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Esther 10 - New and Improved

I read something thought provoking today. How can something be New and Improved? If it is new then it cannot be improved since there was nothing before it. If it was improved, then it cannot be new since it has existed before.

I looked up the story of Ether in Flavius Josephus' writings named the Jewish Antiquities. In book 11, chapter 6, is the end of the Esther story. He summarizes it like this.

And Mordecai became a great and illustrious person next to the king and shared with him the royal power, and had the companionship of the queen. So by their means the condition of the Jews was better than they could have ever hoped for. And this was the state of the Jews under the reign of Artaxerxes.

The bible puts it this way.

Esther 10:3 3 Mordecai the Jew was second in rank only to King Xerxes himself. He was honored and well-liked by his fellow Jews. He worked for the good of his people and for the security of all their descendants.

From both readings, I see something that almost resembles this expression, New and Improved. The Jews had been doomed to extinction, since Xerxes kingdom encompassed the known world. Now, the Jews had a new lease of life. Yet this life truly wasn't new life, but it obviously was tremendously improved. They now had two Jews in the highest offices of the land. God truly provides.

Thank You Father that Your mercies are new every morning. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Live the new and improved life! Jan
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Esther 9 - Turn the Tables

In case you haven't noticed, I like to discover the history and reasons behind certain things. I enjoy words and their various etymologies. Today as I read about the March 7th activities, it reminded me of the expression to turn the tables. But where did this come from and what does it mean?

The expression 'to turn the tables' is about 400 years old, and possibly derives from the game of backgammon. In backgammon, formerly called 'tables' in England, the board is usually divided into two 'tables.' One rule of the complicated game allows a player to double the stakes in certain situations and literally turn the tables. Another possibility is that the phrase comes from the old custom of reversing the table or board in chess, which enabled a player at a disadvantage to shift the disadvantage to his opponent." From "Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins" by Robert Hendrickson (Fact on File, New York, 1997)

So the phrase means to switch the opponents' positions. Sounds about right doesn't it?

Esther 9:1-2, 5 So on March 7 the two decrees of the king were put into effect. On that day, the enemies of the Jews had hoped to destroy them, but quite the opposite happened. The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the king's provinces to defend themselves against anyone who might try to harm them. But no one could make a stand against them, for everyone was afraid of them... the Jews went ahead on the appointed day and struck down their enemies with the sword. They killed and annihilated their enemies and did as they pleased with those who hated them.

The Jews obtained a great victory and a new annual celebration, Purim - a day to celebrate their deliverance.

Esther 9:26-28 (That is why this celebration is called Purim, because it is the ancient word for casting lots.) So because of Mordecai's letter and because of what they had experienced, the Jews throughout the realm agreed to inaugurate this tradition and to pass it on to their descendants and to all who became Jews. They declared they would never fail to celebrate these two prescribed days at the appointed time each year. These days would be remembered and kept from generation to generation and celebrated by every family throughout the provinces and cities of the empire. These days would never cease to be celebrated among the Jews, nor would the memory of what happened ever die out among their descendants.

The joy was so great that ever since, Purim, which stood for victory in exile, has been celebrated with community and family parties, masquerades, parodies, (called Purim Shpeils), plays, food baskets, and festive meals.

Purim is celebrated annually on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar. (In cities that were walled in the time of Joshua, including Jerusalem, Purim is celebrated on the 15th of the month, known as Shushan Purim). As with all Jewish holidays, Purim begins at sundown on the previous secular day.

A third century Babylonian teacher named Rava said that on Purim one should drink enough wine until one does not know the difference between arur Haman and baruch Mordechai, 'blessed Mordacai and cursed Haman'.

The Hebrew phrase, Ad-de-lo-yada, until one doesn’t know, was quickly adopted as an important Purim theme, and was the motto for the first official Purim carnival held in 1912 in downtown Tel Aviv. Since then, carnivals and costume parades take place each Purim in cities around the world.

Kind of interesting how Satan can corrupt a holy celebration and turn it into a Bacchanalian fest. Nevertheless, centuries later, the reason for Purim still resounds quite clearly - the Jews were supernaturally sparred annihilation because of God's providence. He provided the right person, in the right place, at the right time.

Thank You Father for the turning of the tables against the enemies of the Jews. Through this process You ensured that the Davidic bloodline would survive and still exist when the time for Your Son came. So that now He could be the right person, in the right place, at the right time, to save not just the Jews, but the entire world. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Celebrate! Jan
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Esther 8 - Sword of Damocles

Today's reading reminded me of the impending doom that all of the Jews must have been feeling. It brought to mind an expression that I'd heard most of my life, but never investigated. It is The Sword of Damocles. So, I looked it up.

