Genuine beauty and health come through from the inside. "I must make up my lack of beauty with face paint and cosmetics because I'm not pretty without it." It also signals insecurity and bondage to mere appearances. Although some people use makeup to overemphasize their good features so they can feel even more powerful, alluring, and intimidating through their appearance. So the two main reasons for using makeup are self worship and insecurity. But the Scripture says, It is the spirit that quickens, flesh counts for nothing. And, our beauty should not come from outward adornment but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.
1. You have no option but to make your faith work, as a follower of Christ.
2. Live the vision of what you desire
3. Nothing you can see is shallow!
There's so much to think about from this message, and your recommendation and challenge for us to be, look and live our best every single moment reminds me of a similar exhortation from Scripture to “Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil.” (Ecclesiastes 9:8 NKJV)
And yes, you can do a video too. 😃
The audio was good and I guess a video will be even better!
Your logic and careful analysis in your Genesis 1-2 podcast was very good, but here, you are projecting your own life and struggles onto the passage, and your logic isn't flowing right. Very confusing. I felt like I was watching a magician move walnut shells, trying to figure out where the marble is.
Instead of seeing the passage through you, I see your struggles and misdirected thoughts.
You confused narrative with prescriptive counsel. How in the world does this fit with I Peter 3:3-5? Peter's counsel is prescriptive. Esther is entirely descriptive. Like all biblical narrative, it provides little interpretation of what is going on--just the facts. Biblical narrative presents sordid and twisted realities without any airbrushing.
Harems are twisted. Look carefully at Ezekiel 45, and you will see the prince of David's line clearly has no harem, because he has only enough land for his nuclear family and for temporarily holding livestock for the people's burnt offering. That Prince is a perfect man, by the way, as identified in Ezekiel 37, and the Christ per 38- 39. Christ is truly man and truly God, and will serve as the paragon for all men to emulate, in every way, in the coming kingdom. See also Psalm 45.
The best interpretation of a harem comes by comparing Eccl 7:28 to Proverbs 31. Solomon tells us he hated his harem, and would have traded them all for a woman like Rahab. On the flip side, the conversation between Elkanah and Hannah in I Sam 1, and the Blessing in Ruth 4:15, shows that a good person is worth more than 7 to 10 others. That applies to spouses.
Now put this together and see the Book of Esther for what it is: a narrative about a courageous, kind-hearted, and--above all--wise woman who makes the best of a very bad situation. It parallels Daniel's experience
Many fail to see Daniel's satire in sharing Nebuchadnezzar's self-contradicting proclamations. The same problems reveal themselves in Esther: a king who wants to boast in the beauty of queen Vashti before his drunken friends. Some have speculated he ordered her to appear naked. Moreover, the counsel given to him by his seven princes is nothing but the worst of logical fallacies: anecdotal reasoning. Their judgment is not fitting and lawless by the High Law of Moses and the Spirit who inscribed the Law.
Note also the context of the feast: the descriptions and tone very closely parallel Daniel's description Belshazzer's final feast, in other words, The handwriting is on the wall, and God is proving why he will smash Persia.
Kind of puts a damper on Esther's situation. What woman in her right mind would want to prepare to be such a man's queen? Beauty and the Beast is a fantasy, and Esther is very unlikely to tame this beast, who foolishly gets himself into predicaments, which his officials make even worse with their fallacious, foolish counsel. What idiot would depose a queen who is the mother of the Royal Prince and heir to the throne, because she was wise enough not to appear before drunken fools?
The setting for the plot is a very stupid mess, caused by arrogance and selfishness, particularly a disregard for God's design for men and women, a design which forbids ruling it over others, as do the Persian gentiles in the story.
I've read through the historical commentary on Esther, and though she influences Ahasuerus (Xerxes) long enough to save her people, Vashti apparently regained influence, because she was the mother of the heir to the throne. Esther just disappears in history. She is set aside in the story as well: she has to take the initiative in approaching Ahasuerus. He is clearly a man who is full of himself, and fails your standard of losing himself. He and King Saul are peas in the same pod.
Esther never had a child, a very poor reward for being wrested prematurely out of her youth, like Jepthah's daughter. Read this in the context of Hannah's story (I Sam 1), and you will see that Esther's life is sacrificed in a very similar way to Jepthah's daughter.
In other words, the narrative is anything but a desirable romance story. It's making the best of something that is worse than hell (see Matt 18:6).
If there is any love story, the love is between Esther and Mordecai: the way they answer one another is as beautiful as Ruth and Naomi, Ittai and David, the centurion and Jesus, and the Virgin Mary across history to Rahab (Lk 1:38, Jos 2:21) The pure and wise love between cousins is among the best love stories, because steeped in the delight of Psalm 16:3 and Luke 7:35.--love that far transcends the merely sexual. A careful reading of their dialogues ought to bring tears to the eyes. It certainly has for me.
