed by God. 

The Old Testament points to the New Testamanet - they are linked and cannot be broken.  

Now for a couple Do’s and Dont’s regarding the OT! (from "How to Read the Bible for all its Worth", by Fee/Stuart)

Do see the Old Testamanet as God’s inspired word for you.

Don’t see it as God’s commands to you.

Do see the Old Testament law as the basis for the old covenant, and therefore Israel’s history.

Don’t see the Old Testament law as binding on Christians in the new covenant where specifically renewed.

For a very long time as a Christian, the Old Testament meant to me Outdated, Weird, Foreign, Difficult to Read.  It is easier to open up the Bible in the New Testament, definitely. 

But what a revelation I experienced when I finally did realize what it mean that Jesus is my sacrifical lamb.  That for centuries people had to follow sacrificial rituals in order to be holy in the presence of God.  That in many other religions of the world today, there is a requirement of cleansing before entering the place of worship.  Or there is a sense that they must earn their way to God’s favor.  With Christ, and the foundational laid in the Old Testament, we can access God anytime.  We can come here and worship him, we are all equally loved by God.  God doesn’t love anyone more because she knows her scriptures.  God doesn’t love anyone more because she prays so much or knows all the perfect Christian religious rituals.  God loves us all, and welcomes us all, no matter what our situation.  We can thank Jesus for this - He is everything.  He turned the Old Testament upside down really!!

Amen for that!!

We hope that you have a lovely Christmas break!  

Our next class will be January 8th.

Please complete pages 12-17 in your booklet.

Week of December 4th Esther 9-10

Triumphant Deliverance

Esther chapters 9 & 10

For next week, we will begin a new study called "God's Amazing Book".  This study will take us all over the Bible, to see the consistent themes thread throughout this holy text.  Even if you have studied the Bible for many many years, this is wonderful to take a step back and see the Bible as one whole unit.  It is our prayer that you'll find this study to be rewarding and insightful.

Next week, December 11th, we will have a wonderful Christmas pot-luck of sorts, just after class from 12-1ish.  Each of you has the opportunity to bring a dish to share.  We've signed up in our discussion groups, so see or email your discussion leader if you have questions about what to bring.

We will also take up donations to give to a new church plant in Kentish Town and to the HTSC homeless shelter.  We've heard that the homeless organization that the HtB plant at St. Lukes in Kentish town urgently need new or gently used clothes, etc (new mens socks, new underclothes, new/used backpacks, new/used thermos).
Please consider bringing items in to donate.

Now, onto this past week's study!!
Our study of Esther comes to a close.  What a dramatic change of events we have seen in these last few chapters!
The tables have turned.  
This expression means taking the place of your opponent.  And in chapter 9, when the date arrives for the planned genocide originated with Haman's anger towards Mordecai arrives, the Jews defend themselves and actually, over the course of 2 days, kill 300, 500 and 75,000 of their opponents.  
Unfortunately today the Jews are still constantly threatened.  But here, God intervened and a new decree had been passed allowing them to fight - it was now a day when the Jews could legally fight and kill those who would seek to harm them. And as we read in the passage 9:1, ‘on this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them... the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand over those who hated them.’  The ultimate table turner is God.  In all our circumstances, and in the ultimate gift of Jesus, He turns the tables for us.  Do you have any area where the enemy has been gaining what looks like a sure victory? Thank God that He is able to turn the tables and bring hope from despair and life out of death. It is written above that in those days, through the ‘turning of the tables’, the fame of Mordecai increased greatly throughout the realm. We also see Haman's sons brought to justice, all of them are also killed, per Esther's request.

After the battles came the rest and celebration!  And Mordecai proclaimed that this event will forever be celebrated, and indeed it is today, called Purim.  It is celebrated in the month of February or March. 

Celebrations are important religious events!!  As Christians, and at this most important time of the year, how will you and your family make Christmas a religious celebration more so than a consumerism celebration?  

To recap Esther, one commentator (I. Gordon) writes:

 A nasty villain and a wicked plan... a beautiful queen and position of power... a decree of death and a city perplexed... a sleepless night and an enemy exposed... an annihilation averted and a victory gained. To be honest there is far too much to sum up with a few words. But in it all we have seen the hand of the invisible God moving providentially on behalf of His people. And, like any good story, sometimes it was only at the very last minute! But move He did. 

I loved learning from Esther!!  

I think there is so much more to discover, and I look forward to studying it again in the future.

Some final questions:

Write down and record the times in your life that God has turned a negative situation into a positive one, and keep this record in a safe place to add to as God continues working in your life!

How can you renew the importance of celebrating the Christian religious holidays throughout the year?  What might you start as a new tradition, religious in nature, in your home for Christmas this year?

Week of November 27th, 2013

Esther Chapters 6-8

Pride goes before a fall

Special thanks to Grace W. for doing our wrap up talk this week!  What a blessing!!