Damocles was an excessively flattering courtier (it was his job to flatter the king) in the court of Dionysius I of Syracuse, a 4th Century BC tyrant of Syracuse, Italy. He exclaimed that, as a great man of power and authority, Dionysius was truly fortunate. Dionysius offered to switch places with him for a day, so he could taste first hand that fortune. In the evening a banquet was held, where Damocles very much enjoyed being waited upon like a king. Only at the end of the meal did he look up and notice a sharpened sword hanging by a single piece of horsehair directly above his head. Dionysius explained that the sword overhead represents what life as a ruler is really like. Immediately, Damocles lost all taste for the fine foods and beautiful company and asked leave of the tyrant, saying he no longer wanted to be so fortunate.

Now let's return to our regularly scheduled program, already in progress.

On April 17th Haman's "death warrants" of the Jews were sent to all 127 provinces of king Xerxes. It would have only taken a few days, weeks at most, for the news to have spread to all of Jews living in Xerxes' realm. Their Sword of Damocles was quite visibly now suspended over their heads. Doom was coming, they even knew when - March 7th of the following year. Can you imagine the emotions that must have been going through them? I know that I can't. And even after Esther and Mordecai defeat Haman, the doom is still pending. The king's decree can't be undone.

What I find particularly interesting here is that a period of three months elapses between the time that Haman is defeated, and the new order, in the king's name, giving the Jews the right to defend themselves is issued. They had three months of terror, three months of taunts from their enemies, "Your time is coming., You're going to die., I'm going to kill you..."  They must have felt like all hope was lost.

Then, arriving on the king's fastest horses, especially bred for this purpose, comes the good news.

Esther 8:11 The king's decree gave the Jews in every city authority to unite to defend their lives. They were allowed to kill, slaughter, and annihilate anyone of any nationality or province who might attack them or their children and wives, and to take the property of their enemies.

This is a cause for immense celebration! And celebrate they did.

Esther 8:17 In every city and province, wherever the king's decree arrived, the Jews rejoiced and had a great celebration and declared a public festival and holiday. And many of the people of the land became Jews themselves, for they feared what the Jews might do to them.

The turn of events rattled the general populous so much that many of the people converted to Judaism for fear of reprisal.

It truly is awesome how God can turn what was meant for evil to good.

Thank You Father for Your mercies. In Jesus' name. Amen.

He is our shield. Jan
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Esther 7 - Justice, Wrath and Mercy

Why were the Jews in Xerxes' kingdom in the first place?

It is because God was punishing them for centuries of disobedience and rebellion against Him. They were the recipients of His wrath. He had clearly listed what would happen if they didn't follow His ways, and now they were receiving His justice (requirements of the law). However, His people are finally starting to recognize their sin and are crying out to Him. God's wrath has been satisfied on the generation that was exiled and has suffered. The time of Queen Esther is during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, and soon the Jews will be returning to their homeland. God will now show them great mercy.

Esther 7:3-7 Then Queen Esther answered and said, "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request. For we have been sold, my people and I, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. Had we been sold as male and female slaves, I would have held my tongue, although the enemy could never compensate for the king's loss." So King Ahasuerus answered and said to Queen Esther, "Who is he, and where is he, who would dare presume in his heart to do such a thing?" And Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!" So Haman was terrified before the king and queen.

Then the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden; but Haman stood before Queen Esther, pleading for his life, for he saw that evil was determined against him by the king.

Haman, should have sought wise counsel. He should have overlooked an offense and provided mercy. Since he didn't, he himself received justice and wrath.

Proverbs 19:11 A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

Heavenly Father, please give me the grace to show mercy to those that don't deserve it, because that is what You did for me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Which do you want, justice, wrath or mercy?

I choose mercy. Jan
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Esther 6 - Wise Counsel?

Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counselors they are established.

Proverbs 24:6  For by wise counsel you will make your war: and in multitude of counselors there is safety.

Haman's pride was injured in chapter three. So what did he do?

Esther 3:6 So he decided it was not enough to lay hands on Mordecai alone. Since he had learned that Mordecai was a Jew, he decided to destroy all the Jews throughout the entire empire of Xerxes.

Who did he go to about his plan, from whom did he seek counsel? According to these verses, it looks like he didn't seek guidance from anybody.

Then Haman goes to the king.

Esther 3:8-10 Then Haman approached King Xerxes and said, "There is a certain race of people scattered through all the provinces of your empire. Their laws are different from those of any other nation, and they refuse to obey even the laws of the king. So it is not in the king's interest to let them live. If it please Your Majesty, issue a decree that they be destroyed, and I will give 375 tons of silver to the government administrators so they can put it into the royal treasury." The king agreed, confirming his decision by removing his signet ring from his finger and giving it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite – the enemy of the Jews.

I had never noticed before that Haman never told the king the name of the certain race of people that he intended to wipe out. You have to wonder about the heart of a man that would authorize genocide not even knowing whom he'd condemned. But I think it is clear that the king didn't know Haman's intention to wipe out the Jews. Look at the this verse.

