Honest Reflections on Esther 7- 8 And in every province and in every city, wherever the kings command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them. (8:17) How have you seen the LORD mightily deliver you in the past, from hardship and suffering? What did that teach you about His sovereignty, power, faithfulness, love, and provision? How has Gods strong hand of salvation changed the way you react to perilous situations in your own life, that were out of your control? The moment Esther has been preparing for, upon which the entire welfare of the Jews hangs in the balance, has finally arrived. For as the second feast that Esther prepared for the emperor and Haman was coming to a close, the emperor once again asks her, What is your wish, Queen Eshther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request (vs. 2)? Esther then respectfully and humbly appeals to the emperor, asking him to spare her and her people from being destroyed, which would be of no advantage to him (vs. 3 - 4). Can you imagine the amount of pressure that must have been on her, as her request would either find favor with the emperor and thus save her people, or it would cost her own life along with the rest of the Jews? She could even be punished for treason, perhaps, for lying to the emporer by withholding from him her true identity all along! Its no wonder then, that Esther would try to woo the emperor before asking him this weighty decision, especially with her perpetrator standing before her! The news of his Queens life being threatened greatly alarmed him, and espesecially so when he learns by her who the instigator is: Haman (vs. 5-7). Haman begs Esther for his life to be spared, but the emporers fury raged within him, until he had Haman hung on the very gallow he made to hang Mordecai upon (vs. 10). After that, the emporer gives Esther the house of Haman, even sets Mordecai over the house of Haman, giving him his signet ring, which meant the weight of his authority was entrusted to Mordecai over civil matters (8:1-2). Esther than appeals to the emperor for a royal edict to be decreed throughout his entire empire, that the Jews would be spared from Hamans previous request to have them completely annihilated (8:5-6). The emperor entrusts his authority over to Mordecai, and has Mordecai write this decree, even sealing it with his signet ring, signifying the decision in this manner cannot be revoked (8:8). So, Mordecai writes a decree, enforcing every Jew to take up arms and defend themselves, even destroying their attackers, on the 13th day of the 12th month (8:9-14). And it was so. Instead of weeping and mourning, God had filled His people with light, gladness, joy, and honor (8:16). A great feast and holiday was established on that day, as a result of Gods salvation for His people. Moredecai was right in suggesting earlier to Esther, even as he trusted in Gods covenant love and promises, for who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this (4:14)? Indeed, God had placed both her and Mordecai there, even all the hardship and suffering and fear they experienced, for the glory of His Name and the salvation of His people! God would again place someone else here for His glory and our salvation, who would also endure extreme hostility and suffering, though He did nothing wrong to deserve it, and upon whose shoulders eternity for the souls of man hanged in the balance. He would come and break the chains of our bondage to sin, that even seperates us from God. He would also satisfy the wrath of Gods judgment against our sin, even as Haman satisfied the emperors wrath, by hanging not on the gallows but on a cross. His name is Jesus, and God put His own Son, Jesus, forward, as a propititation for our sins, so that through the shedding of His blood, our sins would be forgiven, our relationship with God would be restored! For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. (Rom 3:23-25) Might we recieve this blessed Savior, who demonstrated such amazing love for us while on the cross, and might we demonstrate His love for others to see. Might we trust in Gods sovereignty and daily act on that trust, knowing God is for us and is with us. Might we use our freedom from our slavery to sin not to please ourselves, but to make much of Him who set us free, and to further His Kingdom. Might we be bold in our faith, even as we consider the sweet assurance Paul gives us in Romans 8. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against Gods elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died-more than that, who was raised-who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Rom 8:31-37) We are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us. AMEN!! Questions. What have you learned through the difficulties God has brought you through in the past? How have they made you stronger and more Christ like? How have they liberated your faith? How can your past experiences of Gods deliverance, especially in terms of your salvation, help you be more confident and bold to live our your faith today and tomorrow, despite the difficulties and uncertainties? Prayer. Father, You are strong and mighty, and faithful to deliver. In You we set our hope, for You never, no never, disappoint. Thank You for the trials and hardship You bring our way, so that we may draw nearer to You and see Your power in ways we would not have known beforehand. Truly Your wisdom far exceeds all else, for there is no one like You. Thank You for Your Son, who bore the wrath in my place, and gave me new and eternal life in Him. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 11:33:41 +0000
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