The king cannot sleep.  He calls for the royal diary to be read to him.  This is when he is reminded of the incident where Mordecai saved his life, and he learns that nothing had been done to reward Mordecai.

Then he asks his closest advisor, Haman, to help him plan a way to properly honor Mordecai, without revealing who the honors were for, so actually Haman, being selfish and prideful, believes it must be for him!

How ironic then, when Xerxes demands that all the rewards be done unto Mordecai!  Can you picture Haman's reaction!?

And then Esther reveals the edict to the king and reveals her identity as a Jew.

The king is outraged, and then finds Haman fallen upon Esther, taking the scene to mean he had assaulted her as well.  Enraged he demands that Haman be impaled on the pole he had erected for Mordecai, when one of the kings eunuchs explains that a gallows had been built at Haman's house. Again, an ironic turn of events!

A new edict is passed and the Jews celebrate!!

In Chapters 6 to 8 God's sovereignty is powerfully evident.  We see that Mordecai finally receives honor for his role in saving the king's life.  We see Haman get what he deserves, and that his pride in hoping for glories and honors for himself actually cause him to present those honors upon Mordecai!  Xerxes clearly was unaware of the feud/hatred between Haman and Mordecai. Esther's position enables her to influence the king through her courageous and brave approach to make her request and eventually save her people.  Wherever we are, we are of use to God.  How will God use you today?

Some questions for optional further consideration:
Scripture tells us that "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6 quoting Prov 3:34).  How do you see this principle in Esther 6-8?  How have you seen this principle work out in your life and the lives of those around you?
These chapters of Esther portray a sudden reversal in the lives of the Jews, from dispair and distress to dancing, feasting and celebrating.  How have you seen God turn grief into joy in your life or in others you know? 

Week of Nov 18th - ESTHER CHAPTER 5

Esther's Request to the King
Esther Chapter 5

This chapter is the turning point in our story.
Chapter 4 ended grimly....Esther is ready to risk her life, going unannounced into the presence of the king, to plead the king to help save her people.
And that is where we pick up our story - in verse one chapter 5 - we see Esther bravely and courageously approach the king:

"On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. 2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

3 Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”

AH!!  We can all take a deep breath - she has been received with pleasure.  If we are honest with ourselves, I believe that many of our greatest fears are never realized.  We cannot allow fear to grip and disable us, and the Bible warns us about worry (Phil 4:6-7  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus).  Esther acted bravely and did not dwell in her fear.

Not only has the king received her graciously, but beyond that, he offers to give her almost anything she requests!!

Will she immediately demand that Haman be punished and that the decree he established be overturned??  Read on:

4 “If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”

5 “Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so that we may do what Esther asks.”

So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. 6 As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”

7 Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: 8 If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”

No, Esther does not make a hasty request, in fact, to our surprise she doesn't make her request AT ALL.  Do we too often rush into things, especially when things are tough or we are frustrated or upset?  I know that I certainly do.  I immediately want to complain.  Often times it is my own family who receives my complaints and nagging.  Perhaps I can learn from Esther, and offer my children a snack before I proceed to kindly ask them to focus on their homework, clean up their rooms, do their chores, etc.  

But why does Esther delay her request until the next day?  I believe when we read chapter 6, we will see it is all part of God's plan.

And why does she invite Haman to her banquet?  Isn't he the enemy?!

Let's see, in these next verses, how he responds to Esther's actions:

9 Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home.

Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, 11 Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. 12 “And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. 13 But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”

14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.

Haman, the evil character in this story, can easily be the target of our greatest disgust.  And yet, if I am honest with myself, do I also not seek man's approval, instead of Gods?  Do I not find it easy to see my pride grow when things are going well?  Do I sometimes allow something simple, which I am unpleased with, to wreck what would have been a perfectly lovely day?  HMMMM....if I am truly honest with myself, yikes, I am much like Haman myself.  It is an ugly admission.  One that I would prefer not to face.  Yet so true, and what a warning here.

Some extra optional questions to consider regarding chapter 5:

Why do you think Esther delays her request to the king?

What might be the benefits of delaying an important decision or pausing during a critical moment?
Why do you think Haman's bitterness towards one person prevents him from enjoying all his blessings?

If you reflect back on your life to times when you struggled, faced hardship or very difficult times, can you see in hindsight that God was indeed at work?  What lessons of God's faithfulness did you experience in emerging from those hard times?  How can those times encourage you to face difficulties which may be in your future?

Week of November 11th

Threat to the Jews

Study 7

Esther 3&4

In this part of our study we meet the wicked Haman.  We learn about his background (from the province of Agag in Media) and know that there is a long standing hatred between his ancestry and the ancestry line of the Jews.  Haman, with his manipulative and self-serving ways, has become elevated above all the nobles in the kingdom and is now 2nd only to the king himself!

