Ester 3
Charles Spurgeon · Citado em PreceptAustin
Ester 3
Spurgeon comments - If the disposal of the lot is the Lord’s whose is the arrangement of our whole life? If the simple casting of a lot is guided by Him, how much more the events of our entire life—especially when we are told by our blessed Saviour: “The very hairs of your head are all numbered: not a sparrow falls to the ground without your Father.” (Mt 10:29, cf Lk 12:6,7) It would bring a holy calm over your mind, dear friend, if you were always to remember this. It would so relieve your mind from anxiety, that you would be the better able to walk in patience, quiet, and cheerfulness as a Christian should. When a man is anxious he cannot pray with faith; when he is troubled about the world, he cannot serve his Master, his thoughts are serving himself. If you would “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,” all things would then be added unto you. You are meddling with Christ’s business, and neglecting your own when you fret about your lot and circumstances. You have been trying “providing” work and forgetting that it is yours to obey. Be wise and attend to the obeying, and let Christ manage the providing. Come and survey your Father’s storehouse, and ask whether He will let you starve while He has laid up so great an abundance in his garner? Look at His heart of mercy; see if that can ever prove unkind! Look at His inscrutable wisdom; see if that will ever be at fault. Above all, look up to Jesus Christ your Intercessor, and ask yourself, while He pleads, can your Father deal ungraciously with you? If He remembers even sparrows, will he forget one of the least of His poor children? “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain thee. He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.” (Ps 55:22-note) (Morning and Evening) Many people view all of this as nothing more than a matter of chance. But the amazing thing about what the Word of God calls "casting lots" is that the Lord is ultimately the One who controls the outcome. This was true in the story of Jonah, where God showed Himself to be Lord even through the actions of superstitious, unbelieving sailors. Things don't just happen to those who love God, They're planned by His own dear hand, Then molded and shaped, and timed by His clock; Things don't just happen--they're planned. --Fields While in Old Testament times and even at the birth of the Church (Acts 1:26), casting of lots was used by godly men to discern God's will, today we discern God's will primarily through His Word and obedience to His Word. In Romans 12 Paul teaches us that the Gospel that saved us, now calls us (and enables us) to resist the world and allow the Word to change us... And do not be conformed (present imperative with a negative = stop allowing this to happen) to this world, but be transformed (present imperative = Command to make this your continual practice as enabled by the Spirit. The Passive voice indicates this occurs by power from without ourselves - this means we still have to be willing to submit to that power, the Spirit transforming us - 2Cor 3:18-note) by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Ro 12:2-note) And rather than relying on lots today, we should rely on God's Word for as Peter says... And so we have the prophetic word made more sure ("And we have something more sure, the prophetic word" = ESV), to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. (2Peter 1:19-note) Charles Bridges in his excellent commentary on the Book of Proverbs reminds us... The book of God is given us expressly as "a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path." (Ps 119:105-note) The rule is more clear in itself, and linked with a most encouraging promise-"In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Pr 3:6-note) It is far better to exercise faith, than indolently to tamper with personal responsibility. The instructive lesson to learn, is that there is no blank in the most minute circumstances. Things, not only apparently contingent, but depending upon a whole train of contingencies, are exactly fulfilled. The name of a King (1Kings 13:2), or of a deliverer (Isa 44:28), is declared many hundred years before their existence--before therefore it could be known to any-save the Omniscient Governor of the universe-whether such persons would exist. The falling of a hair or a sparrow is directed, no less than the birth and death of Princes, or the revolutions of empires. (Mt 10:29, 30.) Everything is a wheel of Providence. Who directed the Ishmaelites on their journey to Egypt at the very moment, that Joseph was cast into the pit? (Ge 37:25) Who guided Pharaoh's daughter to the stream, just when the ark, with its precious deposit, was committed to the waters? (Ex 2:3-5.) What gave Ahasuerus a sleepless night, that he might be amused with the records of his kingdom? (Esther 6:1) Who prepared the whale at the very time and place, that Jonah's lot was cast? (Jonah 1:17) Who can fail to see the hand of God, most wonderful in the most apparently casual contingencies, overruling all second causes to fulfill his will, while they work their own? ‘When kingdoms are tossed up and down like a tennis-ball (Isa. 22:18); not one event can fly out of the bounds of His Providence. The smallest are not below it. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without it. Not a hair, but it is numbered by it.' (Polhill "On the Divine Will") (Charles Bridges Comments on Proverbs 16:33) Until the twelfth month, that is the month of Adar - The casting lots was all in the hands of the sovereign God! The fact that the lot fell on the 12th month gave time to address the king's edict. Faithlife Study Bible (Logos) notes that... Lots were commonly cast during the first month of the year to determine which dates were best for important events....Both Herodotus (Hdt. 3.128 "Darius asked this and thirty men promised, each wanting to do it himself. Darius told them not argue but draw lots; they did, and the lot fell to Bagaeus, son of Artontes.") and Xenophon (Cyrop. 