Esther 7 & 8: Stand For Their Life
Verse of the Day: (8:11) Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,
1. Sold (7:1-10)
For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage. (7:4)
Finally, Queen Esther revealed to King Ahasuerus that she was a Jew, and that Haman had abused his authority to command the massacre of the entire Jewish race. Haman realised that his life was in danger as he did not know that Esther was a Jew, and what he did amounted to the murder of the Queen which was a capital punishment. While the king walked out of the palace as he was furious with Haman, the latter begged Esther to spare his life. When the king returned, he thought that Haman was trying to harm Esther, and he immediately ordered his men to arrest and then hang him on the gallows that Haman had prepared for Mordecai. Let us thus not be sold under sin, but believe in and receive Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord, and serve Him now and forever. (Romans 7:14-25)
2. Seal (8:1-8)
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. (8:8)
As the king’s writing was irreversible as to the extermination of the Jews initiated by Haman, he now had to write another law to the Jews to stand for their lives and sealed it with his ring. Thank God that we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that is sealed in us and irreversible since the day of our redemption and salvation. (Ephesians 4:29-32)
3. Stand (8:9-17)
And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them. (8:17)
The people became Jews in their belief in the true God of the Jews as they could never become another race. Thank God for Mordecai and Esther as they persevered in their faith in God even though their lives were threatened as the devil who was behind Haman wanted to stop the birth of Jesus, the Saviour of the world, who shall be from their race. Let us thus put on God’s whole armour, and stand against the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-19)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to stand for my life and for You as You are my King.
