Short Reflection from Esther 1-10

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (BRU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[7:22 am, 11/05/2022] S.R: 𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝟙:𝟙𝟡

"If it pleases the king, let a royal edict be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti may no longer come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to another who is more worthy than she."

We aren't told why Vashti refused to come. But the wise men perceived it to be an act of contempt against the husband which wives must never do. And of course, in the providence of God, it was a way for Esther to be the Queen!

#Honor. #Providence

 

𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝟚:𝟙𝟟

"The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found favor and kindness with him more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti."

Esther, a Jew marrying the king, a Gentile. The best option among the worst. Still, a very odd story!

 

𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝟛:𝟙𝟙

"The king said to Haman, ‘The silver is yours, and the people also, to do with them as you please.’"

Did the king love money? Did the king hate rebellions in the kingdom? Was the kingdom in a financial crisis? No matter what the motive of the king was, the king didn't examine the complaint and the plan. He was quick to trust Haman.

Don't quickly listen to complaints and plans like king Ahasuerus. Do your homework. Don't be too dependent on others. Don't be lazy.

 

𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝟜:𝟙𝟞

"Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish."

A necessary thing must be done even if it involves a great risk! That's why they are called heroes and heroines for their bravery, conviction, and execution!

 

𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝟝:𝟙𝟚-𝟙𝟛

"Haman also said, ‘Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the banquet which she had prepared; and tomorrow also I am invited by her with the king. Yet all of this does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.’"

Seeking self-glory at the expense of killing a person is so evil. And in this case, the whole community, the very people of God. That has to be paid for by his own life. And so, Haman would be hanged, later on.

 

𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝟞:𝟛

"The king said, What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this? Then the king's servants who attended him said, ‘Nothing has been done for him.’"

Honor comes from the Lord. Learn to rest in God!

 

𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝟟:𝟝

"Then King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther, 'Who is he, and where is he, who would presume to do thus?'"

God did fight for His people. God did fight for those who put their trust in Him. God did fight for the oppressed people. God did fight for the victims!

But through people like Mordecai, Esther, and the King! Mordecai was a tough man, a man of principle, who would not bow to pressure or intimidation.

 

𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝟠:𝟠

"Now you write to the Jews as you see fit, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's signet ring; for a decree which is written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's signet ring may not be revoked."

Permission for civil war, a community clash. It must happen!

 

𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝟡:𝟚𝟝

"But when it came to the king's attention, he commanded by letter that his wicked scheme which he had devised against the Jews, should return on his own head and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows."

Thou shall not devise wicked schemes against your neighbors!

 

𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝟙𝟘:𝟛

"For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews and in favor with his many kinsmen, one who sought the good of his people and one who spoke for the welfare of his whole nation."

We need statesmen like Mordecai!

Bible Reading Reflection from Esther 1-10

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (LRAU) as a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝔼𝕊𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ 𝟙:𝟙𝟚

"But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. Then the king became very angry and his wrath burned within him."

The story of Esther is as ridiculous as a made-up movie, but that's how we all are in the presence of God. We may think we are somebody or such and such a thing is amazing, but the omnipotent God has no comparison.

Even in this story, without the word "God" at all, God still exercised His power providentially. Those who tried to overthrow the people of God ridiculously were overthrown most ridiculously. If you laugh at God, remember God is laughing at you and will let the whole world laugh at you!

MacArthur Study Bible Notes compared this story to a game of Chess played by Satan and God in a humorous way of "Check" and "Checkmate"

Is it not interesting that Vashti refused to come before the king? And why so mad about it to the point of divorcing and banishing, which he would regret later on? It's so ridiculous. But of course, God is preparing a place for Esther, from a divine perspective!

 

𝔼𝕊𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ 𝟚:𝟙𝟟

"The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found favor and kindness with him more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti."

What a Providence that Esther was chosen! She replaced Vashti. It often is the case that God has the habit of replacing people. Taking from others and giving to others.

Someday we may be those ones given if we walk with Him faithfully. If we live our life in our own way, even what we have built and gathered will be given to someone unworthy [unworthy from our standpoint]. And God does what He pleases!

 

𝔼𝕊𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ 𝟛:𝟙

"After these events King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and established his authority over all the princes who were with him."

Oh! No! This is not fair! This is not right. Chapter 2 just ended with Mordecai saving the life of the king from assassination. Mordecai deserved rewards. He wasn't given. Rather . . .

