The 13th of Adar, the last month of the year, came and the Jews gathered together to defend themselves. But most of the rulers helped them, for fear of Mordecai, because “Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went throughout all the provinces.” And this will be the effect on the world of Israel’s restoration to their proper place in a coming day. Some who showed their enmity toward the Jews were slain by them, for no man could withstand them.
The king then told Esther that five hundred had been destroyed in Shushan the palace, including Haman’s ten sons, and asked if she had any further request. She requested another day of vengeance, and asked that Haman’s ten sons be hanged on the gallows. This was done. Esther and Mordecai may not have acted well in asking this; few can have power over their enemies without abusing it. It is quite different from the way the Lord would have His people act now. In this dispensation the Church is called to be the display of the grace of God and the love of Jesus in this world. But Esther is not a type of the Church. Righteousness will characterize the reign of the kingdom in that day. In Psalm 45:44And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. (Psalm 45:4), we read: “Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O most mighty,... And in Thy majesty ride prosperously, because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and Thy right hand shall teach Thee terrible things.”
But for us in our day, the word is: “Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.” The Lord told Peter in the Garden, “Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.”
After this Mordecai wrote letters unto all the Jews in all the provinces saying that they should keep a feast on the 14th and 15th of the month Adar every year to commemorate their remarkable deliverance from their enemies. They were to be days of feasting and joy, during which they were to send gifts to one another and to the poor. They called these days Purim, meaning “lot” or “lots,” because of the lots that were cast against them in the days of Haman. The Jews still keep these feast days, but they are not mentioned in the New Testament.
The book closes with an account of the greatness of Ahasuerus’ kingdom and of his power, and of how he advanced Mordecai still further. “For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.” This is a happy picture of Messiah’s future kingdom. He will no longer be rejected by His brethren, but they will find in Him the only true source of peace. The Church shall be with Him on high, and all creation shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into which man’s sin has plunged it. For “the government shall be upon His shoulders and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isa. 9:66For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6).
ML 12/27/1959