Tag: Temperance

Salt is Good

On By TimIn Luke 14, TemperanceLeave a comment

“Salt is good. But if the salt has lost its saltiness, how shall it be made salty? 35 *It is neither fit for the land nor for the manure pile. So men throw it out.
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Luke 14:34–35 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This is a short post.

Jesus is yet again speaking in salt. Sometimes this idea of saltiness is misunderstood. In our culture, salty behavior usually tends to vulgarity with a heavy dose of self-importance. But as discovered previously the salt Jesus speaks of is plain. It is self-control.

To establish this idea, we only need reel-back to find context.

“For who among you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost to see whether he has resources to complete it? Otherwise, perhaps, after he has laid the foundation and is not able to complete it, all who see it will begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to complete it.’
“Or what king, going to wage war against another king, does not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Otherwise, while the other is yet at a distance, he sends a delegation and requests conditions of peace. So likewise, any of you who does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Luke 14:28–33 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Yet again, Jesus has coupled the idea of saltiness with self-introspection and self-control. In other words, salt is humility.

We preserve the culture with humility.

He Commanded to Bring Her

On By TimIn Esther 1, Husbands, Leadership1 Comment

Additionally, Vashti the queen prepared a feast for the women in the royal house of King Ahasuerus.

Esther 1:9 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We are now introduced to new people. The first is Vashti the queen. She, too, is hosting a reception for the women.

With this introduction, we will take a turn. A bit of the character of the king will be revealed. Remember the character traits here to see if they change later.

On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Karkas, the seven eunuchs attending to the needs of King Ahasuerus, to bring Queen Vashti before the king with the royal crown, to unveil her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful.

Esther 1:10–11 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It may have been the merriness brought on by the wine, but here the king commanded Vashti be brought to him. It was without any care to her or what she was doing at the moment. He wished to show her off as another part of the splendor of his kingdom.

Many scholars think that king Xerxes called Vashti to make a lewd display of her beauty with the opulent turban. It would be in front of the other males at his feast. (The women were at her’s.)

This is just another in a series of bad decisions that serve as a foundation for the events that unfold in the book of Esther. The king was drunk. As customary, Persians often deliberated and decided important things while drunk. It seems to have happened here, too.

But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command delivered by his eunuchs. Therefore, the king grew very angry, and his wrath burned within him.

Esther 1:12 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The queen refused the command. The king’s rash command resulted in his own anger. He failed to take into account the needs of others, perhaps because of the dissipation that alcohol brings. Maybe there was something more profound. One could speculate.

Nevertheless, his addled thinking led him to be embarrassed in front of his guests.

Then the king spoke to the wise men, who understood the times (for in this way the king would speak before all who understood law and judgment). Those nearest him were Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memukan. They were the seven princes of Persia and Media and the king’s closest confidants who met with the king and held the highest rank in the kingdom.

Esther 1:13–14 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We meet the king’s advisors. These are the ones that will counsel him. They will turn what happened as a result of his decision into a scandal and blame someone else.

According to law, what should be done about Queen Vashti because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus when it was delivered by the eunuchs?”

Esther 1:15 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Let’s see what the law has to say about the matter.

And Memukan answered before the king and the princes, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also all the princes and all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. For should this matter of the queen spread to all wives, then they would look with contempt on their husbands when it is reported that, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she never came.’ This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media, who hear of the queen’s act, will say the same thing to all the king’s princes. Then there will be more contempt and wrath.

Esther 1:16–18 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

There is nothing here that shows what ought to be done to Vashti in the law. In the patriarchies of old, the queen’s behavior is scandalous. She embarrassed the king. Furthermore, such actions would also upset the male’s leadership in the home. How was a man to be king of his castle?

What is recorded here is a historical lesson that is to teach honor in marriage. Men are to love their wives with due consideration. Our spouses aren’t a possession to be commanded and ordered. We put their needs above ours.

The wrong perpetrated on the king was as a result of his own bad decision. Yet… By his decisions, a new law would be made.

“If it pleases the king, let a royal decree be sent by him, and let it be written in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it may not be altered, that Vashti can never enter into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and that the king will give her royal position to another woman who is better than she. When the king’s decree that he shall make is proclaimed throughout all his empire (for it is vast), then all the wives shall give honor to their husbands, both the prominent and lowly.”

Esther 1:19–20 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

That ought to really fix things. Make it personal. Vashti would never be permitted to enter the presence of her husband. In other words, divorce for disobedience of command was implemented.

It’s like the law for drinking, people are permitted licentious behavior. More license is added. Remember the laws of Persia cannot be rescinded not even by a decree of the king.

The suggestion pleased the king and the princes, so the king did according to the word of Memukan. He sent letters to all the king’s provinces, in the script of every province and in the language of every people group, bearing the message in the languages of his people that each man should rule over his own house.

Esther 1:21–22 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The decrees of the king were promulgated throughout the kingdom. The kingdom was vast and the resources needed to govern were considerable. The decrees would be translated into the written language of every person. This method will be repeated in the book of Esther.

The law established the man as sovereign of the house.

According to Every Man’s Pleasure

On By TimIn Esther 1, TemperanceLeave a comment

Now in the days of Ahasuerus, also called Xerxes, who reigned from India to Ethiopia, over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, in those days, the palace where King Ahasuerus sat on the royal throne of his kingdom was in Susa.

Esther 1:1–2 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This sets the stage for the things written in Esther. Chronologically, these events happen in the middle of what is written in Ezra. King Xerxes is introduced in Ezra. At the beginning of his reign, there was a letter written to him that portrayed the Jewish people as insubordinate. Keeping that in mind will help to see how the king grew in wisdom despite the intrigue of the adversary to destroy a people.

