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We enter another fascinating book today: a book titled Job that is essentially the story of the life and times of a man by that very name. Job was considered one of the richest men of his time, and one of the most God-fearing men as well.
The story goes that one day when Satan challenges God to test Job’s faith, God accedes to this and allows for calamity and misfortune to befall Job. Before you know it, Job begins to lose everything he possesses, starting with his most valuable possessions—his children. Without doubt, Job must have been devastated, and yet, all he says is:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.
Next, Job is afflicted with ill-health, a further test that Satan brings about hoping to prove to God that the reason for Job’s faithfulness is tied into his health being intact. But even in this, Job does not waver in his utter trust and faith in God. Job’s three friends come to console him, and mourn with him at his losses.
In the meantime, Job’s wife has had enough, and openly says that it is high time that Job curse God and die—so great is the loss and devastation. And yet, Job refuses to do so. When he finally does speak, Job doesn’t curse God, but he does say this:
23 Why is life given to a man
whose way is hidden,
whom God has hedged in? 24 For sighing has become my daily food;
my groans pour out like water. 25 What I feared has come upon me;
what I dreaded has happened to me. 26 I have no peace, no quietness;
I have no rest, but only turmoil.”
These are the words of a beaten man, but not one without hope. We shall have to wait and see how Job’s life unfolds.
Next, we come to our continued reading in the first book of Corinthians. Paul is continuing in his exhortation to use the gifts of the spirits wisely, and takes care to make the point regarding the gift of prophecy. He says to use it with caution, if at all, and always with the aid of an interpreter.
More specifically, he says, 13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.
Turning now to our reading in the psalms, we find David, the psalmist, offering choice words of encouragement in these verses:
16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked; 17 for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
And for all those who might doubt the provision of the Almighty, he says this:
25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread. 26 They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be a blessing.
And then, some direct words of advice:
27 Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever. 28 For the LORD loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
Finally, one verse from the book of Proverbs that is worthy of record and rumination:
25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,
because his hands refuse to work. 26 All day long he craves for more,
but the righteous give without sparing.
May God bless the reading and reflection of His Word.
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We continue with the fascinating story of Esther, and having learned of how Haman’s plan to kill the Jews was foiled by Esther, the queen, and her cousin, Mordecai, we learn today of how Esther is also successful at having the king’s decree overturned with another royal decree that preserves the right of the Jews to assemble and defend themselves as necessary.
This is a great victory to the Jewish people, and there is great rejoicing over this. Also, Mordecai is installed over Haman’s estate, and evidently plays an important role in the king’s court.
The text tells us this: 15 When Mordecai left the king’s presence, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration. 16 For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor. 17 In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.
Furthermore, the Jewish people’s future has been secured, thanks to the initiative and foresight of these two individuals: Mordecai and Esther. And in remembrance of the victory that is gained at this time, these two days are established as Purim.
The text tells us this about the origin of this Jewish holiday: 20 Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, 21 to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar 22 as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
Esther was a brave young woman who saw her place and position in history to be one that would make a difference in the lives of her people. From an orphan girl, she became the queen of Persia, won the favor of the king, and took action to preserve and improve the lot of her people. Esther was used by God in the greater plan and purpose for the Jewish people, and for this, she is remembered.
The text goes on to tell us this: 29 So Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim. 30 And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of Xerxes’ kingdom—words of goodwill and assurance— 31 to establish these days of Purim at their designated times, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had decreed for them, and as they had established for themselves and their descendants in regard to their times of fasting and lamentation. 32 Esther’s decree confirmed these regulations about Purim, and it was written down in the records.
And as for Mordecai, this is what the text tells us: 3 Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.
Turning now to our reading in the first book of Corinthians, we come upon chapter 13, also known as the ‘love chapter’ because Paul has so very beautifully presented this concept of love as it is to be understood and defined for the believer.
Paul is continuing in his exhortation to recognize and value each person’s gift for the unique thing that it is, given that each gift comes from the Spirit, however, he deems it necessary to pause and take one large step back in order to make the all-important point that no matter what gift any of us might be endowed with, unless it is exhibited in love, it is meaningless, i.e., it is nothing. Plain and simple.
It doesn’t matter how good you are, or how much good you do: if it is not done in a spirit of love, it is as good as nothing! So powerful a chapter is this in the canon of literature that comprises the letters of Paul, nay, the entire New Testament, that I reproduce it here in its entirety:
1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully,even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Turning now to our psalm of the day, we find David, the poet-king of Israel, giving out sound advice on how to negotiate the ups and downs of life. His advice is timeless, and even this, I cannot help but reproduce the entire chapter for our benefit:
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.
Finally, one important verse from the book of Proverbs that would behoove each one of us to pay attention to:
23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.
May God bless the reading and reflection of His Word.
Anyone born and raised in India will have learned about the ancient civilizations of Mohenjo-daro and Harappa. We learned in some detail about this industrious and resourceful people who had settled on the banks of the Indus Valley in what is now Northeast Afghanistan, Central Pakistan and a wide swath of the Punjab, Sindh, and Uttar Pradesh of Northwest India. These were a people prolific in the fine arts and had possibly even invented the potter’s wheel, the art of brick-making, and were the earliest agriculturists.
How very fascinating, when you consider that these ancient civilizations are dated to 2100 BC. And the earliest excavations of this great civilization were unearthed as early as the 1920s. Well, it was only a matter of time before someone would make a movie of this, and my only surprise is that it took so long.
Now that I’ve offered a historical preface, what of the movie, you ask? Well, turns out Mohenjo Daro cannot decide if it wants to be a love story, an epic adventure film, or a revenge saga. But when you have the star-power of the likes of Hrithik Roshan, I suppose one needn’t worry one’s pretty head all that much, because wouldn’t you know it – turns out that prehistoric people were more or else just like us. Basic plot went something like this: boy meets girl, girl walks away, boy pursues girl, girl melts and gives in, boy sneaks into girl’s room, boy and girl kiss. And the rest, as they say, is merely history.
I found interesting that there seemed to initially be quite a conscientious effort at depicting the people to be devoid of any religious affiliations, in particular, Hindu or Muslim, the two predominant religions of that geographical area, however, by the end of what seemed like the better part of three hours, the tone was decidedly one that was leaning toward Hindu sensibilities. But even so, this realization is the culmination of an amalgam of customs pertaining to dress, food, and an accoutrement of cultural placeholders that had unmistakable shades of influence from Indo-European and the Far East.
I must admit that much as I’d hoped to, I didn’t get swept off my feet, much to my disappointment. The story just didn’t do much for me: it didn’t grab me; it didn’t move me; and it certainly didn’t knock me down. While the acting and direction was somewhat mediocre, even the cinematography was not particularly exemplary. The musical score was by the famous A.R. Rahman, but even that, I admit, one week later, I cannot seem to remember what the theme tune was like if I were to wish to hum it.
One hopes that if not anything else, perhaps this movie might serve as a precursor to similar period films of this era, and with a little luck, the next one just might be a little more memorable.
