For Such A Time As This: A New Edict

The turning point chapter for the Jewish people! Let’s learn how we can apply this Old Covenant reading to our New Covenant lives in Christ.

1 On that day King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. 2 So the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai; and Esther appointed Mordecai over the house of Haman. 3 Now Esther spoke again to the king, fell down at his feet, and implored him with tears to counteract the evil of Haman the Agagite, and the scheme which he had devised against the Jews. 4 And the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther. So Esther arose and stood before the king, 5 and said, “If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight and the thing seems right to the king and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to annihilate the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces. 6 For how can I endure to see the evil that will come to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my countrymen?”

• Haman’s evil scheme was trumped by the providential hand of God. Furthermore, Mordecai was promoted and “appointed over the house of Haman.” All that Haman had acquired in this world was given over to Mordecai for keeping! A small repayment for all the turmoil he and his people underwent.

• In the last chapter, we see the end of Haman’s wickedness. But even though Haman was dead, the edict of killing all the Jews was not. In this Medo-Persian period, when a decree was made, it was irrevocable. So Esther had to approach the throne of grace again and intercede for her people. Hebrews 7:25 reminds us, “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” What a peace it brings to know that Christ has an unchangeable priesthood and has once and for all sealed the covenant of holiness through His blood!

7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, “Indeed, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he tried to lay his hand on the Jews.8 You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring; for whatever is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring no one can revoke.”

• Since the edict could not be revoked, the king had to authorize a new decree to protect the Jews. So he gave Esther the right to declare peace and protection over the Jews, sealed with his signet ring (which represents power), and was irrevocable. Speaking of irrevocable, Romans 11:29 holds a great truth: “For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.” This means that regardless of how God’s people act or whether or not they receive His gifts – they still stand. For if they did not stand, God would be found a liar (Numbers 23:19). No matter how you choose to live your life, God is true to His promises, beloved. It’s never too late.

9 So the king’s scribes were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day; and it was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded, to the Jews, the satraps, the governors, and the princes of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, one hundred and twenty-seven provinces in all, to every province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language. 10 And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, sealed it with the king’s signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback, riding on royal horses bred from swift steeds. 11 By these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together and protect their lives—to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both little children and women, and to plunder their possessions, 12 on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. 13 A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province and published for all people, so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. 14 The couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king’s command. And the decree was issued in Shushan the citadel. 15 So Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, with a great crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple; and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. 16 The Jews had light and gladness, joy and honor. 17 And in every province and city, wherever the king’s command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews fell upon them.

Several points to note in this passage of scripture:

• The letter went out to all. No one could claim ignorance in knowing the truth about the Jewish people. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen…” (Romans 1:20).

• The edict gave God’s people the right to defend themselves. It did not say they could violently rally, angerly picket, or start riots. It decreed that if their enemies pursued them, they had the right to protect their lives. That’s a great reminder, particularly in this day and age. 

• Think with me for a bit, and consider this scenario: What if the edict Haman wrote was given, and then later, the people learned of the new directive? Yet, they still chose to live as if the first edict (covenant) was in place. What do you think their life would’ve looked like? Friends, sometimes we can find ourselves still living under the old covenant – trying to earn the favor of God through efforts and religious to-do lists. But Christ came so we might live in freedom, with the spiritual ability to destroy, kill, and annihilate bondage and sin from our life. Let’s not live as if the new covenant was never established, for Christ came that we might have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10).

• Finally, note how the Jewish people lived: light and gladness, joy and honor. Words to live by, yes? Their joy and gladness were a Light to a dark Medo-Persian world, and people became followers of God because of their character. 

Lord God, may we live each day lightly. Not saddled with the to-dos and noise of this world, but with gladness in our hearts, joy in our steps, and our lips proclaiming the honor of You. Amen.

For Such A Time As This: Twisted Promotion

The plot thickens this week as Haman becomes more prominent. Nevertheless, we continue to see God’s providential work in motion, even as the Jews receive the news of their forthcoming death sentence.

1 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. 2 And all the king's servants who were within the king's gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage. 3 Then the king's servants who were within the king's gate said to Mordecai, "Why do you transgress the king's command?" 4 Now it happened, when they spoke to him daily and he would not listen to them, that they told it to Haman, to see whether Mordecai's words would stand; for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew. 5 When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath. 6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus—the people of Mordecai.

• Chapter 3 begins with, "After these things…" What are "these things" referring to? Look at the latter part of chapter 2: 

"In those days, while Mordecai sat within the king's gate, two of the king's eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, became furious and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. So the matter became known to Mordecai, who told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai's name. And when an inquiry was made into the matter, it was confirmed, and both were hanged on a gallows; and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king."

• Mordecai heard of the king's life in danger and informed Esther; she told the king and referenced Mordecai. Once the plot was confirmed, death was the consequence for the eunuchs. Done deal. But what happened after Mordecai tipped off Esther about the deathly plot? Haman was promoted. Think about how you would feel if you saved someone's life and then a "hideous Haman" was promoted instead of you. Oy. What a reminder to us that the world's twisted promotional system is false. Psalm 37:23 says, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delights in his way." When the scoundrels of the world pass you up, beloved, trust that the Lord knows the best path for you. 

• I reread the book of Daniel a month or so ago, and the first chapter talks about how Daniel "purposed in his heart not to defile himself…." Daniel had resolved or "decided firmly on a course of action," and we see Mordecai with a similar fierce spirit. He was unwilling to bow down to Haman, even when people (the world) spoke with him daily about compromising. What an encouragement to us when the Lord prompts us to be resolute in our hearts and stand firm (read Ephesians 6). He will meet you there to equip and enable you, great warrior.

7 In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, the lot), before Haman to determine the day and the month, until it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. 8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people's, and they do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king's treasuries." 10 So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11 And the king said to Haman, "The money and the people are given to you, to do with them as seems good to you."

• This king isn't the wisest guy. He is easily persuaded (just as he was when instructed to dispose of Queen Vashti) and, again, at the demise of others. It's incredible how Mordecai (whose name means "little man") has become a ginormous thorn for Haman. He has the entire kingdom bowing to him except one, which is all-consuming. 

• Here's an interesting bit of history for you. See how verse 10 refers to Haman as "the son of Hammedatha the Agagite"? This genealogical reference could mean he's from the Agag empire or he is a decedent of King Agag of the Amalekites. If the latter is true, then it's important to note the Amalekites were perpetual enemies of the Jewish people. In 1 Samuel 15, King Saul makes a crucial error: 

"7 And Saul attacked the Amalekites, from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8 He also took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed." 

• By the end of the book, we'll find out that the Lord finished what Saul didn't. When God tells us to "utterly destroy" something, He will see it through Himself. Harboring just a portion of it – even a cute little lamb – will create a generational burden. Sin is never private, but our God can heal the underlying motivation and remove the sin if we're willing to process it with Him in the Light.

12 Then the king's scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and a decree was written according to all that Haman commanded—to the king's satraps, to the governors who were over each province, to the officials of all people, to every province according to its script, and to every people in their language. In the name of King Ahasuerus it was written, and sealed with the king's signet ring. 13 And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions. 14 A copy of the document was to be issued as law in every province, being published for all people, that they should be ready for that day. 15 The couriers went out, hastened by the king's command; and the decree was proclaimed in Shushan the citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

• Signed, sealed, and delivered – the Jews had demise ahead. Can you imagine being on the streets and hearing this random decree? The "death date" was almost a year away, and I'm sure that brought no peace to the people. Fortunately, God had orchestrated Mordecai and Esther for such a time as this. Amen.