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Esther 6-10
The Invisible Hand
Helps His People
Psalm 69:1-21 Delivered From Deep Trouble
1.“Save me, God, for the waters have come up to my neck!2.I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.3.I am weary with my crying. My throat is dry. My eyes fail, looking for my God.4.Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. Those who want to cut me off, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty. I have to restore what I didn’t take away.5.God, you know my foolishness. My sins aren’t hidden from you.6.Don’t let those who wait for you be shamed through me, Lord Yahweh of Armies. Don’t let those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, God of Israel.7.Because for your sake, I have borne reproach/scorn. Shame has covered my face.8.I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother’s children.9.For the zeal of your house consumes me. The reproach/scornes/scorn of those who reproach/scorn you have fallen on me.10.When I wept and I fasted, that was to my reproach/scorn.11.When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.12.Those who sit in the gate talk about me. I am the song of the drunkards.13.But as for me, my prayer is to you, Yahweh, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your hesed/loyal love, answer me in the faithfulness of your salvation.14.Deliver me out of the mire, and don’t let me sink. Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters.15.Don’t let the flood waters overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up. Don’t let the pit shut its mouth on me.16.Answer me, Yahweh, for your hesed/loyal love is good. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, turn to me.17.Don’t hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me speedily!18.Draw near to my soul, and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies.19.You know my reproach/scorn, my shame, and my dishonor. My adversaries are all before you.20.reproach/scorn has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; for comforters, but I found none.21.They also gave me gall for my food. In my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink...”
Observations
69:1-4.God's choice servant, David, is once again under attack, both because of his relationship with God and because he is not altogether blameless. In the NT this psalm also describes a zealous but totally blameless servant of God in similar circumstances.
69:5-6.
David confesses his folly and sin, and is concerned that if God doesn't answer his prayer, others who hope in God will be discouraged from trusting Him. Not many folks have that other-centered perspective on their sin.
69:7-12.
David suffers for his loyalty to God – best kind of suffering on the planet.
69:13-21.
On the basis of God's mercy and covenantal loyalty to him, David continues to plead for God's protection, because there is no help from anyone else. The rest of the Psalm describes God's gracious provision and David's praise.
Application
Even when in deep trouble because of both our sin and others' oppression, we can confidently call to the God who is loyal to those who are loyal to Him.
Prayer
God who answers prayer, pities, comforts and protects His servants, help! I only have You to rescue me. Amen.
Proverbs 18:6-8 Watch Your Mouth
6."A fool's lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.7.A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.8.The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person's innermost parts."Observation
18:6-8.A fool's mouth causes more pain than his feet. Earlier in 18:2 it was revealed that a fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion. The wiser and less painful course of action would be to seek to understand rather than speak, and only speak what is beneficial to others (like the flowing brook of 18:4).
Application
As James 1:19 teaches: be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.
Prayer
Lord, set a guard over my lips so I only speak what You want me to speak. Amen.
Esther 6-10 The Invisible Hand Helps His People
The salvation of the Jews hangs on such seemingly insignificant events as the sleepless night of the king, and an overheard conversation. God orchestrates the events, through the risky obedience of Esther and persuasive counsel of Mordecai, to turn the problem into prosperity, punishing the wicked, and prospering His people. In the process, people from all nations come to trust in Him, which was His original plan in calling Abraham.Esther 6 Inspired Insomnia
1."On that night, the king couldn’t sleep. He commanded the book of records of the chronicles to be brought, and they were read to the king.2.It was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who were doorkeepers, who had tried to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus.3.The king said, "What honor and dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?" Then the king’s servants who attended him said, "Nothing has been done for him."4.The king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had come into the outer court of the king’s house, to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.5.The king’s servants said to him, "Behold, Haman stands in the court." The king said, "Let him come in."6.So Haman came in. The king said to him, "What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?" Now Haman said in his heart, "Who would the king delight to honor more than myself?"7.Haman said to the king, "For the man whom the king delights to honor,8.let royal clothing be brought which the king uses to wear, and the horse that the king rides on, and on the head of which a crown royal is set.9.Let the clothing and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man whom the king delights to honor with them, and have him ride on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!’"10.Then the king said to Haman, "Hurry and take the clothing and the horse, as you have said, and do this for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Let nothing fail of all that you have spoken."11.Then Haman took the clothing and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and had him ride through the city square, and proclaimed before him, "Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!"
