Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge. 1 Timothy 6:20.

Thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3.

I couldn’t help but think about how life moves forward. Change is inevitable. Yet even as I thought about those movements forward, I couldn’t help but think that it is sin that keeps tugging us back, weighing us down. I want to move forward with God leading me and excited for what will be.

And in our new chapter, Esther 1, we begin the 2nd book of Scripture named for a woman. In the notes: (Although Esther follows Nehemiah in the Bible, its events are about 30 years prior to those recorded in Nehemiah).

Esther begins with Xerxes, the king of Persia. He is the father of Artaxerxes, who reigned in Nehemiah’s time. Xerxes displayed his wealth for all his nobles, officials, military leaders, princes – and it lasted 180 days! v. 1-9. At the end of a 7 day banquet where wine flowed unhindered by order of the king, the king commanded his 7 eunuchs to bring to the gathering of the men his wife, queen Vashti. She refused. Again, in the notes: (The celebration lasted 180 days (about six months) because its real purpose was to plan the battle strategy for invading Greece and to demonstrate that the king has sufficient wealth to carry it out…Queen Vashti refused to parade before the kings all-male party, possibly because it was against Persian custom for a woman to appear before a public gathering of men).

So Xerxes consulted his closest advisors who advised he put Vashti out of his presence forever. Xerxes agreed. He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be ruler over his own household, using his native tongue. v. 22. Wow. Again, in the beginning of the chapter it gives a unique context: (Esther is one of only two books named for women (Ruth is the other). The book is unusual in that in the original version no name, title, or pronoun for God appears (see the note on 4:14). This caused some church fathers to question the book’s inclusion in Scripture. But God’s presence is clear throughout the book).

Do we question God’s Presence in our world today? Every day events move forward. Every day change occurs. In reading about events in the past, can we see the sweep of changes today and recognize similarities? People and nations come into power and fade back into what was. All along those sweeping journeys we see the sins that so easily ensnare us. We get to read about the failings of those who lived before us but can we appreciate those things in our own lives today? Blessed is the people of whom this is true; blessed is the people whose God is the Lord. Psalm 144:15.

God’s Presence is clear throughout all time because God – Father, Son, Spirit – created all time and all creation and He is at work today. Events will unfold and change will move forward and blessed are we who see God’s hand working in our lives. It’s a unique perspective that brings hope and faith in our Creator God. Let’s move forward with Him guiding us! He’s here. Always!