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!
II. A Day of Intercession (3-6) – Esther knew the decree remained in effect and she had to act if the Jews were to be spared indiscriminate death. She again interceded for them. Notice:
A. The Appeal (3) – And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. Knowing the dire consequences of the decree, Esther makes an impassioned plea for the Jews at the feet of the king. She falls at his feet, weeping for the salvation of her people.
I still remember the day that I fell at the feet of the Lord, weeping over my lost condition while crying out for salvation. Apart from His grace and favor, I knew death was certain for me. Like Esther, we need to share a burden for those who remain apart from Christ, lost in sin. We need to come broken before the Lord, praying for their salvation and guidance as we seek to share the Gospel with them.
B. The Assurance (4) – Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king. Esther gained the favor of Ahasuerus, and as before he extended the golden scepter, offering assurance of his willingness to grant her request. Having been granted permission to speak, Esther rose and stood before the king.
We have discussed this before, and yet I remain thankful for the assurance we have in Christ. We can approach the throne of grace at any time for any need, knowing the Lord will hear and respond to our plea!
C. The Analysis (5) – And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be 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 which are in all the king's provinces. This was the request Esther desired to make at the meeting with the king and Haman. Calling upon his compassion for her and the favor she had received, Esther requested that the decree to destroy the Jews be reversed. She pled for the life of her people before the king.
While it is debatable whether Ahasuerus was aware of Esther’s connection with the Jews prior to this day, he is now fully aware of her need and desperation. She has disclosed the details of her life and offered her request. Our Lord is not limited in wisdom or knowledge. He knows us better than we know ourselves, and yet He desires us to make our requests known unto Him. He wants us to bring our needs before Him in prayer.
D. The Anguish (6) – For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred? Esther reveals the desperation of her heart. She cannot bear to see such evil and destruction come upon her people. She is pleading with the king to reverse the decree and spare the Jews.
We live in a physical body and are often deeply moved by the physical needs and suffering of others. Surely we should be willing to do all we can to minimize and alleviate undue suffering. However I was convicted as I read this verse. Esther offered an impassioned plea to save her people from destruction. We all know those who are unsaved and will spend a Christ-less eternity apart from salvation. We are easily moved by physical needs, but often are untouched by the great spiritual needs of our day. In reality, the physical needs are minor compared to the eternity that is decided by one’s spiritual condition. I pray we develop a burden for the unsaved.
III. A Day of Alteration (7-8) – Upon hearing Esther’s request, the king offered a solution. Notice:
A. The Confirmation (7) – Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. Ahasuerus publicly declared that Esther and Mordecai had received the house of Haman and all his assets. He was hanged on the gallows for laying his hands upon Esther in an unfavorable way, and by doing so was guilty of laying his hands on all the Jews within the province. The king revealed the wickedness of Haman and how his evil desires influenced his life. There would be no question regarding the charges that were brought against Haman. His execution was explained for all to hear.
The enemy continues to work against the children of God. He does all within his power to hinder, defeat, and destroy. He knows his time is limited and he is feverously working in our day to deceive as many as possible. His efforts will prove futile in the end. While he has deceived many, and contributed to their eternal death, the Lord will have the final word. Satan will eventually be bound and cast into the lake of fire for eternity. His works of death and destruction will come to an end as he suffers apart from God in torment.
B. The Certification (8) – Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh 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 no man reverse. According to Persian law, once a king’s decree was written and sealed with the king’s ring, it could not be altered or reversed. The decree had to be carried out unless a new law was written to counter the old law. Ahasuerus knew that and he authorized Esther and Mordecai to write a new law, as it pleased them, to counter the law motivated by Haman. Once it was written and sealed, this new law would supersede the old law. Esther’s request was fully granted and she now had the authority to write a new decree that would spare the Jews within the kingdom.
The saved by grace enjoy comfort in the sovereign authority of our Lord and Savior. His Word is eternal and sure. It will never be challenged or changed. Men may choose to deny and reject it, but His Word will stand. We have no fear of anyone or anything altering the precious promises and provision we have in Christ. If you are saved by grace, you are secure in the Lord. His Word has declared that truth and it will never change! I have no worries of anyone ever writing a law or performing an action that will supersede the promises of my Lord.
Conclusion: While things looked desperate and hopeless for Esther and Mordecai at times, they were never forsaken. God was always at work, and His plans were always fulfilled according to His desire. We too can take comfort in that same truth. Our Lord never changes. There is hope and security in Christ. We can’t control what we must face in life, but we serve One who has all power and authority. If you are struggling and afraid, look to Jesus. If you are unsaved, respond to His call for salvation with a repentant heart and be saved today.
