Wednesday, May 22, 2013

My notes on the book of Esther


Yesterday I bought a new Bible . This version is easy to read, to be understood, and naively I asked God to direct me into something I have anything to learn. I don't hear His voice (I wish) but at sort, shutting my eyes, I opened my new book and Esther appeared. It was an act of faith, I wish my fingers were used ant taught, but this way started to read and these are some ideas I got.
This is anything I would call HISTORY. Inspired or not, I see traditions rather than God's commands, and I see how the Purim feast came to be as it is.
This helped me to understand Persian culture. At certain points, it looks like Jewish, but it is not the same (according to my few previous readings on Jewish culture).
If it were possible to live this Persian way, I don't mind that change of mind, because Christianism is Jewish, in many ways. But I will be like Mardoqueo, not worshiping any man. Here there is a foreign background mingled with the Jewish, abroad.

I believed Nehemiah, and others (Nehemías 13: 25-30) were sad that their people chose to marry unbelievers, and Esther knew that king was to divorce Vasti, having previous marital intercourses with more virgin girls. The thing I would not like for my daughter, is allowing a man with several women at hand (Ester 2:14-15).

These notes are not exhaustive, but I haven't seen Jesus partaking in the Purim (so I have to check this later on).

It is a pity I haven't read, nor understood, all the written sources Jewish and Catholic people had for their actual traditions; but I'm happy that Jesus came to make us to be one (John 11:51-52) and my concern is aimed to acknowledging God in His teachings.

Esther is both, History and Jewish tradition and there, the book itself, insists on telling me what this is and I'm thankful that this serves me to see Persians and Jewish people, as culture.

Esther “married” a rich king for convenience, not love. Vasti was right in avoiding her boastful husband (Esther 1:11) and she was forced to be “divorced” (Esther 1:19) while that king -same way as David- had more women (Esther 2:14-15).

If I were to compare today's Christianity, I see people unequally yoked, same way Samson or king David (i.e., rich with poor, Christians with unbelievers). I don't expect my view acknowledged, but I rather like God's approval, because I have failed more than I thought it could be possible for my human good intention (one divorce, and a couple of failures).

The religious background could warn me that that king was an adulterer. He played “the showy” when being drunk, so he would not be the best choice for my daughter, it I were the one to give her an advice (I don't care how rich he is). This reminded me 2 Kings 20:13, 15, 17. If I had anything, I don't want to be like that man who swanked and got lost...

As a man, I will not lie telling that Persian standards are bad for men. I wish both, men and women show respect for one another, so I would agree with the rule that king approved (I'm not too feminist). I like Mardoqueo's attitude and the end result. And that reminded me Joseph's account and his hardships to be the second after the Egyptian Pharaoh, but I don't like the predicament to marry my daughter with an unbeliever and, wealth is a great temptation to avoid, as well as convenience.

I don't find arguments for beauty. I married my ex because I thought she was nice looking, but time has proved we both need more than oil treatments to remarry any. Ha! Ha! That fashion -for make up- won't make a little on people like me (Ha! Ha!) but I have an idea on Esther and the others (2:12). I need several years of intense beauty treatment! He! He!

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