Esther 6:6-10 So Haman came in, and the king said, "What should I do to honor a man who truly pleases me?" Haman thought to himself, "Whom would the king wish to honor more than me?" So he replied, "If the king wishes to honor someone, he should bring out one of the king's own royal robes, as well as the king's own horse with a royal emblem on its head. Instruct one of the king's most noble princes to dress the man in the king's robe and to lead him through the city square on the king's own horse. Have the prince shout as they go, 'This is what happens to those the king wishes to honor!'" "Excellent!" the king said to Haman. "Hurry and get the robe and my horse, and do just as you have said for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the gate of the palace. Do not fail to carry out everything you have suggested."

Xerxes says that he is truly pleased with Mordecai and he knows that Mordecai is a Jew. So, unless the kings is severely retarded or senile, he couldn't have known that just four days earlier he'd sentenced all Jews in his kingdom to extermination. Obviously he'd made a decision without seeking proper counsel. (This might explain why two of his close advisors plotted to murder him, and eventually another of his close advisors succeeded.)

Haman is completely humiliated and terrified at this turn of events. He finally does something that he should have done in the first place - he seeks wise counsel.

Esther 6:13 When Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him, his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him."

"Now you tell me!", Haman must be screaming. "Where was your advice about the Jews five days ago when I signed my death warrant with the king's ring?"

As the proverbs in the beginning of this dBrag state, "In the multitude of counselors there is safety."

Heavenly Father, please give me the wisdom to pause, before making major decisions, to seek Godly counsel. Only then do my plans have any hope of success. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Seek counsel. Jan
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Esther 5 - Pride

The bible does not have this verse in it without good reason.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride precedes a disaster, and an arrogant attitude precedes a fall.

Look at the attitude of Haman regarding himself and about Mordecai.

Esther 5:9-13 What a happy man Haman was as he left the banquet! But when he saw Mordecai sitting at the gate, not standing up or trembling nervously before him, he was furious. However, he restrained himself and went on home.

Then he gathered together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, and boasted to them about his great wealth and his many children. He bragged about the honors the king had given him and how he had been promoted over all the other officials and leaders. Then Haman added, "And that's not all! Queen Esther invited only me and the king himself to the banquet she prepared for us. And she has invited me to dine with her and the king again tomorrow!"

Then he added, "But all this is meaningless as long as I see Mordecai the Jew just sitting there at the palace gate."

This man has just had a private dinner with the King and Queen. So he gathers his friends around him and brags to them about all of his honors, wealth, and favored position in the royal court. And then this fool grouses that he cannot enjoy any of it because one person in the entire kingdom does not fear him.

As Proverbs 16 states, he is headed for a fall. Contrast him with the Apostle Paul in the verse below, and choose the way of contentment.

Philippians 4:11 I'm not saying this because I'm in any need. I've learned to be content in whatever situation I'm in.

Be content. Jan
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Esther 4 - Written in an American school?

Reading this chapter, especially the last part, makes me think that this book was written in an American public school. It is increasingly unpopular to make any reference to God or a divine being in our "secular" society. Esther is the only book of the bible that does not explicitly mention God anywhere. However, look at what is being said and not said in this exchange.

Esther 4:14-17 If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. What's more, who can say but that you have been elevated to the palace for just such a time as this?" Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: "Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I am willing to die." So Mordecai went away and did as Esther told him.

There are a few key unanswered questions in these sentences.

1. Unless there is divine providence, why would deliverance arise from some other place?

2. Who elevated Esther to the palace "for such a time as this"?

3. What is the purpose of the Jews' fasting unless it is also accompanied by prayers to God?

4. Why are Esther and her maids fasting? Is it just to be hungry?

It is clear that the unspoken or unwritten element in each of these questions is God, the Creator of Heaven and of Earth. He is the only one that can change the hearts of kings. He is the only one that knows the end from the beginning and can affect circumstances so that the outcome is what He desires.

Thank You Father that we do live in a country where we are still free to express our opinions and voice our allegiance to You without fear of reprisal. Please grant us boldness to continue to do so, before that right is taken from us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Speak up! Jan
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Esther 3 - Pattern

I see a pattern with King Xerxes. It appears to me that he has trouble making rational decisions when he has been drinking. Look at the facts.

Esther 1:10-11 On the seventh day when the king was drunk on wine, he ordered... to bring Queen Vashti in front of the king, wearing her royal crown. He wanted to show the people, especially the officials, her beauty, because she was very attractive.

After getting drunk, he wants to parade his wife around like a trophy.

Esther 2:18 Then the king held a great banquet (I see drinking going on here) for Esther. He invited all his officials and his advisers. He also declared that day a holiday in the provinces, and he handed out gifts from his royal generosity.

This man loves to show off - pride.

