The king's trust in Esther

We now come to the final three chapters from the book of Esther: 8 through 10.

After Haman was impaled, the king gave all of Haman's property to his queen Esther.  Then Mordecai was brought before the king, for she informed him that Mordecai was related to her.  Mordecai was then appointed to be in charge of Esther's property.

Then, Esther came before the king, begging him to stop the evil plot Haman had devised against the Jews.  Without question, the king gave her his signet ring and told her to send a message to the Jews in the king's name.  He trusted her to send whatever message that she pleased, but warned her that his previous decree still stood and could not be reversed.  So, the message had to be one that overrode his previous decree.

She instructed the new decree to be sent to all of the Jews that anyone who would do them harm, they were given the right to defend their life and property by any means necessary.

Victory was had by the Jews throughout the king's entire kingdom and there was a great festival to honor the memory of that victory.  In the end, Mordecai was given the name of prime minister of all the king's lands, a title second only to the king himself, and he continued to work for the good and welfare of all their descendants. 

Esther's bravery

In the book of Esther, chapter 5, Esther braved to go before the king.  Upon seeing her, the king immediately held out his gold scepter, announcing that he approved of her coming to him.

The king asked what her request was, stating that he would give it to her, even if it was half of the kingdom.  She requested to come to a banquet she had prepared for him.

During the banquet, the king again asked for her request, and again stating that even if it was half the kingdom, he would give it to her.

She responded that she would like the king and Haman, the one who ordered the death of all the Jews, to come to a banquet the next day.  Then, and only then, would she explain her true request.  The king agreed.

After the grand feast, Haman gathered his friends and boasted about his great wealth, bragging about all that he had, even to the point of telling them that he was going to a feast the queen was preparing for him.  He then ordered a sharp pole set up so that he could impale Mordecai on it.

Continuing on in chapter 6, the king was unable to sleep that night and ordered an attendant to bring him a book that recorded the history of his reign.  He then discovered the account of Mordecai exposing the plot to assassinate the king.  He asked what kind of recognition was given to Mordecai for his brave act.

He discovered nothing was done for Mordecai, for saving his life.  Only then did he know about the pole Haman was going to use to impale Mordecai.  During the banquet, the king ordered his best robes to be placed on Mordecai, by Haman.  By chapter 7, during the banquet while the king was drinking much wine, the king again asked Esther for her request.  For a third time, he told her that if she wanted half of the kingdom, he would give it to her.

Then, with much bravery, she told of the plot to slaughter the Jews by the evil and wicked Haman.  The king was angered by this and Haman pleaded for his life.  The king then ordered Haman to be impaled on the pole intended for Mordecai.

It's amazing to think that three times Esther was offered half of the kingdom and instead she refused and exposed the evil plot against the Lord's people.  It took great bravery and love of the Lord for her to stand up to the king.

Esther's Dilemma

In chapter 3, from the book of Esther, the king promoted Haman to be the most powerful official in the kingdom.  All of the other officials were to bow down and show respect to him, as the king had commanded.

But Mordecai did not.

Over time, other officials noticed and advised Haman about it.  Haman spoke to the king, who then advised that because Mordecai was a Jew, all of his people would be put to death.  The order was sent all across the kingdom, with a date chosen almost a year from then to carry it out.

This concerned Mordecai as he did not wish the Lord's people to be sentenced to death.  By chapter 4, he gained Esther's attention and told her what was going to happen.  Mordecai then said she had to tell the king about it and plead with him not to carry out this order.  He then said this may be why she was chosen to be the queen, to save the Jews from uncertain death.

There was a problem with this.  She could not speak with the king without an invitation.  If someone came to the king unannounced, their life could be in jeopardy unless the king agreed that it was okay.

Hence, her dilemma.  Would she face death in order to plead her case before the king?

Jesus didn't rush to judgement (and neither should you)

Ever have one of those moments where you wish you could say something clever and your mind is blank?  This happened to me the other day.

I was riding around town with a close relative.  To say this person is on an extreme side of the political spectrum is an understatement.  Hate spewed from this person's lips, and I found anger growing inside me as I lean toward the other end of the political spectrum.