In the third year of his reign, he prepared a feast for all his officials and his servants. So the army commanders of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the officials of the provinces were before him.

Esther 1:3 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We understand that what occurs here happens a few years after what is recorded about the king from the book of Ezra.

He unveiled the riches of his glorious kingdom and the costly luxury of his greatness for many days, one hundred and eighty days.

Esther 1:4 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This feast lasted for half a year. It was lavish, as the kingdom itself was wealthy. It also showed off the military prowess and conquests of the king. If one remembers the statue from Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in the book of Daniel, this kingdom is represented by silver. The Medo-Persian kingdom was not as grand as the Babylonian kingdom it seized. Yet Xerxes’ reign was exerted over a vast kingdom.

When these days were completed, the king prepared a seven-day feast for all the people present, from the greatest to the least, in the citadel of Susa. This feast was in the courtyard garden of the king’s palace where white and blue linen hangings were fastened with cords of white and purple linen to silver rings and columns of marble. The gold- and silver-plated couches were on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.

Esther 1:5–6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

After that great feast, a smaller one was prepared. It was much more intimate than the previous one, yet still displayed the splendor and wealth of the kingdom.

For all the opulence on display, some darker things are revealed.

They provided drinks in golden vessels (the vessels being diverse one from another) and royal wine in abundance, by the expense of the king. In accordance with the law, the drinking was not mandatory, because the king had directed all the stewards of his house to serve according to every man’s pleasure.

Esther 1:7–8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Drunkenness was allowed by law. Of course, one may overlook the detail, but it is recorded for us that drinking was permitted as a matter of law. As was conscience. Yet the law permitted and sanctioned immorality.

Think of applying these ideas to your own household. Having a grand party to show of wealth may seem pretentious enough. Sanctioning drunkenness is another.

According to every man’s pleasure is how these were served by law. Of course, the law also allowed for conscience. It also permitted debauchery in the highest places.

Sometimes, a person’s conscience isn’t enough to keep them from succumbing to intoxicants. With no outside influence in the society to align with moral behavior, people are given a license to indulge. This is decadence.

Peter’s Direction for Living in Marriage

On By TimIn 1 Peter 03, Daily Walk, Marriage, TemperanceLeave a comment

Peter continues to encourage his readers to live righteously. Yes, that includes living in good moral character. There is an underlying theme in the reason why he says this. He hints at it in chapter 2, verse 9; and says it outright a bit later in verses 12 & 13. It’s for the glorification of God and to make Him known to others

We do it because there are so many who have come before us, laying the foundations for us to live that way. They served us.

The liberty of Christian living is not asserting our own needs but meekly seeking to fulfill the needs of others. Peter continues to develop this pattern of encouragement to those who are married.

Likewise you wives, be submissive to your own husbands, so that if any do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, as they see the purity and reverence of your lives.

1 Peter 3:1–2 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It is easy to see how most will use this to admonish the wife to be submissive to her own husband. It’s there and that is the proper order.

Shame on the man who is disobedient to the Word of God!

In such a marriage, a wife is called to serve him any way that his heart may be turned.

I am so thankful to God that I have a wife who did this very thing. When we married she wasn’t a believer, and I didn’t live out my faith. She did convert and became a believer. It was at that time that I watched her. Her own reverence for God was the encouragement for me, time and again, to return to God. (She still does that. I marvel at her gift for building relationships.)

Do not let your adorning be the outward adorning of braiding the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine clothing.

1 Peter 3:3 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Peter isn’t forbidding jewelry, a fine hair treatment, or fine clothing. He is attempting to show how not to use these as ways to win your man’s heart.

Again, Peter’s attention is toward the wives, this is also for us husbands. God is going to show you what is most important in the marriage relationship.

Nurture the Inner Beauty

But let it be the hidden nature of the heart, that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

1 Peter 3:4 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The hidden incorruptible nature of the heart is where the Spirit is. These are the inner treasure from the Holy Spirit. From which flushes out with the fruit that Pail details.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control; against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22–23 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Peter’s underlying theme is this idea of self-control. That is, not asserting self and your needs, but seeking to honor and fulfill the needs of others even if yours aren’t met.

For in this manner, in the old times, the holy women, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You are her children as long as you do right and are not afraid with any terror.

1 Peter 3:5–6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Peter is pointing to the Sarah who put up with the folly of Abraham. She did as he asked, even if it were wrong. In so doing, she was freed from the accountability of the wrong-doing as Abraham has the responsibility. He is the “lord” of the house.

Not Afraid

A woman ought not to have to live with a man that she is afraid of. That isn’t submission, that’s terror. (If you are a woman and find yourself in such a situation, get out to safety, please!)

Sobering Words for Husbands

Likewise, you husbands, live considerately with your wives, giving honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they too are also heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

1 Peter 3:7 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Personally, I see this entire portion of Peter’s epistle as more of instruction to husbands and prospective husbands. Peter says to live considerately with your wife. Knowing that she isn’t as strong as you. You don’t get to bully, control, and/or degrade her into submission like Artaxerxes did with his wife Vashti. Your wife is a child of the Most High if she is saved. Even if not, she is someone else’s daughter and an image-bearer if God. Treat her with that honor. There’s a reason why.

Your Prayers Won’t be Hindered!

Good night nurse Nickel!

If you’re a married man, here is the secret to maintaining an effectual prayer life. Honor your wife!

She isn’t your trophy. She isn’t your possession. She isn’t your servant to be commanded. She isn’t someone to bully. She isn’t someone to degrade in front of others.

She is graciously loaned to you by your Heavenly Father as a helper. Us husbands need help because more often than not, we’re really boys. Serve her! Bless her!