Esther 8:1-17 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Esther 8:1-17. Let’s go!
Esther 8:8 (NIV)
8 “Now write another decree in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring–for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.”
On verses 1-13: Now with Haman dead, Esther once again pleads with King Xerxes to do something to save the Jews from annihilation. But according to the law of the Persians and Medes, any edict sealed with the king’s signet ring could not be revoked. Unable to overturn the edict he had previously sealed to have the Jews annihilated, King Xerxes does the next best thing: he gives Mordecai his signet ring to approve any law Mordecai wants to counteract the first edict (v8). So Mordecai uses King Xerxes’ signet ring to seal a new edict that allows the Jews to assemble and defend themselves, to annihilate any armed force that might attack them, and to plunder their property.
What can we learn from this? Just as there was a law that stood against the Jews in Susa and which called for their destruction, there is an edict that says, “The wages of sin is death”. That is, we sinners are to die (that is, be separated eternally from God’s presence) as consequence for our sin. To counteract this, God issued another edict, which is that anyone who trusts in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross will be forgiven and saved. To this day both of these edicts are still in effect. God uses one to counteract the other. As Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Esther 8:15-17 (NIV)
15 Mordecai left the king’s presence wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration.
16 For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor.
17 In every province and in every city, wherever the edict of the king went, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating…
On verses 15-17a: After assisting the king to issue a new edict to counteract the old edict, Mordecai leaves the king’s presence clothed in royal robes and goes on to celebrate and rejoice with His people. What can we learn from this? At first Mordecai wept bitterly while wearing sackcloth and ashes (Esther 4:1). Ultimately, however, because God was with Mordecai and Mordecai never gave up, Mordecai would end up joyfully reaping while wearing royal robes (Esther 8:15). Similarly, when Jesus first came to earth, He came as a suffering servant. But the next time we see him He will appear as king of kings. God is an expert at turning our mourning into dancing, our sorrow into joy. So if you are working hard in the Lord and finding that it is painful, sowing work, don’t give up. As Psalm 126:5 says, “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy”.
Esther 8:17b (NIV)
17 …And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.
On verse 17b: Now we see possibly one big reason God allowed the Jews in Susa to go through such scary and difficult times: it was so that ultimately others who didn’t know the Lord would come to know the Lord as well. Similarly, one reason God allows pain in your life is not because he is cruel or does not care, but because He is going to use your story to display His power and to lead others to Himself.
Heavenly Father, thank You that when there was nothing I could do to get away from the law of sin and death, You set me free and counteracted that law by sending Jesus Christ to be my Saviour. Thank You also that the reason You allow us to experience pain is not because You’re not there or You don’t care. Rather it’s because You want to display Your power through our weakness and to use our story to lead others to You. So in times when I sow in tears, may I hang onto You and never give up so that in the end I will reap in joy. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