I honestly do not care what one's political leanings are as long as one can be civil about it.  And this relative of mine also puts themselves upon a pedestal of superiority while putting down others for thinking the "other candidate" is worth anything.

As I rode around town for a few hours, this person judged others so many times I lost track.  Near the end of our ride, this person commended on a flag with one of the current candidates name on it.  What vile comments came out of their mouth.

But again, I was silent.

Thinking of the four gospels, many of Jesus's actions have puzzled me.  But after I returned home and reflected on the vile hatred this person spewed worth, I thought about the 8th chapter from the book of John.  Starting in verse 6, the religious leaders were trying to trap Jesus, but he "stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger."  Continuing on in verse 7: "They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, 'All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!'"  Verse 8: "Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust."

This stooping down and writing in the dust has puzzled me, but I finally got what Jesus might have been doing.  He didn't rush to judgement (even though he knew what evil lied within their hearts).  He paused, as if pondering what to do.

I am not proud that I allowed anger to burn inside me.  But I am happy that I paused and did not say anything in return.  I believe the Holy Spirit was granting me the opportunity to think, to not say anything at that time.  In the future, the Holy Spirit will probably give me the opportunity to relay how displeased I was at their tone, and how judgmental and hypocritical they were.

Last year, judgement was one of my lessons learned--and it appears that I am continuing to learn more and more about it.

Praise Jesus!

The Lord, our only true Judge

Psalm 75 starts by giving thanks to the Lord, and "people everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds."

In the next few verses, God says that according to His plan, He will bring justice against the wicked.  Even when the earth quakes and people live in turmoil, He is the only One to keep a firm foundation.

God alone is the only one who judges, He decides to will rise and who will fall.

He increases the strength and power of the godly, in His name.

Do not be boastful and do not speak arrogantly against heaven.  Only God will be the judge against the wicked.

The Lord knows our heart (and has perfect timing)

Last week, I examined the first two chapters from the book of Esther, and once again I'm going back to the first chapter to examine further proof that, despite our free will, God still speaks into our hearts.

The Persian king was a pompous, arrogant man, and loved to put his wealth on display for all.  But one thing he didn't do was show off his queen.  It took until the end of a 180-day feast, along with a 7-day drunken banquet, for him to command his queen to put on her crown and display herself to his people.

Which, as you know, she refused.

This caused him to be very angry.

The overindulgence of alcohol may have paved the way for Esther to become queen.  We do not know much about the king's queen in chapter one, but since she had a separate banquet from the king's, she may not have wanted to be a part of the drunken festivities.  She may not have even loved him, and only became the queen for other reasons we do not understand.

Also, when the king was consumed by alcohol, this allowed the Holy Spirit to speak into his heart, to get him to put his queen on display.  This started the turn of events that lead to Esther becoming queen, and changing the history of her people forever.

For as far back as I can remember, I have always said that God works in mysterious ways, that there is a reason for the events that happen in our lives.  Only when we put our complete faith in the Lord, and listen for His answer, will we understand.  For example, I do not know why my wife Melissa had to pass away in January of this year.  But there was a reason.  I do know this: given the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, it's difficult to imagine her still being alive and suffering like she did.  But the Lord's timing on her passing into Heaven was perfect.

Yes, I said it.  Perfect.

The ways of our Lord has astonished me and as I examined even her final days and hours, she went into Jesus's arms at the absolute perfect time.

Questioning the Lord

Psalm 74 starts with the the question: "O God, why have You rejected us forever?"

This sets the tone for the next several verses, questions and pleading directed to God.  The reader asks God to remember His congregation and the land where he gave to His people.  His enemies have set up signs of their victory and there has been much destruction to the Lord's sanctuary.

By verse 12, the true nature of the Lord is revealed by casting His salvation in the midst of the destruction.  The Lord divided the Red Sea and crushed His enemies in Egypt.  He provided food for His people, broke open fountains and streams, and even dried up rivers.  The Lord is the One who created light and the earth, creating the various seasons.

Despite the destruction that has been cast on His people, that is nothing when compared to the awesome might of our Lord.