Monday, March 30, 2020

Esther 6-10

What does it say?
It was in Haman’s heart to hang Mordecai on the gallows but it was in the kings heart to honor him; therefore, Haman’s own pride became his dishonor as he was charged with leading Mordecai throughout the city on horseback. At Esther’s banquet she revealed that she is a Jew and Haman had contrived to have her and all the Jewish people destroyed. The knowledge that he had been tricked by Haman angered the king, so the king ordered Haman hung on the very gallows that he built to hang Mordecai. Mordecai was promoted to the place of Haman and Esther the Queen put him in charge of the house of Haman. The king put on Mordecai’s finger the signet ring of the king to make law. Mordecai made it lawful for the Jews to assemble and defend themselves from their enemies on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month and the people throughout the kingdom rejoiced when they heard the news. On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month the Jewish people throughout the kingdom rose up and defeated their enemies but did not take the plunder. In Susa, it was given to them to do the same on the fourteenth day, when they hung the sons of Haman on the gallows. The Jewish people celebrated a feast on the fourteenth day of the month but in Susa they celebrated on the fifteenth day of the month. Therefore, Mordecai the Jew commanded that the Jews remember these events annually with a two day feast on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the twelfth month. What their enemies meant for evil was turned.

What does it mean?
Jesus said, “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (Jn 8:44) The fifth commandment: You shall not murder. The ninth commandment: You shall not testify falsely against your neighbor. Lying against your neighbor because you hate him and want to see him destroyed is particularly devilish. Haman hated Mordecai and his people the Jews; therefore, he testified falsely against the Jews to King Ahasuerus, so that Mordecai with the Jews might be destroyed. For this reason Queen Esther called Haman a foe and a wicked enemy. (Est 7:6) The serpent lied to the woman in the garden because he saw an opportunity to destroy the image of God; however, God prophesied that the seed of the woman would bruise his head and he would only bruise the seeds heel. (Gen 3:15) The story of Esther and Mordecai the Jew is a picture of the gospel. The enemy of the people of God defeated and the people of God living and rejoicing.

What shall I do?
I shall believe in the Lord our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The serpent has been defeated with the life, sacrificial death, and resurrection of the Son of God Jesus Christ. What an amazing twist of fate. Unbeknownst to Haman a Jew was made Queen; therefore, his evil plot was turned. Unbeknownst to Satan the Son of God would become flesh, born of a woman, dwell amongst us, die in our place and rise from the dead, forever defeating sin and death for his sheep. I shall sing praises to my Lord. He is worthy of all honor, glory and praise.