Today's lesson comes from Esther 8:7-17. A few things have happened since last Sunday's lesson and today. They can be summarized as follows:
1. With prayer and fasting, Esther risked her life to go before the king and he held out the golden scepter to Esther, thus saving her life.
2. Esther requests that the king and Haman attend a banquet she has prepared.
3. Haman's wife suggests to him to build a gallows to hang Mordecai.
4. The king has a problem sleeping and as a result, he has the records of the kingdom read to him. He learns that Mordecai had exposed a plot to assassinate the king but Mordecai was never honored for his actions.
5. Haman is ordered to parade Mordecai through the city in royal apparel. Haman is humiliated.
6. Esther has a second banquet and exposes the plot of Haman to kill all the Jews.
7. Haman is executed and the king gives all his possessions to Esther. Mordecai is promoted to prime minister.
Only one problem remained, the decree previously given to murder the Jews.
The first section is "Write to the Jews." vv. 7,8 The original decree could not be rescinded. The Persians believed that their rulers were godlike and could foresee the future and the consequences of their decrees. Therefore, it would never be necessary to change a decree once made. This demonstrates the pride of the Persians and their folly. The king sees only one way out. He must issue a new decree. The king tells Mordecai to write to the Jews "as it liketh you." Since Mordecai has the kin's seal, a new decree can be issued to counter the first decree.
The summary points of this section:
1. No human has the ability to know the future except as it has been given him by the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Pride leads to destruction.
3. Only God knows the beginning from the end.
The second section is "Stand for Your Lives." vv. 9-14 The king summons his scribes and a new decree is written. It contained the following four parts:
1. The Jews have the right to assemble together.
2. Jews could arm themselves and "stand for their life."
3. Jews could kill anyone who opposed them.
4. Jews could take the spoil of their enemies as a prize.
The new decree would be dispatched with the fastest means of transportation. No time was to be lost. This decree was written two months after the first decree so the Jews had nine months to prepare.
The summary points of this sections:
1. Sometimes you have to be prepared for a fight.
2. We should never delay in giving good news, especially the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. God still rules in the affairs of men and nations.
The third section is "Joy and Gladness." vv. 15-17 After the decree for the Jews to be able to defend themselves, Mordecai is seen in the capitol. He is no longer in sackcloth and ashes, he is arrayed in royal robes. He is the new prime minister of Persia. The city "rejoiced and was glad." When the righteous are in authority the people rejoice. When evil people are in charge, the people mourn. As a result of the decree the following occurred:
1. Many of the people converted to Judaism because they saw God was with the Jews.
2. No one could stand against the Jews: 75000 enemies of the Jews were slain.
3. In Shushan, 810 were slain including the sons of Haman.
4. Mordecai decrees that the 14th and 15th of the 12th month were to be set aside as days of celebration. It is called "The Feast of Purim."
Today, on Purim the tradition is that Jews are to become so intoxicated that they cannot tell the difference between the righteousness of Mordecai and the evil of Haman. Now, that is drunk!
The summary points of this section are:
1. After mourning and seeking God, He will deliver His children.
2. God will ever preserve His people.
3. When adversity comes, we should respond in prayer. That is our first and best response.
The Golden Text is: "The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour." (Esther 8:16)
Life is full of battles and conflicts. However, if we face those problems with prayer and confidence in God, we shall have the victory. This is not a guarantee of a "Disney ending," but rather the promise that God will preserve us and give us the victory. We are to keep faith in God. He will never fail us. He will bring us through the adversity.
Next week: "Ezra's Return." (Ezra 7: 6-11; 7: 23-28)
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