12.Mordecai came back to the king’s gate, but Haman hurried to his house, mourning and having his head covered.13.Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him, but you will surely fall before him."14.While they were yet talking with him, the king’s eunuchs came, and hurried to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared."
Observations
6:1-3.This first verse is the center of the book, chiastically and theologically. At the end of the last chapter, Haman, number three in the world, had determined Mordecai's death for the next day. He just needed the king's OK. In the providence of God, the king can't sleep and requests the chronicles to be read to him. The passage read is that of Mordecai saving the king's life. What a lucky coincidence! Note that Mordecai didn't get recognized nor rewarded, nor bitter.
6:4-11.
In an ironic twist of fate, poetic justice is done, as Haman has to honor Mordecai, the man he wanted to murder.
6:12-14.
Haman's wife and wise men add to his woes by predicting that because Mordecai is Jewish, Haman won't prevail, but will perish (foreshadowing the rest of the book).
Application
God providentially protects His people, even when they are not aware of His presence and the particulars.
Prayer
God, thanks that You are in control, and can turn problems into prosperity for Your people. Amen.
Esther 7 Executive Pardon and Punishment
1."So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.2.The king said again to Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, "What is your petition, queen Esther? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed."3.Then Esther the queen answered, "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request.4.For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondservants and bondmaids, I would have held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king’s loss."5.Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen, "Who is he, and where is he who dared presume in his heart to do so?"6.Esther said, "An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman!" Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.7.The king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden. Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.8.Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman had fallen on the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, "Will he even assault the queen in front of me in the house?" As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.9.Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs who were with the king said, "Behold, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman has made for Mordecai, who spoke good for the king, is standing at Haman’s house." The king said, "Hang him on it!"10.So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath was pacified."
Observations
7:1-6.At the second banquet, Esther begs the king for her life and that of her people, to escape the plot of wicked Haman. The king's response/question in verse 5 has an acrostic of God's name as revealed to Moses (Exodus 3:14) when Pharaoh was seeking to destroy the nation, “I AM.” Verse 7 contains the fourth acrostic of the name Yahweh. See Bullinger's Appendix #60 in the Companion Bible.
7:7-10.
Haman has the ill fortune to fall on the queen while begging for his life, and seals his fate in the eyes of the king. Harbonah helpfully notes that Haman had conveniently constructed a gallows for Mordecai, who had saved the king's life. So not only has Haman had to honor his enemy, but endure the fate he had planned for Mordecai.
Application
God specializes in reversal of fortune, exalting the righteous and destroying the wicked.
Prayer
God of justice and might, nothing is too difficult for You. You can change or reverse any difficulty in my life, creatively and decisively. Thanks that I can totally trust You. Amen.
Esther 8 Reversal of Fortune
1."On that day, King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, the Jews’ enemy, to Esther the queen. Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was to her.2.The king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.3.Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and begged him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.4.Then the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre. So Esther arose, and stood before the king.5.She said, "If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seem right to the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces.6.For how can I endure to see the evil that would come to my people? How can I endure to see the destruction of my relatives?"7.Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, "See, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged on the gallows, because he laid his hand on the Jews.8.Write also to the Jews, as it pleases you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring; for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may not be reversed by any man."9.Then the king’s scribes were called... and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India to Ethiopia...10.He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by courier on horseback, riding on royal horses that were bread from swift steeds.11.In those letters, the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together, and to defend their life, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to plunder their possessions,12.on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.13.A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that the Jews should be ready for that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.14.So the couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. The decree was given out in the citadel of Susa.
15.Mordecai went out of the presence of the king in royal clothing of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple; and the city of Susa shouted and was glad.16.The Jews had light, gladness, joy, and honor.17.In every province, and in every city, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness, joy, a feast, and a good day. Many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews was fallen on them."
Observations
8:1-2.Mordecai is given Haman's house and position. God honored him for his defense of His people, in persuading Esther to intervene.
8:3-14.
Esther again begs the king to reverse the murderous scheme of Haman, and he grants the Jews the right to defend themselves and destroy those who would attack them. Mordecai writes the decree just as Haman did.
8:15-17.