I would not want any sister in Christ to face such a situation as Esther's. I would be praying Psalm 137 with Daniel, asking for the mountain (a symbol of national power) to be cast into the sea. Such is the fate of every Nation State. That fate is coming very quickly on this Babylon, and it will be good to see women without makeup--unveiled beauty ;).
Beauty comes through the light of the eyes, the words of kindness on the tongue, a mind rooted in Wisdom, and a willingness to answer another in all aspects of life, instead of contending and vexing.
I can't imagine Rebekah, Leah, Rachel, or Rahab in the field and pasture with makeup. Ruth only washed and anointed herself with oil (possibly perfumed oil). They were all active women, and if you look at the biochemistry behind active people, research "proximity effect," and research the biochemistry of oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine, you will understand why they did not need makeup.
Pearl Buck's Olan, in keeping with such women, is one of my favorite characters in literature. She taught me that my strength and desire is for serving others, not to serve myself. One feels like laying down his life for such a one as she. Have you read The Good Earth?
I feel like you're confusing categories in this podcast, by mixing them with Your own confusion about what you want in this life. You are comparing dissimilar things as if they are similar. It's more existential than expository.
How is a car a fruit?
You are an intelligent woman who diligently searches the Scriptures, and your ability to answer someone who does the same is far more important than externalities. Beauty is fleeting, charm deceptive. Body and soul are more important than wordly possessions: "better a meal of vegetables where there is love, than a feast where there is strife."
A woman who reverences God by seeking his kingdom and his righteousness first is to be praised, meaning enjoyed in every dimension, but especially as a liturgical partner per Jos 1:8 and Deut 6:7.
I sense you doubt God's provision where it matters most, and confusion as to what is a worthy life is for sojourners merely passing through.
One of the most beautiful aspects of God, is He has a far better idea of what the desires of your heart are, than you do yourself. That's why His gifts add no sorrow. I counsel you to meditate on Heidelberg question 26 to better understand this.
Since I replied to your content, I'll also reply to your survey: I prefer voice in lieu of video unless a speaker is using charts, diagrams, or visible quotes Much easier to focus on content, and you have a very good voice.
Genuine beauty and health come through from the inside. "I must make up my lack of beauty with face paint and cosmetics because I'm not pretty without it." It also signals insecurity and bondage to mere appearances. Although some people use makeup to overemphasize their good features so they can feel even more powerful, alluring, and intimidating through their appearance. So the two main reasons for using makeup are self worship and insecurity. But the Scripture says, It is the spirit that quickens, flesh counts for nothing. And, our beauty should not come from outward adornment but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.
Wow, great work!
Here are my three takeaways:
1. You have no option but to make your faith work, as a follower of Christ.
2. Live the vision of what you desire
3. Nothing you can see is shallow!
There's so much to think about from this message, and your recommendation and challenge for us to be, look and live our best every single moment reminds me of a similar exhortation from Scripture to “Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil.” (Ecclesiastes 9:8 NKJV)
And yes, you can do a video too. 😃
The audio was good and I guess a video will be even better!
Kudos!! 🙌
Thank you Daniel for this comments and you perfect wrap-up! (I didn't even organize my takeaways that well 😂)
Haha
You most welcome. 🤗
Your logic and careful analysis in your Genesis 1-2 podcast was very good, but here, you are projecting your own life and struggles onto the passage, and your logic isn't flowing right. Very confusing. I felt like I was watching a magician move walnut shells, trying to figure out where the marble is.
Instead of seeing the passage through you, I see your struggles and misdirected thoughts.
You confused narrative with prescriptive counsel. How in the world does this fit with I Peter 3:3-5? Peter's counsel is prescriptive. Esther is entirely descriptive. Like all biblical narrative, it provides little interpretation of what is going on--just the facts. Biblical narrative presents sordid and twisted realities without any airbrushing.
Harems are twisted. Look carefully at Ezekiel 45, and you will see the prince of David's line clearly has no harem, because he has only enough land for his nuclear family and for temporarily holding livestock for the people's burnt offering. That Prince is a perfect man, by the way, as identified in Ezekiel 37, and the Christ per 38- 39. Christ is truly man and truly God, and will serve as the paragon for all men to emulate, in every way, in the coming kingdom. See also Psalm 45.
The best interpretation of a harem comes by comparing Eccl 7:28 to Proverbs 31. Solomon tells us he hated his harem, and would have traded them all for a woman like Rahab. On the flip side, the conversation between Elkanah and Hannah in I Sam 1, and the Blessing in Ruth 4:15, shows that a good person is worth more than 7 to 10 others. That applies to spouses.
