A People for His Name

The Kingdom-Wide Testimony to the True God in the Kingdom of Ahasuerus!

August 24, 2011

God is not explicitly mentioned in the book of Esther. The book, however, in a striking way reveals that testimony to the true God existed in every province of the Persian kingdom of Ahasuerus.

The book begins by mentioning that Ahasuerus reigned “from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred, and seven and twenty provinces” (1:1). Beginning with this first occurrence, the word province occurs 29 more times in the book.

Of the 30 occurrences of the word (both in the singular and the plural), explicit statements that pertain to all the provinces in the kingdom in one manner or another occur in six of the ten chapters of the book (cf. 1:1; 2:3; 3:8; 4:3; 8:5; 9:2). This data suggest an emphasis in Esther on matters that were of kingdom-wide importance.

Interestingly, the statement that reveals that there was a kingdom-wide testimony to the true God does not come from the king, Esther, or Mordecai. Instead, it comes strikingly in the middle of the slanderous statement made by Haman to the king:

“And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them” (3:8).

Haman testified that a particular group of people (the Jews) were “scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces” of the kingdom. We have no reason to doubt the validity of his statement, and the fact that he later authorized letters to be sent to all the provinces to have the Jews in each province be exterminated confirms it (3:12-15).[1]

After stating that these people were present in all the provinces, Haman declared that they were distinct from all the other people of the kingdom because their laws differed from those of everyone else. Saying this, he testified that the Jews were living distinctly from all the others in the kingdom by following their distinctive laws.

The distinctive laws of the Jews, of course, bore abundant testimony to the true God (cf. Exod. 20:1-17). Haman’s testimony, therefore, reveals that there was a kingdom-wide testimony to the true God in the days of Ahasuerus!

[1] Many later references confirm this understanding that there were such Jews in every province of the kingdom (4:3; 8:5, 13, 17; 9:2; 12-16; 20; 28).

In Interpretation

Haman, Head Coverings, and First Corinthians 11:1-16

August 23, 2011

What does Haman have to do with head coverings and 1 Corinthians 11:1-16? An examination of the LXX of Esther 6 brings out a correlation between these seemingly otherwise unrelated entities that has important bearing on the interpretation of this highly disputed NT passage.

Esther 6 records the dramatic reversal that resulted in Haman’s humiliation. Hearing the king speak of one whom he desired to honor, he thought that surely the king intended to honor him (6:6). To his great chagrin, he learned that the king ordained that Haman himself was to honor Mordecai, whom he greatly despised (6:10).

After he had fulfilled the king’s directives to honor Mordecai publicly (6:11), “Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered” (6:12). Plainly, this text is not declaring that he went to his home having hair on his head. Nor is it asserting either that he had long hair on his head as he went home or that he somehow miraculously grew his hair long.

Rather, this verse records that because he had been humiliated, he headed home, draping an external covering over his head.

Furthermore, the LXX rendering of the verse reads as follows:

BGT Esther 6:12 ¶ ἐπέστρεψεν δὲ ὁ Μαρδοχαῖος εἰς τὴν αὐλήν Αμαν δὲ ὑπέστρεψεν εἰς τὰ ἴδια λυπούμενος κατὰ κεφαλῆς

LXE Esther 6:12 And Mardochaeus returned to the palace: but Aman went home mourning, and having his head covered.

KJV Esther 6:12 And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.

NAU Esther 6:12 Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried home, mourning, with his head covered.

The exact phrase κατὰ κεφαλῆς found here occurs in only one other passage in the Bible in Greek:

BGT 1 Corinthians 11:4 πᾶς ἀνὴρ προσευχόμενος ἢ προφητεύων κατὰ κεφαλῆς ἔχων καταισχύνει τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ.

SCR 1 Corinthians 11:4 πᾶς ἀνὴρ προσευχόμενος ἢ προφητεύων, κατὰ κεφαλῆς ἔχων καταισχύνει τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ.

KJV 1 Corinthians 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

NAU 1 Corinthians 11:4 Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying disgraces his head.

Moreover, Hatch and Redpath (κατακαλύπτειν, 733) report that another hand of the Septuagint for Esther 6:12 reads, κατακεκαλυμμένος κεφαλήν. This variant reading has the perfect passive participle of the key verb used in 1 Corinthians 11:6 and 7 for both a man’s and a woman’s covering his or her head (κατακαλύπτω):

BGT 1 Corinthians 11:6 εἰ γὰρ οὐ κατακαλύπτεται γυνή, καὶ κειράσθω• εἰ δὲ αἰσχρὸν γυναικὶ τὸ κείρασθαι ἢ ξυρᾶσθαι, κατακαλυπτέσθω.

SCR 1 Corinthians 11:6 εἰ γὰρ οὐ κατακαλύπτεται γυνή, καὶ κειράσθω• εἰ δὲ αἰσχρὸν γυναικὶ τὸ κείρασθαι ἢ ξυρᾶσθαι, κατακαλυπτέσθω.

KJV 1 Corinthians 11:6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

NAU 1 Corinthians 11:6 For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her cover her head.