Mordecai joins the ranks of Joseph, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel in being blessed by God in the service of a foreign king. Through this event, many peoples of the land became Jews. In the providence of God, through the working of His invisible hand, the Jews were accomplishing their intended purpose of drawing people to Yahweh, in spite of their captivity. It would have been more pleasant for them to have served their purpose by triumphing in the land of milk and honey, but God gave them the choice of obeying or not.
Application
The God who can raise up children of Abraham from stones (Matthew 3:9) is able to fulfill His plan to bless through any means, but would prefer to use the obedience of His people.
Prayer
God, I'd like to fulfill Your purposes for me by obediently serving You in freedom, rather than by being rescued from discipline, if it's all the same to You. Amen.
Esther 9 Remembering Our Victories
1."Now in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the month, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to conquer them, (but it was turned out the opposite happened, that the Jews conquered those who hated them),2.the Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus, to lay hands on those who wanted to harm them. No one could withstand them, because the fear of them had fallen on all the people.3.All the princes of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and those who did the king’s business helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them.4.For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai grew greater and greater.5.The Jews struck all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and with slaughter and destruction, and did what they wanted to those who hated them.7.They killed...10.the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jew’s enemy, but they didn't lay their hand on the plunder.11.On that day, the number of those who were slain in the citadel of Susa was brought before the king.12.The king said to Esther the queen, "The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in the citadel of Susa, including the ten sons of Haman; what then have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces! Now what is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your further request? It shall be done."13.Then Esther said, "If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according to this day’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged on the gallows."14.The king commanded this to be done. A decree was given out in Shushan; and they hanged Haman’s ten sons.15.The Jews who were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and killed three hundred men in Shushan; but they didn’t lay their hand on the spoil.16.The other Jews who were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, defended their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of those who hated them; but they didn't lay their hand on the plunder.
20.Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both near and far,21.to enjoin them that they should keep the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month Adar yearly,22.as the days in which the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned to them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending presents of food to one another, and gifts to the needy.23.The Jews accepted the custom that they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them;24.because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast "Pur," that is the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;25.but when this became known to the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, 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.26.Therefore they called these days "Purim," from the word "Pur." Therefore because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and that which had come to them,27.the Jews established, and imposed on themselves, and on their descendants, and on all those who joined themselves to them, so that it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to what was written, and according to its appointed time, every year;28.and that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor their memory perish from their seed.32.The commandment of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book."
Observations
9:1-5.The fear of the Jews and Mordecai cause the officials to help the Jews who struck and destroyed all who hated them.
9:6-19.
Esther is granted yet another request, that the slaughtered sons of Haman be hung on the gallows as an example. The Jews killed 75,000 of their enemies, yet the text stresses they took none of the plunder, to show that greed wasn't motivating them. Interestingly Saul lost the kingship by taking the plunder of the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15).
9:20-32.
Mordecai and Esther institute the Feast of Purim as a reminder of the historic event.
Esther 10 Seek Good, Become Great
1."King Ahasuerus laid a tribute on the land, and on the islands of the sea.2.All the acts of his power and of his might, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?3.For Mordecai the Jew was next to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted by the multitude of his brothers, seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to all his descendants."Observation
10:1-3.The book ends with an emphasis on the greatness of Mordecai, because he sought the good of God's people.
Application
It's good to seek the good of God's people, and to remember how God has given us victories over sin and enemies.
Prayer
God, You are totally in control of the events and circumstances of my life in ways I may never grasp; but help me keep focused on being loyal to You, since You will be so loyal to me and Your promised purposes. Thanks. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God works through the seemingly insignificant details, like sleepless kings, and obedient nieces, in working out His vital and crucial purposes. He is committed to using Israel to fulfill His plan to bless the entire world, as covenanted to Abraham. He sometimes uses unbelieving governmental authorities to protect and exalt His people. He will never forsake the nation as a whole, but will let select individuals and generations reap the consequences of their actions. He can easily execute justice in turning problems into prosperity, and exalts those who seek the welfare of His people.Us in a nutshell: When we are committed to advancing God's agenda, we will encounter scary opposition, but can expect God to save us. In a day, we can go from the gallows to glory (and the other way around), reaping the consequences of our previous actions. While other people might not recognize nor appreciate what we do, God does, and will always bless righteousness (though sometimes not until the future). We need to do our job (seek, trust and obey God) in order to experience the full benefit of His workings.