A New Day Dawning Series

A New Day Dawning

Esther 8: 1-8

Take a moment to consider the range of emotion Esther and Mordecai have experienced up to this point in their lives. They were living with the other Jews, captive in Persia. Life may not have been terrible, but they were not free citizens of the kingdom. Esther is then elevated as queen of the Kingdom and Mordecai provides information that saves the king’s life. It appears their situation had begun to change for the better, but that sense of jubilation was short lived. Haman is promoted to second in command and convinces the king to sign a decree calling for the complete annihilation of the Jews within the kingdom. In desperation they resolve to fast and pray before Esther intercedes before the king. She is granted a meeting with the king and Haman to discuss the implications of this decree. That night Ahasuerus is unable sleep and calls for the books of the chronicles to be read. It is then revealed that Mordecai had not been rewarded for his good deed in ultimately saving the king’s life. Haman is instructed to honor Mordecai before all the residents of Shushan. Knowing his plans are now working against him, Haman pleads his case in an unusual way before Esther. Enraged by his forwardness, Ahasuerus calls for Haman to be hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.

That is where we pick up in the text today. Things certainly have changed in a short amount of time, but Esther and Mordecai know the Jews remain in a perilous situation. The decree could not be altered and the deadline is now only nine months away. God had been faithful thus far, and He will continue to work for the good of His people. I want to discuss the phases of this fateful day as we consider: A New Day Dawning.

I. A Day of Promotion (1-2) – Following the demise of Haman, things quickly changed in favor of Esther and Mordecai. Notice:

A. The Presentation (1a) – On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. It was customary in Persia for the property and assets of condemned criminals to become the property of the king following their execution. Ahasuerus gave all Haman had acquired to Esther the queen. It is apparent that Haman was a wealthy man, being willing to offer 10,000 talents of silver to accomplish his evil plans. He would have possessed many servants and others to attend unto him. All of this became the property of Esther.

God will care for His own, and He even uses unlikely sources to accomplish His divine will. While we are not promised vast estates and great wealth, we can rest in the provision of Christ in our lives. We are purchased by His shed blood on Calvary. We are placed in the body of Christ, made partakers in the divine inheritance. There is great peace and provision in the Lord.

B. The Recognition (1b) – And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her. Mordecai was called to come before the king. Esther had revealed unto Ahasuerus that Mordecai was her cousin and adoptive father. We have wondered how Ahasuerus could not have known this prior to the decree being signed, but it is apparent that he now knows of the relationship Mordecai had with Esther. He was recognized for his relationship with the queen.

Mordecai was already favored for the good deed in helping save the king’s life, but this only added to his favor and acceptance. While we had no goodness to claim, in and of ourselves, we too have been accepted of God because of our relationship with Christ through salvation. Having that personal relationship with Christ guarantees favor and acceptance of the Father!

C. The Elevation (2) – And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman. Through his faithfulness and the divine favor of God, Mordecai was elevated to a position of authority and prominence. He received the signet ring of Ahasuerus which gave him official authority within the kingdom. He was set over the house of Haman and all the wealth and provision it afforded. He went from sitting at the king’s gate to a position of rank and authority within the king’s court.

Bear in mind, Mordecai’s position and rank were based on the authority and pleasure of the king. He had no power apart from that which the king provided. All that we have and possess comes from the good hand of our Lord, according to His good pleasure and divine will. Apart from Him we have nothing of lasting value. He is the source of our salvation, life, and hope!