Wicked Haman sought to do the Jews harm and deceitfully wrote a law which commanded their destruction. Messengers were sent out to 127 provinces that the Jews - all men, women, and children - were to be killed and their goods plundered on the 13th day of the 12th month. The people were perplexed to hear this command, and the Jews grieved and mourned. God used righteous Mordecai and queen Esther to make known the plot of Haman to king Ahasuerus, and Haman was hanged for his crimes. But the law remained, for the laws of the Medes and Persians cannot be undone.
Though the old law could not be changed, the king granted Mordecai authority to write a new law. The description of the new law is conveyed in Esther 8:11: "...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..." The Jews were commanded to ready themselves on the 13th day of the 12th month to be avenged on their enemies. In response to the new command throughout the land the people rejoiced and were glad. See what is written in Esther 8:16-17: "The Jews had light and gladness, joy and honour. 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."
I find this response remarkable! Though the law remained that the Jews were to be slaughtered and killed on the 13th day of the 12th month, they rejoiced and celebrated the new law which commanded them to gather and defend themselves from their enemies. Instead of darkness they had light; where once was gloom and sadness they had gladness and joy. Dishonour had been replaced with honour, and many of the people chose to become Jews in light of their unity, power, and their great God who works such deliverance. The new law prompted the Jews to gather for feasting and to proclaim a holiday. Not really the sort of thing you would expect when the enemies were readying themselves to attack, is it? If we knew the 13th day of the 12th month was coming, we might stockpile weapons and ammunition, devise a plan to defend from attack, and prepare for war. But the Jews celebrated like they had already won - because they had. God had overthrown the wicked schemes of their enemy and gave them all the authority and power they needed to defend themselves.
Isn't this a beautiful parallel of how the Christian ought to live in this world? Because of our sin the Law condemns us to face the wrath of God and eternity in hell. There is no escape from death which hunts down our bodies and souls. But God, because of His great mercy towards sinners, sent Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost. The Old Covenant of Law remains, yet through the shed blood of Jesus a New Covenant has been established on better promises. Colossians 2:13-15 reads, "And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it." The Law that brought death was put to death by Jesus on the cross for all them who trust in Him, and it is in the power of Christ's resurrection we live. Through Him we have light, gladness, joy, and honour. Think of it! The world dishonours Christ and those who follow Him, but we have honour from God by His grace.
We miss the mark when we respond with violence to those who oppose our Saviour, for He has declared victory through His resurrection. It is an appalling contradiction when believers look to carnal weapons or law for safety when only God is our Deliverer and Help. Though enemies of God rally together for the destruction of God's people, we can have light and be glad because our Saviour fights for us. Jesus has promised to preserve and present us faultless before the Father with exceeding joy. People throughout 127 provinces chose to become Jews though a law remained which demanded their blood because of the unity and joy of God's people. May it be people in every nation, tribe, and tongue will chose to renounce a life of sin and follow Jesus because of the love, joy, and peace of God we can have in our Saviour who loves us. It is fitting to close with Ephesians 3:20-21: "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Though the old law could not be changed, the king granted Mordecai authority to write a new law. The description of the new law is conveyed in Esther 8:11: "...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..." The Jews were commanded to ready themselves on the 13th day of the 12th month to be avenged on their enemies. In response to the new command throughout the land the people rejoiced and were glad. See what is written in Esther 8:16-17: "The Jews had light and gladness, joy and honour. 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."
I find this response remarkable! Though the law remained that the Jews were to be slaughtered and killed on the 13th day of the 12th month, they rejoiced and celebrated the new law which commanded them to gather and defend themselves from their enemies. Instead of darkness they had light; where once was gloom and sadness they had gladness and joy. Dishonour had been replaced with honour, and many of the people chose to become Jews in light of their unity, power, and their great God who works such deliverance. The new law prompted the Jews to gather for feasting and to proclaim a holiday. Not really the sort of thing you would expect when the enemies were readying themselves to attack, is it? If we knew the 13th day of the 12th month was coming, we might stockpile weapons and ammunition, devise a plan to defend from attack, and prepare for war. But the Jews celebrated like they had already won - because they had. God had overthrown the wicked schemes of their enemy and gave them all the authority and power they needed to defend themselves.
Isn't this a beautiful parallel of how the Christian ought to live in this world? Because of our sin the Law condemns us to face the wrath of God and eternity in hell. There is no escape from death which hunts down our bodies and souls. But God, because of His great mercy towards sinners, sent Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost. The Old Covenant of Law remains, yet through the shed blood of Jesus a New Covenant has been established on better promises. Colossians 2:13-15 reads, "And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it." The Law that brought death was put to death by Jesus on the cross for all them who trust in Him, and it is in the power of Christ's resurrection we live. Through Him we have light, gladness, joy, and honour. Think of it! The world dishonours Christ and those who follow Him, but we have honour from God by His grace.
We miss the mark when we respond with violence to those who oppose our Saviour, for He has declared victory through His resurrection. It is an appalling contradiction when believers look to carnal weapons or law for safety when only God is our Deliverer and Help. Though enemies of God rally together for the destruction of God's people, we can have light and be glad because our Saviour fights for us. Jesus has promised to preserve and present us faultless before the Father with exceeding joy. People throughout 127 provinces chose to become Jews though a law remained which demanded their blood because of the unity and joy of God's people. May it be people in every nation, tribe, and tongue will chose to renounce a life of sin and follow Jesus because of the love, joy, and peace of God we can have in our Saviour who loves us. It is fitting to close with Ephesians 3:20-21: "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
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