Latest Thoughts of the Day

Esther 4:6

6/16/2025

So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate.

Esther could not personally talk with Mordecai, but she had trusted servants who could be a go-between. The plot against the Jews was taking shape, as Haman was putting in order the mechanisms he had devised for their destruction. Mordecai’s public grieving raised awareness to the problem and Esther at least found out that something was going on. Her impulse was to relieve his discomfort with an alternate set of clothing. Mordecai did not desire personal comfort at such a time of emergency for all the Jews in all the known world. Queen Esther herself was being drawn into the conflict that threatened her race. We see God’s powerful hand in setting this whole schematic in place, and we worship Him for directing history to Your glory, Lord Jesus.

Nehemiah 5:5

6/15/2025

Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our countrymen, and our sons are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughter to slavery. Some of our daughters have already become enslaved, but we are powerless because our fields and our vineyards belong to them.

Wheeling and dealing among the rich and powerful has brought many Jews to lose control of their own property and their children to be under the thumb of the rich. Some who returned from Babylon to rebuild the Temple have switched focus to the goal of personal aggrandizement. Nehemiah is informed about what is going on, and he moves quickly to correct the situation. Jesus deals with this kind of thing by encouraging the hearts of those who suffer and touching the hearts of those who oppress. We know peace through the cross of Jesus.

Ezra 3:4

6/14/2025

Then in accordance to what is written, they celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles, with the required number of burnt offerings prescribed for each day

Thousands of Jews had returned from Babylon to begin to rebuild the Temple. But before the foundation of the Temple had even been laid, the necessity was to call attention to their religious goal in even coming back. Formal worship must begin first, and the time of year required the feast of Tabernacles. This reminder of their sojourn as a nation in the wilderness would remind them of God’s faithfulness to them as a nation while they were perplexed and knew not which way to turn. It may have seemed like such a time for them all. Lord, as we start this day, help us to focus on our Sacrifice and our Shelter. Help us remember that most important is the presence of Jesus.

2 Chronicles 12:5

6/13/2025

Then the prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and said to the leaders of Judah who had assembled in Jerusalem for fear of Shishak, and he aid to them, "This is what the lord says: 'You have abandoned me; therefore I now abandon you to Shishak.'".

Politics between the northern and the southern kingdom were pretty much settled, but Rehoboam had abandoned God even as Israel had done under Jeroboam. When this prophecy comes to the assembled leaders of Judah, Judah responds with repentance and acknowledgement of God’s being in the right. This results in a lessening of the destruction Shishak will do and a use of Shishak to teach Judah an important lesson. Unlike Israel, Judah had moments of repentance. Lord, grant us repentance that our judgment may be postponed. Thank you that our final punishment has fallen on Your Son, who suffered for us. Thank You, Jesus.

I Chronicles 10:5

6/12/2025

When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died.

Terror and awe overtook this young man, and somehow it seemed appropriate for him to respond to Saul’s death in this way. Circumstances and social pressures and impossible demands and emotions can move a person to self-destroy. It seems like such a waste and loss, and, in the light of eternity such an utterly useless and foolish thing, that we stand in awe and lament when we see it. And do not such things happen in our day? And are we not deeply thankful that the right and wrong and the eternal consequences are in the hands of such a One as our God? Does He not understand extenuating circumstances? Will not the Judge of all the Earth do right? We are thankful our lives are in Your hands, Lord Jesus.

2 Kings 0:12

6/11/2025

"That's not true," they said, "Tell us." Jehu said, "This is what he told me:"This is what the lord told me, I anoint you king over Israel'".

The men could tell that the visit of the messenger was more than just chatting. They wanted to hear what it was all about. Jehu tells them about the anointing as king of Israel. What bloody work the commission includes isn’t shared by Jehu. It would not do for word to get out concerning what mission Jehu was destined to fulfill. These things were dreadful. But Jesus, whose only purposes were blessing, also knew more about His mission than any of us could guess. Jesus was anointed by God to redeem His people from their sins. Jesus pursued the mission unflinchingly to the end. We appreciate what You were anointed to do and did for us , Lord Jesus.

I Kings 7:17

6/10/2025

A network pf interwoven chains festooned the capitals on top of the pillars, seven for each capital.

The huge pillars cast of bronze for the front of the Temple were not weight-bearing, since there was no second story for the building. If there is symbolism to the fact that seven chains were interwoven into the design of the capitals, it is of human origin, as God gave no directives for the design of the temple. Solomon used the creative talents of men he could hire to design and to execute plans for this glorious structure. The visual impact of impressive architecture was entirely absent from the tabernacle whose design was precisely dictated by God. God permitted the building of the Temple, and Solomon displayed his own artistic acumen in bringing it into being. Help us, Lord, to use our personal talents to glorify the Name of Jesus.

2 Samuel 8:7

6/9/2025

David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.

The army under David is on a roll. One victory follows another as the boundaries of Israel are restored or expanded. The wealth of the conquered nations is certainly disbursed in the usual manner of war, but the objects of special attention and value are brought to king David, and he has them brought to Jerusalem and registered in his treasury. This will all increase the value of what David eventually will direct in preparations for building a Temple for God—but all this is in the future totally unknown to David at this time. We are called to lay up treasure in heaven for the building of a Kingdom beyond our imaginations. Victories over sin and labors for God’s kingdom contribute to strong hope of heaven in Christ Jesus.