BGT 1 Corinthians 11:7 Ἀνὴρ μὲν γὰρ οὐκ ὀφείλει κατακαλύπτεσθαι τὴν κεφαλὴν εἰκὼν καὶ δόξα θεοῦ ὑπάρχων• ἡ γυνὴ δὲ δόξα ἀνδρός ἐστιν.

SCR 1 Corinthians 11:7 ἀνὴρ μὲν γὰρ οὐκ ὀφείλει κατακαλύπτεσθαι τὴν κεφαλήν, εἰκὼν καὶ δόξα Θεοῦ ὑπάρχων• γυνὴ δὲ δόξα ἀνδρός ἐστιν.

KJV 1 Corinthians 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

NAU 1 Corinthians 11:7 For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.

This evidence from the LXX therefore supports holding that the covering in view in 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 is an external head covering for both a man and a woman.

In Biblical Greek, Interpretation

Medley Using MuseScore

August 22, 2011

Here is a pdf of a piece that I created using MuseScore. This medley includes the melodies of Jesus Calls Us, Am I a Soldier of the Cross, and O For a Thousand Tongues.

Using MuseScore, it is simple to create such a document and to listen to what you have created to see how it sounds!

In Guitar Music, Music

Haman’s Unique Designation

August 21, 2011

Scripture records the misdeeds of numerous wicked people and uses various terms to describe them as evildoers. Haman is unique among all the evil people spoken of in Scripture because he is the only one for whom the Greek word διάβολος is used:

Esther 7:4 ἐπράθημεν γὰρ ἐγώ τε καὶ ὁ λαός μου εἰς ἀπώλειαν καὶ διαρπαγὴν καὶ δουλείαν ἡμεῖς καὶ τὰ τέκνα ἡμῶν εἰς παῖδας καὶ παιδίσκας καὶ παρήκουσα οὐ γὰρ ἄξιος ὁ διάβολος τῆς αὐλῆς τοῦ βασιλέως

LXE Esther 7:4 For both I and my people are sold for destruction, and pillage, and slavery; both we and our children for bondmen and bondwomen: and I consented not to it, for the slanderer is not worthy of the king’s palace.

Esther 8:1 καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἀρταξέρξης ἐδωρήσατο Εσθηρ ὅσα ὑπῆρχεν Αμαν τῷ διαβόλῳ καὶ Μαρδοχαῖος προσεκλήθη ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως ὑπέδειξεν γὰρ Εσθηρ ὅτι ἐνοικείωται αὐτῇ

LXE Esther 8:1 And in that day king Artaxerxes gave to Esther all that belonged to Aman the slanderer: and Mardochaeus was called by the king; for Esther had shewn that he was related to her.

His use of slander to try to bring about the extermination of the Jews likely explains the use of this word for him (Est. 3:8-9) because he is thus like the devil himself, who “was a murderer from the beginning,” “is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44), and seeks the destruction of the Jews (cf. Rev. 12:13-17).

In Biblical Greek, Biblical Languages, Interpretation

Bible Reading Update 8/20/11

August 20, 2011

This year, my goal has been to read through the entire Bible in Greek. Here is the progress (chapters read/total chapters) that God has allowed me to make so far after 232 days:


Section	Greek	English
OT	690/920	284/920
NT	20/269	269/269
Bible	710/1189	553/1189

With 133 days left in 2011, I have finished reading 75% of the LXX so far! Provided I maintain my expected reading rate of three to four chapters on most days, Lord willing, I should be finished with it in about 78 days from now, on day 310.

I would then have 55 days to finish the Greek NT.

Praise God for sustaining grace through ths project!

In Bible reading

Twenty Years of Visitation Ministry!

August 19, 2011

In either late July or early August of 1991, I first went on door-to-door visitation for my current church. At that time, we would go out on Saturday mornings. We met first for a time of singing, prayer, and a brief challenge. Then, we would go out visiting in the neighborhoods around our church.

From 1991 until 2008, I was able to go on door-to-door evangelism virtually every time that we had visitation. A bout with Bell’s palsy prevented me from being involved with outreach for some time in 2008, but after recovering, I have been going on visitation regularly as my circumstances have allowed.

Over the years, by my records, I presented the challenge for visitation at least 10 times from 1993-2003. I have probably knocked on doors in our neighborhoods well over 2000 times over the past 20 years, handed out more than 1000 tracts, and witnessed at some length to several hundred people.

A small number of people have made professions of faith, and I have had some opportunities for ongoing discipleship. As the Lord sees fit, I hope to see more visible and lasting fruit in the years ahead.

I praise God for His grace that has directed, constrained, and enabled me to evangelize regularly in spite of my many failings over the years! I would like to encourage all believers to be involved actively in the outreach ministries of their own churches:

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matt. 28:18-20).

In Discipleship, Evangelism, Testimony

"Haste Makes Waste"

August 18, 2011

This afternoon, I vividly experienced the truth of the saying, “Haste makes waste.” Expecting that I would be late for a tutoring session unless I rushed to get there, I carelessly slammed my car door on my right pinky, and without thinking at all, instantly yanked it out of the closed door with great force.

