Category: Esther

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The Jews celebrate with a feast. They still celebrate this feast in the 21st Century. This book is a memorial to the Lord. He didn’t just work right back at the beginning with Moses. He is there TODAY!

SJA Notes

“… For he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.”

As we end one year and begin another, it is fitting to be reminded of the witness and example Mordecai sets us.

Are we seeking the welfare of God’s people?

Are we speaking peace to God’s people?

We can be encouraged in this, because Mordecai is only reflecting the better example of our King Jesus.

We are able to seek the welfare of God’s people because He has first brought us from darkness into light – God’s people saved!

We are able to speak peace to our brothers and sisters because peace was first shown to us – The Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world, slain so that we might have peace!

* Father God,

As one year ends and another begins – Please mark us as a faithful people, given to Your word and the practice of it, people who pray earnestly to You.

Please help us be more like our King, You the Son, Jesus.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

An Iranian king could not rescind a law that he had pronounced. It makes you glad you live in Australia today! Mordecai is a good bureaucrat. He knows how to word a new proclamation so that, while it does not rescind the previous proclamation, it makes it inoperable.

SJA Notes

“And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.”

How the fortunes of God’s people have turned even while in exile, in a foreign land!

Mana’s plot is revealed to the king by Esther. Haman is hanged. Mordecai writes with the king’s seal a decree that allows God’s people to defend themselves against their enemies.

God’s promise to Abraham is here, people declaring themselves Jews – All nations of the earth being blessed.

As we think of God’s people today, we are able to take hold of our great hope – The beautiful city in Revelation 21, Holy Jerusalem – Where God Almighty will tabernacle in full truth with His people.

This is the thrill of hope we have – Hallelujah! Come Lord Jesus, come.

* God of Light and Truth,

Thank You for working through Esther and Mordecai to bring about salvation for Your people in a foreign land.

Lord as we walk this narrow road today, aliens and strangers in a foreign world – Please Lord rescue us!

Fix within us a clear and present hope of glory, where You will dwell with us in the new heavens and the new earth. Oh what a day that will be!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

God’s providence brings rescue from destruction from an unlikely source – a seeming chance reading by the King. This is the pattern of Christmas.

SJA Notes

“On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king.”

Here we see the reversal of political fame and fortune come about through the king not being able to sleep – See the Lord’s hand at work here!

King Ahasuerus discovered that Mordecai had never been honored for revealing the plot of the two eunuchs who wanted to do away with the king.

And so the king ordered Mordecai honored. By his hated enemy, Haman the Agagite.

Agag was the Amalekite king that the Israelite king Saul (from the tribe of Benjamin, the same as Mordecai) was commanded by the Lord to kill.

Saul disobeyed God and kept Agag alive (although Samuel the prophet then killed him).

The point here is that both of these men were the product of long-standing grudges. More than five hundred years have passed and still there was great animosity between God’s people and the Amalekites.

And because of sleeplessness the tables have been turned.

This is God at work – He is at work for us as he was at work then for His people.

* Father God,

Thank You for taking care of us, often in ways we don’t even see or understand.

Thank You for Your grace – Giving to us blessing that we do not deserve.

Thank You for Your mercy – Not giving to us the curse that we absolutely do deserve.

Please fix our eyes on You today Lord God. Please show us what You would have us know from Your word.

Amen.