Growing Old Ain't For Sissies

NUMBER 178
The Tao of Esther
Lessons From the Story of the Queen of Persia
Circa 480 BC

The Book of Esther was finally accepted as part of the Canon of Scripture after considerable debate in both Judaism and Christianity. The Rabbis and the Church Fathers had trouble with the fact the most religious things mentioned were the Jew’s three day fast to prepare Esther for her life-threatening visit to the King and Haman’s extended superstitious casting of lots to determine the most propitious day for massacring the Jews.

Having recently studied and taught Esther, I offer a brief list of lessons there—all as true today as they were almost 2500 years ago. The lessons are in chronological order but you would do well to read the book through in one sitting either just before you think about the lessons, or just after.

+It only takes one person doing the right thing for the right reason to change the world.

+You do not have to be a great person to participate in a great event.

+Small decisions may have large consequences.

+Too much drinking can lead to a heap of trouble.

+God is a covenant-keeping God.

+Loyalty to a pagan authority may work out for good for the man of God who is in the will of God.

+God has a long memory--Haman’s problem was not just his own ego--it was his ancestry.

+Standing on principle may well have mixed results—bad in the short term but good in the long term.

+Rage is not a sound basis for making public policy.

+Being different may be risky—unless the difference is the product of obedience to God.

+A public demonstration is not always a bad thing--Mordecai in sackcloth and ashes moved the action forward.

+A corporate fast with a specific purpose may be a good idea.

+ Discernment is needed to see the difference between kairos time and chronos time-- Who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this.

+A very great risk is no risk at all when it is in obedience to the will of God.

+A long list of blessings can be soured by one small worm of pride and anger.

+ Doing the right thing for the right reason will be rewarded—sometimes even in this life.

+The early bird does not always get the worm—he sometimes becomes the worm.

+When the best-laid plans of men go astray, anything done to make it better may easily make it worse. (Murphy’s law is older than Murphy.)

+Be careful how you treat the little guy—some day he may become the big guy.

+Much justice will have to wait for a final accounting before the Judge of all the earth—but occasionally there is justice in this life.

+Sometimes it is good to remember a great event with a great feast.

+When God is involved, it is not unusual for the little people to be remembered and the great people to be forgotten.

NUMBER 177
The Donkiphant

Recently I watched some of what passes for debate on the Iraq war in “The World’s Greatest Deliberative Body.” Most of the Senators on one side of the aisle wanted to debate the Bush “escalation of the war.” Most of the Senators on the other side of the aisle wanted to debate the whole war and the consequences of the various options put forward for concluding it. As I watched the futile posturing of all concerned, It suddenly came clear to me for the first time that there is not enough difference between the Democrats and the Republicans to even merit there being an aisle.

As one observer (Mark R. Rushdoony, in Faith For All Of Life, Jan-Feb 2007) put it:

“The conservative-liberal paradigm is no longer a useful one. Minimally, they represent fixed labels for ideologies that have long since shifted. More dangerously, the conservative-liberal paradigm can mean we are supporting that which we find reprehensible because it claims an old, though inaccurate label. It is worth noting that the Pharisees were considered the religious conservatives of their day by the people, though our Lord noted their radical misuse of Scripture.”

Srdja Trifkovic writes a regular column in Chronicles, A Magazine of American Culture. In the February issue under the headline, “The Grass Is Not Greener,” he casts a more jaundiced eye on the American political scene as we head into the longest presidential campaign in history:

“The outcome of last November's midterm elections reminded us for the umpteenth time that democracy in America is a corrupt ‘democratic process’ controlled by an elite class that conspires to make secondary issues important and to treat important issues as either irrelevant or illegitimate. One party may be in; another, out; but the regime is in power permanently.

“The model was conceived in 1865, came of age in 1933-45, and reached its full maturity in the 1960's. Its upholders in the upper echelons of the Stupid Party are predominantly mendacious, while those atop the Evil Party machine are criminally insane; but all-too-many elected officials and public servants in the United States combine a mix of those qualities that makes them different from one another in degree, not in kind.”

The big question for all thoughtful followers of Jesus Christ today is, “Who is Lord?” There were only two options in the times of the Apostle Paul, and there are still only two options. Either “Caesar is Lord,” or “Jesus is Lord.” Today Caesar is still one power, but he goes by two names—Liberal or Conservative, Democrat or Republican, Reactionary or Progressive. Behind all of his masques, he is still one Caesar.

So what are we to do in discharging our responsibility as citizens of the United States? I have only a couple of suggestions for evaluating those who would be elected to rule over us.

First: Look at the person, not the label—and don’t stop with what he says but thoroughly examine what he has done. Remember, “…looks aren’t everything. Don’t be impressed with his looks and stature. I’ve already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart.” (1 Samuel 16.7) Judging the heart of another is always risky, but judging a tree by its fruit is a perfectly reasonable course of action when we are selecting which “trees” will govern us.

Second: Look for men and women, regardless of their party label, who may be able to escape the woes of Isaiah: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink; that justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!” (Isaiah 5.20-23) Men and women of principle and integrity can still be found in politics, but they are rare and generally reviled. We need to search them out and affirm them with our support.

Beyond these things we need to remember who is in charge—and the words at the end of Psalm 2:

Now therefore be wise, O ye kings:
Be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
Serve Jehovah with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way,
For his wrath will soon be kindled.
Blessed are all they that take refuge in him.

NUMBER 176
Sunrise Prayer

A PRAYER AT SUNRISE
"How blessed is the man whose strength is in you,
In whose heart are the highways to Zion."
Psalm 84:5

Thank you God our Father,
For one more brand new day.
Thank you for the rising sun,
The dew of Eden’s grass,
The highway up to Zion’s hills,
Where singing pilgrims pass.

Once more we set our aging feet
Upon that blessed Way,
The shining path of righteousness
That leads to endless day.

Once more we thank you for
Your mercy, grace and providence--
Your light upon our way,
Forgiveness when we stumble,
Direction when we stray,
Wisdom when we’re puzzled,
Answers when we pray.

Live your life through us today,
Love through us the ones you love,
Be much at home within our hearts,
Direct our thoughts to things above,
Where Jesus sits at your right hand
To finish all the good you’ve planned.

JS/034-2
2.2007
+++++++

"If it be consistent with thy eternal counsels,
The purpose of thy grace,
And the great ends of thy glory,
Then bestow upon me the blessings of thy comforts;
If not, let me resign myself to thy wiser determinations."
Puritan Prayer