Esther 3:15 The messengers hurried out as the king told them. The decree was also issued at the fortress of Susa. So the king and Haman sat down to drink a toast, but the city of Susa was in turmoil.

The phrase "to drink a toast" (Hebrew = Shathah) can also be translated, "got drunk".

Esther 5:6 And while they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, "Now tell me what you really want. What is your request? I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!"

Esther 7:2 And while they were drinking wine that day, the king again asked her, "Tell me what you want, Queen Esther. What is your request? I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!"

Esther 7:7 Then the king jumped to his feet in a rage and went out into the palace garden...

I will not belabor the point. But the scriptural warning about alcohol consumption are pretty clear.

Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Proverbs 23:29-32 Show me people who drink too much, who have to try out fancy drinks, and I will show you people who are miserable and sorry for themselves, always causing trouble and always complaining. Their eyes are bloodshot, and they have bruises that could have been avoided. Don't let wine tempt you, even though it is rich red, and it sparkles in the cup, and it goes down smoothly. The next morning you will feel as if you had been bitten by a poisonous snake.

There are plenty of other things out there to drink that do not contain alcohol. It is one beverage that is best avoided. Playing with alcohol is like playing with a poisonous snake, you never know when it may strike.

Peace, Jan
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Esther 2 - It's Good To Be King

Musician Tom Petty wrote a song named It's Good To Be King. Part of the lyrics read like this:

It’s good to be king and have your own world
It helps to make friends, it’s good to meet girls
A sweet little queen who can’t run away
It’s good to be king, whatever it pays

Sounds just like someone that I've been reading about today.

Esther 2:2,4 So his attendants suggested, "Let us search the empire to find beautiful young virgins for the king. ...the young woman who pleases you most will be made queen instead of Vashti." This advice was very appealing to the king, so he put the plan into effect immediately.

Tough decision. Here is a pagan man (the king), obviously not above noticing a woman's beauty, who's advisors are telling him to hold a beauty pageant where he gets to sleep with all of the contestants! If he doesn't like them, he nor anyone else will ever see them again.

If you think I'm making this up, look at these verses.

Esther 2:12a Before each young woman was taken to the king's bed...

Esther 2:14 That evening she was taken to the king's private rooms, and the next morning she was brought to the second harem, where the king's wives lived... She would live there for the rest of her life, never going to the king again unless he had especially enjoyed her and requested her by name.

So Esther's turn comes and she wins the pageant. King Xerxes finds delight in her. He throws a party in her honor and makes her Queen. However, Xerxes the profligate still samples the rest of the wares.

Esther 2:19 Even after all the young women had been transferred to the second harem...

Look at verse fourteen again, how did the young women earn their transfer to the second harem? By becoming one of the king's wives - lecher!

In 465 he was murdered by his vizier Artabanus. His reign lasted less than twenty years. Funny how those that live lives of excess tend to die quickly.

I think the following verses are appropriate at this juncture.

Psalm 37:16 It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and possess much.

Proverbs 15:16 It is better to have little with fear for the LORD than to have great treasure with turmoil.

It guess that is better to be content, than to be king.

Thank You Father for the little that I do have. Thank You that my bride is truly a blessing and a joy to me - all the woman that I would ever need. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Be satisfied with what you have. Jan
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Esther 1 - The Law

King Xerxes, in the book of Esther, is the ruler of pretty much everything. This is not a person you want to tick off. Yet Vashti, his wife, the Queen, does. The circumstance, albeit unfair, was immaterial she was his subject and should have obeyed.

Esther 1:12 But when they conveyed the king's order to Queen Vashti, she refused to come. This made the king furious, and he burned with anger.

An interesting thing happens in the few sentences. The king shows that he, even though he is the king, is bound by the law.

Esther 1:13,15 He immediately consulted with his advisers, who knew all the Persian laws and customs, for he always asked their advice... "What must be done to Queen Vashti?" the king demanded. "What penalty does the law provide for a queen who refuses to obey the king's orders, properly sent through his eunuchs?"

In this passage I notice a parallel to God - the Ruler of everything. God is bound by His laws and the published attributes of His character. He cannot act contrary to this. It is strange to think of God having limitations, but He does. He cannot sin, He cannot do evil, He cannot tolerate it. That was very bad news for us. Just like Queen Vashti, we had angered our King - God. We broke His laws. We did things that displeased and angered Him. The law provided for a penalty for Queen Vashti. For us however God's law demanded a penalty, and that penalty was death. We were condemned, without hope. Thankfully one came who was able to pay our penalty - one who had no sin of His own.

1 John 3:16a We know what real love is because Christ gave up his life for us.

Thank You Father that Jesus was willing to do for us what we couldn't do. Thank you that He voluntarily paid the penalty demanded by my sins. In Jesus' name, Amen.

He loves you. Jan
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