Citizens Church

Jeremiah laments as the effects of sin are visibly seen. Children are neglected and priests are slain. The city is in ruin and the people are suffering. In the midst of it all, it may be tempting to "hide" from the Lord. However, when we are tempted to hide, let us run to God even faster.

If there is ever a "high point" in Lamentations, chapter 3 provides the readers with the encouragement that God does hear the cries of his people. In the midst of ruin and chaos, the Lord will hear His people.

As Jeremiah continues to describe the present state of mourning, grief, & lament in Lamentations 2, we ask the question, "can lament actually point us towards God's compassion towards us?" 

As we open the book of Lamentations, Jerusalem is desolate. Personified as a woman, the city "sits alone as her tears fall down her cheeks." Lamentations opens us up to the idea that our grief, suffering, & sorrow actually provide an invitation to worship God through it all.

As we finish the book of Esther, we find ourselves reading about the festival, Purim, a day in which all jews celebrate God sparring their people from death. We too have been spared from death! Because of Jesus, we were destined for death but have received life.

The day of war is here. The Jews will defend themselves against all who attack them, and in fact, Esther will ask for a second day of war in which many more enemies will fall by the sword. 

This week, Esther makes her request before King Xerxes and identifies Haman as the evil one who has plotted to kill all of the Jewish people. Ironically, Haman is hanged on the gallows that he had constructed for the jew, Mordecai. 

Esther chapter 6 gives way for the elevation and celebration of Mordecai after he was overlooked 5 years prior. Haman, the evil one, parades Mordecai around on the king's horse and in the king's robe. Ultimately, we see that in Jesus, our story ends in banquet, not destruction. 

Esther is now approaching the king and while she gains his favor, requests a banquet for himself and Haman. The ball starts rolling for the destruction of Human and the deliverance of the jews.

Today we introduced to the villain of our story, Haman. Haman plots to kill all of the jews and and as we leave Esther 3, all of Susa is in confusion and chaos.