Mordecai refuses to pay such a man honor, and will not obey the law in bowing down to him.  Thus begins the seed of fury in Haman whose wrath reaches the point in which he decides he wants to wipe out all of Mordecai's people.  He has the king sign a decree to wipe out all the Jews.  The king trusts him completely and doesn't even inquire about WHO it is that Haman is ordering to be destroyed (3:10).

Now Mordecai learns of this decree.  In the beginning of Chapter 4 we see how he puts on sackcloth and ashes, wails loudly throughout the city and goes to the gate of the palace.  The whole city is "bewildered" (3:15) by the decree, clearly this seems irrational.  And yet as we know, kings could do what they wished, and often did destroy people even within their own kingdoms.

Wearing sackcloth was customary in Judea and the East; tearing of one's clothes and wearing sackcloth and ashes is mentioned in Genesis 37:34 and Ezekiel 27:30:33.

Eventually he is able to communicate with Esther and they are able to discuss this crisis.  Mordecai urges her to act in 4:14 "and who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this".   What makes her jump to action in the next section?  What courage and bravery is this, in this humble queen, to say, "if I perish, I perish".  In verses 15-16 in Chapter 4 we suddenly see a determined, wise woman with a plan:

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

After taking guidance from Mordecai all these years, she is now going to guide him - she will help lead him to help her try to save their people.

During the wrap up talk Jill stated "God puts people in positions to do his work" and "God puts people in positions to get on their knees for him".  Beautiful calls to us to SEEK to examine just where in our own lives does God want us working on his behalf?  For whom do we need to be in prayer and TO whom do we need to be sharing God's love and salvation?

For further thought:
In what ways do you see God giving free reign to evil in Esther?  in our world today?
In what ways do you see God exercising control over evil in Esther?  in our world today?
Would your faith grow stronger or weaker in Esther's situation? 
How difficult is it to trust God that he is in control over your circumstances?
How do you respond in times of crisis?

Homework for next week:
read the commentary on pp 37-38; complete the questions on pp 39-40

THANKFULNESS in November

An extra post - remembering to be intentional about being grateful in November.

We are grateful to all the service men and women who serve to protect, secure and defend our countries.  I say countries because we are such a diverse group of women - many of our class members have more than one "home" country.  May God bless and protect all those who are in the line of duty and may we remember to pray for them regularly, not just at this time of year.  May peace and comfort be upon all those who have family members and loved ones serving actively.  And may we honor those who have fallen while in duty on our behalf.

As November tends to carry a theme of gratitude around the globe, what are some ways you seek thankfulness in your life?  Please share ideas in the comments if you would like!

Recently my sister shared this great idea from a website:

http://www.aholyexperience.com/free-tools-for-you/
click on "When You're Tired of Missing Jesus"

http://www.aholyexperience.com/free-tools-for-you/

It's a beautiful idea of creating a "Thanksgiving Tree" from branches and printable leaves with Bible verses.

Week of November 5th

Esther 2:12-23

Although I usually dive right into the topic covered during classtime, today I'd like to start off by expressing my gratitude to all the members of our Community Bible Study and especially to the Servant Team.

This new Bible Study group in Northwest London is truly a testament to God working in the lives of the women in this area!  Each week, as we gather in worship, prayer, and learning together, we see God at work.  Every week we sense his presence and his call and his everlasting love.  There are stories of answered prayer and fellowship in examining God's word together.  We laugh, we ponder, and we cry together.

THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THIS GROUP!! 

We feel very strongly that this is God's class and He is our ultimate teacher.

This week's passage was brief - only 11 verses.

We picked up with Esther in the harem.   She receives 12 months of "treatments" which included 6 months of oil treatments and then 6 months of perfumes and cosmetics.  What was this, a spa??
When she is called to spend the night with the king, she could take anything she wanted.  Esther, wise and humble, asks Hegai, the king's principal eunuch, for suggestions.  She wins the favor of the king, and he prefers her over all the other young women.  She is crowned queen, and there is a great banquet.
Some time afterwards, Mordecai, ever faithful at the gate of the palace, perhaps holding a rank in the government or public office, overhears a plot to murder the king.  He tells Esther, who tells the king, and they investigate to confirm the findings.   The two men plotting to murder the king are then killed.

There is so much we want to know!  So many missing details!!  My husband sometimes gets frustrated because I get caught up in details.  It's true - I want to know it all!  Was she nervous?  Did she pray?  Was she scared?  How did she win everyone's favor?  Was she happy to be queen?

For us as believers, what kind of "treatments" might make us more favorable to God?

Have we specifically asked for God's favor in our lives?

Was it right for her to hide her faith and background?  

Do we sometimes need to "hide" our faith and background, in order to be in situations where God can use us?  Think of missionaries working in anti-Christian countries.  Probably they cannot be very overt about their faith, and often need to keep their following "underground" or "undercover".