Let’s refresh ourselves on the story. There is some good and some not so good in it. Let’s see.
Outline: Main Events
Esther becomes queen.
“The king loved Esther more than all the other women… so he made her queen…” – Esther 2:17
Haman is promoted.
“King Ahasuerus promoted Haman… the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes…” – Esther 3:1
Mordecai refuses to honor Haman, which infuriates him:
“But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage.” – Esther 3:2
“Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus—the people of Mordecai.” – Esther 3:6
The decree to destroy, to kill, to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day (Esther 3:13):
“Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, ‘There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people… they do not keep the king’s laws. If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.’” – Esther 3:8-9
Esther’s reaction:
“Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” – Esther 4:16
King Ahasuerus’ conscience does not let him sleep. He condemned a whole people for no good reason.
“That night the king could not sleep…” – Esther 6:1
King Ahasuerus knows of Mordecai the Jew who in sackcloth and ashes is at the king’s gate. He honors him, after reading from chronicles and records.
“Then the king said to Haman, ‘Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king’s gate!’” – Esther 6:10
Esther intercedes for her people.
“For we have been sold, my people and I, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated…. The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!” – Esther 7:4,6
The fall of Haman.
“So they hanged Haman…” – Esther 7:10
A new decree is written by Modecai and Esther to revoke the decree to destroy the Jews.
“You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king’s name…” – Esther 8:8
Role revisal and moral equivalency:
“By these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together and protect their lives—to destroy, kill, and annihilate… any people… that would assault them, both little children and women…” – Esther 8:11
So, the letters were sent permitting the Jews to protect their lives (that’s good), especially from the little children and women (irony added).
The feast and celebration to follow:
“…the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday.” – Esther 8:17
But wait, this is not the end of the story.
To be continued…
Comments