As we start the book of Esther, we’ll look at what God was up to, and the un-fairy-tale-like ending for the other young virgins taken as “potential queen for a night.”
In our reading from Proverbs, we’ll look at the familiar verse that says: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” How are we to understand that statement when we all know kids who were raised in church and, yet, have walked away from God? What went wrong? Did their parents miss something? Did God fail to keep His Word?
And from Romans, we’ll read about God’s warning concerning the danger of self-righteousness and hypocrisy.
As you can see, there’s a lot to talk about in these passages.
Today’s Readings:
Esther 1 & 2
Psalm 89.38-45
Proverbs 22.5-6
Romans 2.1-29
Un-Fairytale Endings, Parenting Guarantees & Hypocrisy
Esther 1 & 2:
Young Virgins & a Selfish King
The book of Esther takes place between the time the Jews began to return to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel and the second return under Ezra. It’s quite an interesting book. Though the name of God is not mentioned at all, He is seen everywhere. He was sovereignly in control just as he is today.
The king in the story is most likely Xerxes, father of Artaxerxes who we read about in the book of Nehemiah. It takes place primarily in and around the palace in the Persian capital of Susa.
The book starts with a party and what a party it is—7 days, free-flowing wine, everyone who is someone has been invited (all the men, at least), golden goblets, entertainment … wine, women (probably the entertainment) and song, as the saying goes.
Finally, the drunken king decides to show off his wife and she refuses to come. The men were faced with a problem. If word got around that the queen didn’t obey the king, the other women in the kingdom might refuse to obey their husbands. So, at the other men’s urging, he strips her of her crown.
But when the king sobered up and got over his fit, he realized what he had done. He missed the queen. So, the men devised another plan—to bring all the beautiful women in the kingdom to the palace and let him choose the one who suited his fancy as the new queen.
Potential Queen for a Night
As glamorous as it might sound to have a chance to be queen, this was not a good thing for these young girls. They were probably mostly very young teenagers. And notice it says, “Esther also was taken” (Esther 2.8). This was not voluntary; these girls were taken to the palace.
Each of them was to spend one night with the king and possibly never to be with him again unless she was chosen. In the meantime, they would have lost their virginity to a lecherous king who cared little about anyone but himself. And in that society, what was left for them in the way of marriage and family? They probably would be supported afterward, but I think it would have been a lonely existence—never to have a husband or children of their own.
But God was at work in the situation and was setting the stage to use this pagan king and Esther to do something great. We’ll read more tomorrow as the story unfolds.
Psalm 89.38-45:
God is Always at Work
From the viewpoint of the psalmist, it looked like God had forsaken his people, but we know He had not. Sometimes we feel that way, but God is always at work even when we can’t figure it out. He was at work in the psalmist’s time, Esther’s time, and ours.
Proverbs 22.5-6:
A Parental Guarantee?
Most of us are familiar with verse 6 in today’s reading:
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it (v. 6).
But contrary to what many have thought, this is not a guarantee that our children will always walk with God. Proverbs are wise principles rather than promises.
That’s not an excuse for us to neglect our parental responsibility. Habits learned in childhood can become lifelong habits, both good and bad. So it’s important to teach our children to obey the Lord.
But good Christian habits don’t make our children believers. While habits can help to shape their character, they don’t change the heart. So it’s important for us to weave the gospel into all our child training, especially when our children fail to obey and do what they’ve been taught.
Like Their Shadow
We must help them understand that none of us can keep the law perfectly and constantly point them to the cross and the gospel. We don’t do that by simply telling them they need to ask Jesus into their hearts, but by first helping them see their own sin nature, their need for Christ, and by humbly admitting to ours.
And while Proverbs 22.6 doesn’t offer us a parental guarantee, we can trust that if we are faithful to train our children in God’s ways, they will never be able to escape the truth they’ve learned. It will follow them like their shadow (they can’t depart from it)! So even if they make bad choices, the truth will be there to guide them back when they repent, just like the prodigal son in Luke 15.
Our job is to be faithful. Faithful to take our children to a good Bible-believing church, faithful to teach them by example as we go about our daily activities, faithful to admit our own failures, faithful to repent when necessary and seek forgiveness from God and others, including them.
Their Most Important Teachers
We should also teach God’s Word to our children in a formal, systematic way. That is not, primarily, the church’s responsibility. It’s ours. We are their most important teachers.
Yet, family devotions are one of the most neglected responsibilities in the church today. There is nothing that will impact our children and grandchildren more than to see us faithfully read and study God’s Word individually and to faithfully and formally have times where we read and study God’s Word together as a family.
Three Factors at Work
But back to the idea that our teaching entitles us to children who will always follow the Lord.
Randy Patten, who was the Executive Director of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (formerly NANC) for many years, says we must remember there are three factors at work in our children’s lives: our teaching and training, their wills, and the Holy Spirit. My husband adds “the world” to that list because we know how alluring it can be.
As I have already said, we are responsible to do our part faithfully. Notice I said faithfully, not perfectly! There is only one Perfect Parent and, in case you haven’t noticed, His children go astray, too.
Each child’s will is also involved. He or she must choose whether or not to follow the Lord and live obediently.
But we can rest assured that God’s Holy Spirit will be at work in their lives, as well, reminding them of the truth, even if they have to wake up one day in their own pigsty (Lk. 15.11-19). He works His way, in His timing in the lives of our children.
So, let’s do our best to be faithful as parents and grandparents, pray diligently for the next generation, and trust God with the results.
Note: If you have a prodigal, I would encourage you to read my post on the subject, “Dealing with a Prodigal Child.”
Romans 2.1-29:
Self-Righteous Hypocrisy
In chapter 1 we saw the downward spiral of sin. Believers can get caught in that spiral if they reject God’s wisdom and clear commands. But Chapter 1 is primarily speaking to unbelievers who, although they can readily see God in creation, refuse to acknowledge Him as God.
But here in chapter 2, Paul is speaking especially to believers who judge others while they continue in sin themselves, even doing the things they condemn, in short, being hypocrites (vv. 1-4).
This was the kind of behavior Jesus condemned with the Pharisees and other religious leaders, as well. So let’s be aware of the danger and seek God’s help to recognize any tendency toward self-righteousness and hypocrisy lest we fall into the same trap.
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we’ll talk about the deception that goes with self-righteousness, how to respond when others sin against us, our hope in trials, uncommon friends, and why living right matters.
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Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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