The enemy Haman has been removed. The King’s anger subsided. Mordecai has gotten his recognition, but the problem remains.
• The removal of Haman is not the end of the problem for the Jews. There’s still an unfinished task. The first edict of the King issued through Haman still stands.
• The empire has been informed. The Jews could be exterminated on the 13th day of the 12th month. Let’s read Esther 8:1-17.
We see a great reversal. On a personal level, everything that Haman had wanted was reversed.
• He wanted Mordecai to be hanged on the gallows but he was impaled on it instead.
• He craved for honour and glory for himself, but these were given to Mordecai eventually.
• He wanted to confiscate the Jews’ property (3:13) but had his own confiscated instead, and given to Esther, and with Mordecai now overseeing his estate.
• The King’s signet ring, which was in Haman’s possession, was now handed over to Mordecai.
• All the power that Haman had, was now in the hands of Mordecai. He was promoted and given the King’s signet ring.
The reversal was not only on a personal level but national level, for the people of God.
• The first edict to exterminate the Jews (issued in 3:13 by Haman) was left standing.
• According to the laws of the Medes and Persians, no decree or edict issued by the King can be revoked or changed.
• The King mentioned it in 8:8. We read also in 1:19 that no royal decree written in the laws of Persia and Media can be repealed. We see that also in Daniel 6:15.
Esther has to step into the King’s presence and resolve this, and she did so, again without an invitation from the King.
• But the tables have already been turned. All that has happened up to this point has given the King a renewed admiration for the Jewish people, by the providence of God.
• The King granted Esther favour and extended the gold sceptre to her.
Esther’s request was simple - a new decree has to be issued that would counter the first decree - in order to save her people and her family.
• Since the first could not be repealed, the second would have to give her people the right to fight and defend themselves.
• The King was glad to do that and ordered Mordecai to draft and issue it.
8:9 says the second edict was issued in the third month (Sivan), which mean the Jews throughout the empire have 9 months to prepare themselves for their defence.
• The extermination of the Jews was set on the 13th day of the 12th month (Adar).
• This is the new edict - 8:11-13 11The king's edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate any armed force of any nationality or province that might attack them and their women and children; and to plunder the property of their enemies. 12The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar. 13A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
The edict sounded faintly similar to the first one given by Haman in 3:13-14 but with marked differences. This is important.
Mordecai is not Haman; the Jews will not behave like evil men. This is not going to be a reckless massacre.
Both edicts were written in the script of each province and language of each people, given out to all the 127 provinces across the empire.
• But the second one has this line – 8:9c “and also to the Jews in their own script and language.” The first one was not given to them, for obvious reason.
• The new one was given to all nationalities PLUS the Jews. To all the nationalities as a warning to them, and to the Jews for their preparation to fight.
And notice another marked difference.
• 8:11 “The king's edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate any armed force of any nationality or province that might attack them and their women and children; and to plunder the property of their enemies.”
• It is not to be a rampage or a massacre like the one Haman envisaged. That’s the behaviour of evil men, not the people of God.
The Jews will fight ONLY against those who attack them, their enemies. They will fight only for self-defence.
• This right to fight granted by the King is important. It gives the Jews the authority, and therefore the courage, to do what is right and lawful.
• They are not taking things into their own hands. They fight with the authority given by the King. That’s the providence of God.
And they are going to do this in one day – the 13th day of the 12th month. It can only take place within a 24-hour window.
• And that is why, when Esther noted that they needed more time to clean up the enemies in the city of Susa, she asked the King for permission.
• 9:13 “If it pleases the King, give the Jews in Susa permission to carry out this day’s edict tomorrow also…” The King issued another edict in Susa.
• Clearly the people of God do not behave like evil men. They are law-abiding, they respect authority, and do not resort to reckless violence.
• And next chapter that they did not even want to lay their hands on the plunder (mentioned 3 times), although they have the right to. That’s being merciful.
All the other nationalities were informed and warned, with the edict written in their own respective languages.
• It was a deterrence and it worked! 8:17b “And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.”
Noticed everything has been reversed. The author wanted us to see that.
• When the first edict went out, the city of Susa was bewildered (3:15), ESV “was thrown into confusion”. The Jews went into a time of great mourning and weeping.
• When the second edict went out, the city of Susa held a joyous celebration (8:15), ESV “the city shouted and rejoiced”.
• 8:16 “For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honour.”
Even Mordecai’s dressing was noted.
• 4:1 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.
• 8:15 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.
• Not only was he holding the position and status of Haman, Mordecai received the honour and glory that Haman craved for.
• And he got them without seeking for them. He was exalted to the position by the grace of God. God gives grace and lifts up the humble.
This great reversal was accomplished by God for His people.
• And it was not a reversal to where they were before. It was not even a return to pre-Haman’s time. God lifted them up to greater heights.
• Esther now owned Haman’s estate. Mordecai received the King’s signet ring and gained his trust. They both held the highest positions in the Persian Empire, after the King.
And the King has a new appreciation for the Jews.
• Esther declared her identity boldly, 8:6 “For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?”
• There was no need to hide, which was the case in chapter 2. She has to hide her family background and nationality while in the Persian court (2:10, 2:20).
And the author concluded this great reversal with a comment - 8:17b “And many people of other nationalities became Jews because of fear of the Jews had seized them.”
• I don’t think it’s as simple as, “Oh, I am afraid of you, so I join you.” It’s more like the fear of Israel coming upon the nations.
• It was like the fear that Rahab expressed when was forced to hide two Jewish spies in her home in Jericho.
• Josh 2:8-11 “Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, "I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.”
The nations began to see that the God of Israel at work among His people.
• This was Israel’s calling, to be a witness for Jehovah God among the nations.
• The fear of Israel (and of their God) came upon the people.
But again, there would be those who hated them and were determined to kill them on the 13th of the 12 month (Adar).
• Two opposing edicts at play on the same day! Well, that’s for next week.
Let me close with this thought. God did a great reversal for the Jewish remnant.
• The Lord turned the tables against the evil one and brought hope and deliverance for His people. We are reminded of our own salvation in Christ.
• God did a great reversal for us too. We were heading towards death because of our sin and God stepped in to save us.
• God did not set aside the law of sin and death. He did not ignore our sin, pretend that it’s not there, or set it aside as if we did not sin. The soul who sins will die (Ezek 18:20).
• God sent His Son Jesus and introduced a new law – the law that would enable us to overcome the first law and find freedom and deliverance.
Rom 8:1-4 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.”
• God did not nullify the first. It has to stand.
• But through Jesus, He introduced the new law of the Spirit of life that would free us from the law of sin and death.
Instead of facing certain death (and eternal separation from God), we are delivered and given the hope of eternal life with God.
• So like the Jewish remnant, we must celebrate with joy. It’s a time of “happiness and joy, gladness and honour.” (8:16).
• There is always hope in God. No matter how bad our circumstances, we look up to Him and trust Him to show us the way.
Let us pray.