Now put this together and see the Book of Esther for what it is: a narrative about a courageous, kind-hearted, and--above all--wise woman who makes the best of a very bad situation. It parallels Daniel's experience
Many fail to see Daniel's satire in sharing Nebuchadnezzar's self-contradicting proclamations. The same problems reveal themselves in Esther: a king who wants to boast in the beauty of queen Vashti before his drunken friends. Some have speculated he ordered her to appear naked. Moreover, the counsel given to him by his seven princes is nothing but the worst of logical fallacies: anecdotal reasoning. Their judgment is not fitting and lawless by the High Law of Moses and the Spirit who inscribed the Law.
Note also the context of the feast: the descriptions and tone very closely parallel Daniel's description Belshazzer's final feast, in other words, The handwriting is on the wall, and God is proving why he will smash Persia.
Kind of puts a damper on Esther's situation. What woman in her right mind would want to prepare to be such a man's queen? Beauty and the Beast is a fantasy, and Esther is very unlikely to tame this beast, who foolishly gets himself into predicaments, which his officials make even worse with their fallacious, foolish counsel. What idiot would depose a queen who is the mother of the Royal Prince and heir to the throne, because she was wise enough not to appear before drunken fools?
The setting for the plot is a very stupid mess, caused by arrogance and selfishness, particularly a disregard for God's design for men and women, a design which forbids ruling it over others, as do the Persian gentiles in the story.
I've read through the historical commentary on Esther, and though she influences Ahasuerus (Xerxes) long enough to save her people, Vashti apparently regained influence, because she was the mother of the heir to the throne. Esther just disappears in history. She is set aside in the story as well: she has to take the initiative in approaching Ahasuerus. He is clearly a man who is full of himself, and fails your standard of losing himself. He and King Saul are peas in the same pod.
Esther never had a child, a very poor reward for being wrested prematurely out of her youth, like Jepthah's daughter. Read this in the context of Hannah's story (I Sam 1), and you will see that Esther's life is sacrificed in a very similar way to Jepthah's daughter.
In other words, the narrative is anything but a desirable romance story. It's making the best of something that is worse than hell (see Matt 18:6).
If there is any love story, the love is between Esther and Mordecai: the way they answer one another is as beautiful as Ruth and Naomi, Ittai and David, the centurion and Jesus, and the Virgin Mary across history to Rahab (Lk 1:38, Jos 2:21) The pure and wise love between cousins is among the best love stories, because steeped in the delight of Psalm 16:3 and Luke 7:35.--love that far transcends the merely sexual. A careful reading of their dialogues ought to bring tears to the eyes. It certainly has for me.
I would not want any sister in Christ to face such a situation as Esther's. I would be praying Psalm 137 with Daniel, asking for the mountain (a symbol of national power) to be cast into the sea. Such is the fate of every Nation State. That fate is coming very quickly on this Babylon, and it will be good to see women without makeup--unveiled beauty ;).
Beauty comes through the light of the eyes, the words of kindness on the tongue, a mind rooted in Wisdom, and a willingness to answer another in all aspects of life, instead of contending and vexing.
I can't imagine Rebekah, Leah, Rachel, or Rahab in the field and pasture with makeup. Ruth only washed and anointed herself with oil (possibly perfumed oil). They were all active women, and if you look at the biochemistry behind active people, research "proximity effect," and research the biochemistry of oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine, you will understand why they did not need makeup.
Pearl Buck's Olan, in keeping with such women, is one of my favorite characters in literature. She taught me that my strength and desire is for serving others, not to serve myself. One feels like laying down his life for such a one as she. Have you read The Good Earth?
I feel like you're confusing categories in this podcast, by mixing them with Your own confusion about what you want in this life. You are comparing dissimilar things as if they are similar. It's more existential than expository.
How is a car a fruit?
You are an intelligent woman who diligently searches the Scriptures, and your ability to answer someone who does the same is far more important than externalities. Beauty is fleeting, charm deceptive. Body and soul are more important than wordly possessions: "better a meal of vegetables where there is love, than a feast where there is strife."
A woman who reverences God by seeking his kingdom and his righteousness first is to be praised, meaning enjoyed in every dimension, but especially as a liturgical partner per Jos 1:8 and Deut 6:7.
I sense you doubt God's provision where it matters most, and confusion as to what is a worthy life is for sojourners merely passing through.
One of the most beautiful aspects of God, is He has a far better idea of what the desires of your heart are, than you do yourself. That's why His gifts add no sorrow. I counsel you to meditate on Heidelberg question 26 to better understand this.
Since I replied to your content, I'll also reply to your survey: I prefer voice in lieu of video unless a speaker is using charts, diagrams, or visible quotes Much easier to focus on content, and you have a very good voice.