22 September 2010
Psalm 119:97-120; Esther 6:1-14; Acts 19:1-10; Luke 4:1-13

This has to be one of the most humorous stories in the Bible – at least for everyone except Haman. His pride has taken over to the point that he assumes that the man the king wants to honor must surely be Haman himself and he ends up being the escort for the man he despises more than any other. The irony is bitter and poignant and Haman knows that things have turned in the wrong direction as far as his fate is concerned. Again, no mention is made of God but clearly his wife’s words, ‘If Mordecai, before whom your downfall has begun, is of the Jewish people, you will not prevail against him, but will surely fall before him.’ will point to the God of the Jewish people protecting them. It must have been with a deep sense of foreboding that he went to the banquet and this without knowing of the relationship between Mordecai and Esther.

Jesus shows us the way to face temptation, through knowing the Word of God. In the first two temptations it would have been easy for Him to simply have said no but He relied on the written Word to speak to temptation. It is a good practice for us to respond in this same way as it causes us to develop a way of thinking about everything in life through the lens of God’s Word . If we are to have a Biblical worldview it must inform our thoughts in all situations. The WWJD bracelets of several years ago should serve as the phylacteries of the Old Testament, the menorahs on doorposts of Jewish homes, the keeping of kosher dietary laws, etc., that we need to think about all things through the grid of what has God said. Finally, satan attempts to use the same tactic against Jesus, quoting Scripture to entice Him to throw Himself down and allow God to catch Him. Jesus, however, has the principle of arguing from Scripture down better than the enemy. The principle of don’t put God to the test trumps the passage used to tempt as it is clear and the other is ambiguous with respect to a particular situation, it doesn’t say do this thing, it is simply a promise and Jesus rightly argues that the clear command is more important.

Paul here sees that there is something lacking in the “disciples” he found there. What was lacking? Was it the Holy Spirit or a testimony of Jesus? It seems that these disciples were unaware that the one of whom John spoke had come and Paul then baptizes them in the name of Jesus and they receive the Spirit with evidence of tongues and prophecy. Paul finds the ground of Ephesus fruitful once he leaves the synagogue behind and remains there teaching for two years. Paul never runs from opposition, he knows the truth that Haman’s wife knew, that if God was truly with him he need not worry about who opposes him.

Oh, how I love your law!
It is my meditation all day long.
Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
for it is always with me.
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,
and let me not be put to shame in my hope.