Author: Scott Lane

Re:Verse passage – Esther 7:3-7 (day five)

“While they were drinking wine, the king again said to Esther, “Tell me what you want, Queen Esther. What is your request? I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!”

Have you ever been asked a question like this from someone who could in fact completely answer and deliver on the promise connected to it?  Anything? Everything?  Queen Esther shows great wisdom and patience in her response. (Actually the second time she has been asked by the king). Made her think and process what she wanted, needed, what she was desperate to request. Separates the urgent from the important and the temporal from the long lasting. Her answer/request ends up being bigger than herself- her people and their lives.

Reminds me of Jesus’ words in Luke 18. “What do you want me to do for you?”

How would you answer Jesus’ question?  How would that sound in your prayers?  Can you say the words of an honest and desperate request?  Would they be all about you or something larger and longer?  Ask, seek, and knock for the Lord is listening and inviting an honest conversation and request!!

Re:Verse passage – 1 Kings 18:30-39 (day five)  

“How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.”  The Israelites had a heart problem. Nothing new. Same tendency we see throughout scripture and even in believers today. The word “hesitate” is translated in other versions as “waver”, “sit on the fence”, and “limp” to name a few. Speaks of a divided heart and faith. Presents as weakness and  godlessness. Trust and commitment that has waned and drifted to things and people other than the Living God. Anything that supersedes God in our trust, priorities, obedience = idol. The result often looks like spiritual hesitancy, inactivity, apathy, and powerlessness. (The Israelites) The New Testament has plenty to say about this common condition too…

“But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬-‭8‬

“They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” 2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬

“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬-‭16‬

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 18:6-11 (day five)

David was a good king but not a perfect king. There was still sin and depravity in his life.  Part of God’s plan is to convince Israel (and us) that what we really need is a king to lead and love us perfectly. To restore and rescue us. (Pointing to Jesus) God is showing us that only Jesus can lead and love us perfectly. There’s a small narrative before our Re:Verse text that demonstrates the difference and need (2 Samuel 14).

After rebelling and publicly humiliating his father, Absalom returns back to Jerusalem. Yet David (the father), refuses to see his son. David could have met Absalom at the gates, forgiven and restored him.  But he chose not to do so. Jesus tells the story of a rebellious son who returns to his father. And the father runs to meet him (at the gates) and forgives and restores him.

We can rejoice that in spite of the fact, like Absalom, we have rebelled against and humiliated a Holy God with our sin, our Heavenly Father loves and leads us perfectly, taking the initiative (thru Christ) to restore us into a right relationship with Him.

I’m thanking God for His wise and patient plan to show us our need and provide for us, a king to lead and love us perfectly!!

Re:Verse passage – 1 Samuel 17:38-51 (day five) “This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you.”
What David did was incredible. No doubt about it. Killed Goliath with a sling and a stone. We know from reading 1 Samuel 17, that what actually happened was that God used David to kill Goliath. VS 46.
The biggest battle David fought (that day and often) was his inner fear (that the Israel armies had succumbed to). To them, Goliath seemed larger than God (fear). To David, God was larger than Goliath (faith). So, where did David’s faith come from?  I believe it came from “repeating and remembering”. Repeating God’s promises. And remembering God’s power. Something the Israelites failed to do. Just 3 chapter earlier in 1 Samuel, many of those same soldiers saw God use Jonathan to defeat a Philistine garrison. Yet, they forgot. That experience had left their minds.  Not David. He repeated God’s promise (anointed as king) and remembered God’s power (bear and lion). It was a constant battle and discipline for David. Read the first 25 Psalms. Fear creeps in. David prays (repeats and remembers). Finds faith. Should be for us too. Daily repeating God’s promises found in scripture. Remembering God’s power working in, around, and through us.
Being thankful to God helps shape these disciplines. When we can’t be reminded of God’s promises and God’s power, we most likely are in a place of great despair and fear. (Israelite Army) We should learn from David’s example. We find faith and courage. For the Glory of God!!