The combined force of the door slam and my yanking produced a nasty partial tearing of skin and tissue off my finger. As it began to drip blood, I bemoaned my foolishness and realized that I was not going to make it to the tutoring session.

Nearly two hours later, after getting three stitches in my finger at an urgent care facility, I went to the library to see if my student might still be there. I discovered that he had already left.

Not only had I lost the money for the missed tutoring session, I now had incurred many hundreds of dollars of medical expenses because of my carelessly rushing around. Beyond that, there will be additional expenses for a tetanus shot tomorrow and for getting the stitches out ten days from now.

Mercifully, God spared me from any broken bones or torn tendons in my finger. In spite of my injury, I was also still able to teach a guitar lesson this afternoon for two new students.

God has allowed so far for there to be very little pain per se after the initial injuries. I hope and pray that He may graciously see fit not to allow my finger to become infected and for it to heal properly.

In Testimony

The Restorer of Souls

August 17, 2011

David testifies that the Lord, his Shepherd (“The Lord is my Shepherd”; κύριος ποιμαίνει με; Ps. 23:1), is the One who restores souls:

τὴν ψυχήν μου ἐπέστρεψεν ὡδήγησέν με ἐπὶ τρίβους δικαιοσύνης ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματος αὐτοῦ

KJV Psalm 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

David uses the same verb and object (in both the Hebrew and Greek OT) that are in this verse in other closely related teaching in the Psalms:

ὁ νόμος τοῦ κυρίου ἄμωμος ἐπιστρέφων ψυχάς ἡ μαρτυρία κυρίου πιστή σοφίζουσα νήπια

KJV Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

By comparing Psalms 23:3 and 19:7, we learn that the Lord is the Shepherd who restores souls through His perfect law.

Scripture’s use of the same verb and object (in both Greek and Hebrew) in Lamentations provides us with further understanding:

ὁ ὀφθαλμός μου κατήγαγεν ὕδωρ ὅτι ἐμακρύνθη ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ ὁ παρακαλῶν με ὁ ἐπιστρέφων ψυχήν μου

KJV Lamentations 1:16 Mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me

NAU Lamentations 1:16 My eyes run down with water; Because far from me is a comforter, One who restores my soul.

By comparing all three of these passages, we see that the Lord as the Shepherd is the Comforter who restores people’s souls through His perfect law.

Finally, the occurrence in the NT of the same Greek verb and object that is in all the preceding passages as well as the Greek word for shepherd that is a cognate to the verb found in the LXX rendering of Psalm 23:1 highlights the truths seen above:

ὃς τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν αὐτὸς ἀνήνεγκεν ἐν τῷ σώματι αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸ ξύλον, ἵνα ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ἀπογενόμενοι τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ ζήσωμεν, οὗ τῷ μώλωπι ἰάθητε. 25 ἦτε γὰρ ὡς πρόβατα πλανώμενοι, ἀλλὰ ἐπεστράφητε νῦν ἐπὶ τὸν ποιμένα καὶ ἐπίσκοπον τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν.

KJV 1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

This passage declares that we were sheep going astray (cf. Isa. 53:6), but we are now returned to the Shepherd of our souls. He brought about that return through His using His perfect law to restore our souls.

Praise the Lord that He is the Shepherd, the Restorer of the souls of sheep who have gone astray!

In Interpretation

Sanctification through Visitation

August 16, 2011

Tonight, I went on visitation with another member from my church. We went to a rough neighborhood in a trailer park. Although we talked with several lost people, no one seemed to be genuinely receptive much at all.

God used what I observed and heard in this neighborhood tonight to deal with me about issues in my own heart and walk with Him. Had I not been in that setting and experienced the personal challenges in my own soul that I did because of my being among those people, I would not have been as receptive to God’s dealing with me afterward as I ended up being.

Perhaps my experience tonight would be repeated in the lives of many others of God’s people were they to put themselves consistently among lost people to try to reach them.

I believe that through our regular interaction with lost people, God desires not only to bless them with exposure to His truth; He also wants to sanctify us for His service. Let us all, therefore, heed even more God’s desire for us to be active in trying to reach lost people.

In Discipleship, Testimony

Spurgeon on Obedience to God's Commandments

August 15, 2011

“He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” The Christian delights to be obedient, but it is the obedience of love, to which he is constrained by the example of His Master. “He leadeth me.” The Christian is not obedient to some commandments and neglectful of others; he does not pick and choose but yields to all. Observe the plural is used—”the paths of righteousness.” Whatever God may give us to do we would do it, led by His love. Some Christians overlook the blessing of sanctification, and yet to a thoroughly renewed heart this is one of the sweetest gifts of the covenant. . . . All this is done out of pure free grace; for His name’s sake.” It is to the honour of our great Shepherd that we should be a holy people, walking in the narrow way of righteousness. If we be so led and guided we must not fail to adore our heavenly Shepherd’s care.

—Charles Spurgeon on Psalm 23:3, The Treasury of David, Vol. 1, 355; bold text is in italics in original

In Discipleship, Quotes

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