Personal Devotions
Notes from Mark's personal Bible reading and meditation
With a goal to apply one truth from each day's reading to my life that day
Mar 22, 2025, 3:49 AM
Passage Read: Esther 7-10
Meditation Verses: 8:11-12
Thought
There are times when God does all the fighting, where the Jews have to only watch and wait and see the Lord deliver them. But most of the time, He requires them to take part, to fight for their freedom or advancement or deliverance. That's the case here.
Mar 21, 2025, 3:51 AM
Passage Read: Esther 3-6
Meditation Verse: 4:16
Thought
Esther was willing to risk her life on the basis of her cousin's remarks. Perhaps she had come to royalty for such a time as this. Perhaps her family would be destroyed while all the rest of the Jews were delivered. But perhaps none of that would happen! Perhaps she would have no favor with the king and she would perish, because God had a completely different idea to save His people.
Mar 19, 2024, 1:58 AM
Passage Read: Esther 7-10
Meditation Verse: 10:3
Thought
Even in this life, the Lord is willing to reward and exalt those who seek the good of their own people and of the nation that hosts them. Of course, the Lord defines what is good and good should include not just protecting their lives, but teaching them to walk in God's ways, so that God is free to bless them rather than leave them to their own devices and to the whims of their enemies.
Mar 18, 2024, 1:59 AM
Passage Read: Esther 3-6
Meditation Verse: 6:3
Thought
Mordecai didn't care about reward for himself, for he hadn't reported the plotted assassination in his own name, but had reported it to Esther, who credited Mordecai. He probably thought to make Esther even more valuable in the King's eyes, but she gave credit where credit was due. Nothing came of it until this key moment, when Haman sought to kill Mordecai.
Mar 1, 2023, 8:06 AM
Passage Read: Esther 7-10
Meditation Verses: 9:1-2
Thought
It's like God arranged this whole thing just so the Jews could destroy their enemies. They had been living side by side with those who hated them, and there must have been an uneasy peace, or else their enemies were able to cause them trouble in small ways, not unlike the Jews in Jerusalem. But then their enemies saw the chance to destroy the Jews, thanks to Haman, and were gearing up for a great slaughter.
Feb 28, 2023, 8:07 AM
Passage Read: Esther 3-6
Meditation Verse: 6:13
Thought
Suddenly all Haman's advisors recognize that Mordecai is of Jewish origin? Didn't they know that from the beginning? Why now do they suddenly recognize Haman can't win? It's almost like they meant to help his downfall! They should have warned him from the beginning. Did they hope they could defeat the Jews, and at this point recognize there is no chance? They are poor counselors indeed, or treacherous.
Mar 3, 2022, 8:41 AM
Passage Read: Esther 7-10
Meditation Verses: 8:11-12
Thought
The Lord didn't remove this trial from the people, but gave them permission to assemble and face it together. Instead of being scattered and easily overcome, they could join together and defend themselves. And God granted them success. I wonder how many Jews actually gave credit to God. He is no where mentioned in this book. The only hint that they might have prayed to Him is in the fasting, but really they could have prayed to anyone!
Mar 2, 2022, 8:43 AM
Passage Read: Esther 3-6
Meditation Verse: 6:13
Thought
Where was this advice earlier, when Haman started casting lots to determine the day of destruction for all Jews? Where was this advice when they counseled him to build a gallows for Mordecai? These are fair weather counselors, who only see the trouble after it is too late! They set him on this path, or at least failed to warn him when there was a chance to avoid his own downfall. Haman's whole purpose was to wipe out the Jews because it was too small a thing just to kill Mordecai.