Chapter 3 begins with Haman being promoted. Oh! Haman in a sense was receiving what Mordecai should get. God is interesting, huh! And this guy was a wicked man. And of course, we know how the story ended, Haman would be replaced again by Mordecai in a most humiliating way for Haman and most exalting manner for Mordecai.

Let's learn to wait. Let's learn to humble ourselves before the Lord. Let's not be quick to complain or protest, "we want justice" "we want a promotion" "we want a raise" "we deserve it" slogan. Because God can and has the way of exalting the meek and humble. And when He does, it is beyond imagination.

 

𝔼𝕊𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ 𝟜:𝟙𝟜, 𝟙𝟞

v14. ". . . And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?"

v16. ". . .And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish."

Great hope Mordecai had in the Providence of God. Great Determination Esther had to risk her life for the sake of her people. And we know God rewarded her and Mordecai by King's favor not only to spare her but to welcome her, and to be favorable to their people!

Jesus risked His life to the point of not only physical pain and death but also damnation from God to grant us Salvation and God's Favor. Therefore, God was pleased with the work of Jesus and fulfilled everything.

Greater than Esther is Jesus Christ in Determination, Risk, Sacrifice, and Outcome!

 

𝔼𝕊𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ 𝟝:𝟙𝟚

"Haman also said, "Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the banquet which she had prepared; and tomorrow also I am invited by her with the king."

Haman thought he was abundantly blessed, whereas God was designing his downfall. Wicked men are really placed in the slippery places as Ps. 73:18 said. They are enjoying, boasting. They even think God has blessed them favorably. Some even looked down on the poor and their fellow countrymen. Yet, God is up to a different plan.

Only Esther knew that Haman was not being honored by her invitation, she meant it for his doom.  Haman determined to be more wicked, to hang Mordecai, thinking he was thought highly of by the king and the queen.

Do we keep on doing something wrong seeing there seems to be no retribution but only rewards? Let's remember Haman!

 

𝔼𝕊𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ 𝟞:𝟜

"So the king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace in order to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had prepared for him."

Chapter 6 is ridiculous! It's more than a fairy tale. Its account surpasses the plotline of Hollywood and Bollywood movies.

What a providence that the king couldn't sleep! What a providence that an account of Mordecai was read among hundreds of archives! What a providence that Haman was in the Court! What a providence that Haman was wishing for such a pompous show!

And all these, just before Mordecai was about to be hanged. Haman's ultimate solution to silence Mordecai turned out to be his own ultimate humiliation. What he wished for himself was given to another, and what he wished for another was given to him!

May I not wish bad for others! 😬🥶👍

 

𝔼𝕊𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ 𝟟:𝟠

"And the king returned from the palace garden to the place where they were drinking wine, as Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. And the king said, "Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?" As the word left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman's face."

What a providence that Haman's earnest plea for forgiveness looked like an attempt to molest Esther in the eyes of the King!

Poor Haman! But the end had come for him! He who devised after wickedness had to fall by his own wickedness. He was hung on Mordecai's gallows!

God can really do greater things than we can imagine!

 

𝔼𝕊𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ 𝟠:𝟚

"The king took off his signet ring which he had taken away from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman."

Finally, Mordecai was rewarded. Haman was replaced.

Mordecai was humbled before, now God has exalted him. I remember James 4:10.

If I am making a movie, this will be in disc 2. Disc 1 ended with Haman hanging. The climax is Esther zeroing on wicked Haman.

And disc 2 unfolds in chapter 8. The end of wickedness is over, the triumph of righteousness and the rule of the righteous is on.

 

𝔼𝕊𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ 𝟡:𝟙

"Now in the twelfth month (that is, the month Adar), on the thirteenth day when the king's command and edict were about to be executed, on the day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, it was turned to the contrary so that the Jews themselves gained the mastery over those who hated them."

What a change of fortune! Indeed, God puts the wicked people in the slippery places (Ps. 73:18).

 

𝔼𝕊𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ 𝟙𝟘:𝟛

"For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews and in favor with his many kinsmen, one who sought the good of his people and one who spoke for the welfare of his whole nation."

The last and shortest chapter of Esther. It ended with an account of Mordecai.

Indeed, Esther was nothing without Mordecai, and Mordecai would have been hanged without Esther. However, Mordecai was seen as next to the king, more influential, powerful, and revered than the queen.

Ordinary man, becoming 2nd Rank because of his unwavering faith in God, especially when the trials were at their worst. Like Joseph and Daniel, he withstood, and God was pleased to bless and exalt him!