Author: gregsloop

Haman was happy to have been invited to the banquet with the king and queen, but was infuriated by Mordecai's refusal to bow or tremble before him.  Haman went home and called in his friends and his wife.  He bragged about how he was rich and how the king had advanced him above all other … Continue reading Haman’s Hateful Plot Against Mordecai (Esther 5:9 – 14)

Esther dressed up in her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, across from the king's house, as he sat on his throne.  As said in yesterday's blog, no one could approach the king without being invited.  If you did, he must extend his scepter toward you or you would … Continue reading Here I Go! (Esther 5:1 – 8)

Haman was promoted by King Ahasuerus, and received homage from everyone per the king's order.  Everyone bowed before him, except Mordecai.  When asked why, Mordecai would not bow, for he was a Jew.  When Haman found out that Mordecai would not bow, he was furious.  Haman deceived the king into decreeing that all Jews would … Continue reading Haman’s Plot and Esther’s Intercession (Esther 3:1 – 4:17)

The story of Esther is one of the most read and preached stories in the Bible.  A Jewish girl, a captive in Ahasuerus' kingdom, is given a powerful opportunity to save her people.  In the days of Ahasuerus, king over Persia and Media stretching from India to Ethiopia, he had a great feast for his … Continue reading There’s an Opening (Esther 1:1 – 22)

At the reading of the Book of Moses, it was noted that no Ammonite or Moabite should come  into the assembly of God.  They had refused to assist Israel on their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.  They also hired Balaam to curse Israel, but God turned it into a blessing.  After the reading, … Continue reading Reforms of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 13)

In this passage, we see the system whereby rooms were made for the tithes, offerings, and firstfruits to be gathered in to the house of God.  It states that this happened because "Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered."  The singers and the gatekeepers kept the charge of their God and the charge … Continue reading Provision for Ministry (Nehemiah 12:44 – 47)

In this passage, Nehemiah recounts the tremendous celebration of Judah in the House of God.  They had rebuilt the temple, rebuilt the city walls, restored the surrounding cities, assigned officers, priests, Levites, and gatekeepers.  Now the singers and musicians assembled and made ready for a celebration.  The Levites were summoned from the surrounding cities, and … Continue reading The Sound of Joy (Nehemiah 12:27 – 43)

In this passage of Nehemiah, we see a list of people who lived outside of Jerusalem in the land of Judah.  There are descendants of Levites who served with David, and there were priests, heads of houses descended from Aaron.  There was even a record in Persia under Darius of the priests and Levites who … Continue reading Praising God and Watching the Gate (Nehemiah 11:25 – 12:26)