Esther 8:4-124Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king, 5And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favor 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: 6For 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? 7Then 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. 8Write 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. 9Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language. 10And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries: 11Wherein 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, 12Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. (Esther 8:4‑12)
4. “Then the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther.” King Ahasuerus again assures Esther of his delight in her and of her place of favor in his presence (see chapter 5:2).
Those redeemed with the precious blood of Christ stand before One infinitely greater than Ahasuerus. There each finds the golden scepter of divine love and eternal acceptance held out to them.
4, 6. “So Esther arose, and stood before the king, and said . . . how can I endure to see the evil . . . or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?” Assured of her acceptance, Esther pours out her heart for her people before the only one with power and authority to help. Though personally safe, her heart is fully engaged with those still facing destruction from Haman’s wicked scheme.
Let’s go with this same earnestness before “the throne of grace”—assured of our welcome—there to petition for those “out of the way” or under special attack of Satan.
7-8. “Then the king Ahasuerus said . . . 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.”
Is not this lovely? Esther is assured that her desires will be done according to the king’s authority and majesty. Our Saviour said: “Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:1313And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13)). Here is the divine completion of Ahasuerus’ promise—yet infinitely fuller. He promises each who avail themselves of this resource the power and authority of His name, the assurance of His love, and the pledge of an answer glorifying to the Father.
11. “Wherein the king granted the Jews . . . to stand for their life . . . to cause to perish, all the power . . . that would assault them, both little ones and women.”
How tragic if those previously marked for death, now given hope for life, had received the king’s word but not acted on it! There was a way of escape for the Jews. But if they were to live, they had to stand for their life. Unthinkable that any father—any Jewish man—would refuse to take advantage of the king’s word and defend his family and his people!
Are you concerned for your children or other loved ones, or burdened about difficulties in the assembly? As believers, we have abundant divine, delivering power promised to us (1 John 4:44Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4)). But we must not be satisfied to just know that the Lord is ready to “help in time of need.” Faith works. It puts on the “armor of God” and stands “against the wiles of the devil” in an “evil day” (Eph. 6:11,1311Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11)
13Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)).
As Satan seeks to destroy believers’ lives, families, marriages— even assemblies—will we, like the Jews in Esther’s day, take action and stand for our lives and “the little ones and women”?
Ed.