Re:Verse passage – 1 Samuel 16:5-13 (day five)  “And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.”
God was already  preparing David to be His King. Amazingly, David’s best training and preparation came in a pasture not a palace. The gifts, skills, attitudes, and perspectives that were needed to be King were being developed and honed as a child in the field. Care, courage, faithfulness, determination were some of the lessons David was learning while tending the sheep (remember Jesus’ words to Peter).
There were no robe fittings yet. There were no interviews or press releases. Samuel goes to Ramah and David goes back to the sheep.
What lessons and insights are God teaching in the ordinary and routine things of life? (great opportunity for parents and grandparents to help children sense and see God at work)

Re:Verse passage – Judges 16:15-21 (day five)  

Samson’s story is tragic to say the least. Yet, he is listed in the “Hall of Faith” found in Hebrews 11 (vs 32). Wait? Wasn’t Samson faithless?  Well, he believed the prophesy and promise of God. Samson knew his strength came from God. He trusted that God would provide that strength when he needed it. Every act Samson did could have been seen as an act of faith. But in the midst of his faith, Samson began to think more highly of himself than of God. So what was missing??  I believe it was love. “And if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭2‬  Samson didn’t have a love for God, which produces the fruit of obedience.

I close with a quote from Jon Bloom, “So let Samson’s faith soberly remind us that our spiritual or talent gifts are not God’s endorsement of us, that faithful obedience is better than impressive giftedness.” And that faith must be governed and balanced by a vibrant and deep love for the Lord.

They returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up; only about two or three thousand men need go up to Ai; do not make all the people toil up there, for they are few.”
What’s missing from the plan?  Did you catch it? In the previous battle  of Jericho, God was drawing up the battle plans- down to the last detail. They sought His guidance and leadership. They had an overwhelming victory. Yet, just 1 chapter later, no mention of God at all in the planning or preparation.
What if Joshua had stopped after hearing the “scouting report” and prayed?  Asked God for His wisdom and direction? Think the Lord would have confronted them about the sin problem? I do. Joshua and his leaders forgot. They were planning and fighting by sight, not faith. Dangerous. Easy to do. Forgetting how finite and prone to sin and disobedience we are. That’s one of the reasons Jesus says, “Do this in remembrance of me”. A visual and verbal reminder of our sin and need for a savior. Whatever our plans or activities or priorities, we must ask the Lord to lead and guide us- checking our hearts daily, hourly, at every step. We need that because we are sinners saved by grace.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭7‬

Re:Verse passage – Joshua 5:13-15; 6:1-5 (day five) “Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭33‬:‭11‬.
It’s my favorite scripture about Joshua- being in the Tent of Meeting with Moses and the Lord. Moses leaves. The Lord stays. Joshua stays.
Ever been in a Bible Study or Worship Service when the presence of the Lord was so near and almost tangible?  Made you wanna stay so you didn’t miss anything the Lord might say or do?  That was the young person Joshua.
Decades later, same man (Joshua) same presence (Captain of the Lord’s Army) same response (Joshua falls face first and worships). There was something happening very familiar to Joshua. He knew what he must do. So, Joshua stops. Joshua stops scouting. Stops strategizing. Stops (literally falls down) and Worships.

The questions I should always ask myself, Am I quick to recognize the power and presence of the Lord? (Expected and unexpected- at church or at another place and time of His choosing). Am I submissive and humble enough to stop and worship?

Lord give us eyes to see and ears to hear- You- that we might be faithful to stop and worship and listen.

Re:Verse passage – Joshua 2:1-21 (day five)  “spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.”  It’s a fascinating account of God’s activity in establishing and providing for the Israelites. His strength and power on display as they prepare to conquer Jericho. Death and destruction will soon come. Yet in the midst of providing a land for His people, an opportunity to see another facet of God’s nature- redemption. Rahab is found faithful and acts in kindness to the spies (and to the Lord). God gives her and her family redemption. Saves them from destruction. Watch what God does- changes her reputation (identity), changes her future, gives her hope, uses her in a prominent role His redemptive plan. That’s the nature of salvation. That’s the grace and kindness of the Lord. It was shown to and through Rahab. It is being shown to and through believers today. Same God- redeeming, reconciling, and restoring human hearts for His glory and our good!!

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Re:Verse passage – Genesis 50:15-20(day five) “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”

Did you notice the use the of same word to describe the actions of the brothers and the actions of God? (Meant)
The brothers intended and planned for their actions against Joseph. And from the beginning of time, God intended and planned for their actions to bring Him glory and them good.  There was no surprise or reaction from God. This was His planned intention all along. God didn’t react and “use” their actions (if somehow He was caught off guard or surprised). He meant. Now another example…
Read Isaiah 53. The sin and evil of Herod, Pilate, many others was not random. It was proactively intended by them and by God.

“There is no gospel, there is no salvation, if God cannot, in perfect holiness, govern the acts of sinful men.” – John Piper