1.6.46; 4.5.55) mention the Persian custom of casting lots Spurgeon notes that... The lots were cast for the various months, but not a single fortunate day could be found till hard by the close of the year, and then the chosen day was the thirteenth of the twelfth month. On that day the magicians told their dupe that the heavens would be propitious, and the star of Haman would be in the ascendant. Truly the lot was cast into the lap, but the disposal of it was of the Lord. See ye not that there were eleven clear months left before the Jews would be put to death, and that would give Mordecai and Esther time to turn round, and if anything could be done to reverse the cruel decree they had space to do it in. Suppose that the lot had fallen on the second or third month, the swift dromedaries and camels and messengers would scarcely have been able to reach the extremity of the Persian dominions, certainly a second set of messengers to counteract the decree could not have done so, and, humanly speaking, the Jews must have been destroyed; But oh, in that secret council chamber where sit the sorcerers and the man who asks counsel at the hands of the infernal powers, the Lord Himself is present, frustrating the tokens of the liars and making diviners mad. Vain were their enchantments and the multitude of their sorceries; the astrologers, the star-gazers, and the monthly prognosticators were all fools together, and led the superstitious Haman to destruction. “Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, nor divination against Israel.” Trust ye in the Lord ye righteous, and in patience possess your souls. Leave your adversaries in the hands of God, for He can make them fall into the snare which they have privily laid for you. (A Good Start: A Book for Young Men and Women) Esther 3:8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from those of all other people and they do not observe the king's laws, so it is not in the king's interest to let them remain.: scattered and dispersed abroad: Lev 26:33 Deut 4:27 Deut 30:3 Deut 32:26 Ne 1:8 Jer 50:17 Eze 6:8 11:16 Zec 7:14 John 7:35 Jas 1:1 1Pe 1:1) their laws: Ezra 4:12-15 Acts 16:20,21 Acts 17:6,7 Acts 24:5 Acts 28:22) HAMAN FORGOES "FULL DISCLOSURE" Then - After he had cast lots and arrived at a date for extermination of the Jews. Now he will seek permission from the king to kill them all -- talk about presumptuous! Scattered and dispersed - Through His prophet Moses God had prophetically stated (it was prophecy at the time it was written) that the Jews would be dispersed. And so we read... Lev 26:33 ‘You (Israel), however, I will scatter among the nations (Gentiles) and will draw out a sword after you, as your land (Land Promised to Abraham and his descendants) becomes desolate and your cities become waste. Deut 4:27 “And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you shall be left few in number among the nations, where the LORD shall drive you. Deut 30:1-6 "So it shall be when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind in all nations where the LORD your God has banished you, 2 and you return to the LORD your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul (Ed: Clearly such heart obedience is impossible without the "new heart" of the New Covenant - therefore this clearly describes the yet future day when all Israel will be saved [the "all" that believe in Messiah], when the Deliverer return and remove ungodliness from Jacob [Israel] - Ro 11:26-27-note) according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, 3 then the LORD your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you (Ed: While a large number of Jews have returned to Israel, there are still many Jews scattered throughout the world). 4 "If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you back. 5 "And the LORD your God will bring you into the land (Ed: This phrase, "the land," is specific for the "Promised Land", the land God promised to Abraham, then to Isaac and then to Jacob and his descendants forever. This promise applies to literal Jacob/Israel - specifically those Jews who place their faith in Messiah and has NEVER been rescinded nor has the promise of the Land ever been specifically given to the Church. Even Gal 3:29 which refers to the promise to Abraham, but does not mention the promise to Isaac and the promise to Jacob, both of which include THE LAND! The point being this - God is not finished with ethnic Israel - those who in the future place their faith in Messiah will be delivered by Him at His Second Coming and will go in and finally possess the full parcel of the LAND promised to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob forever! Cf Promise to Abraham = Ge 12:7, Ge 13:15, Ge 15:18, Ge 17:8, Promise to Isaac = Ge 26:3, 4, Promised passed to Jacob = Ge 28:4. Promise to Jacob/Israel = Ge 28:13, 14, Ge 35:12; Ge 48:3,4; Moses appeals to God's promise of the land = Ex 32:13, See also Ex 33:1, Deut 1:8, ) which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. 6 "Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live. (Related Resource: Circumcision Of the Heart) There is a certain people - Observe Haman's crafty omission of the name of the specific people group who were to be destroyed! And note the King's failure to be interested or involved enough to even care to ask! They do not observe the king's laws - This same false charge was lodged against the disciples in Acts (Acts 16:20,21 Acts 17:6,7). So it is not in the king's interest to let them remain (literally "to let them rest") - The NET is easier to understand "It is not appropriate for the king to provide a haven for them." The HCSB's paraphrase is strictly speaking not accurate (albeit not really misleading) - "It is not in the king's best interest to tolerate them." This observation simply points out that it is important to remember that essentially every translation has some unavoidable elements of "interpretation." Therefore it behooves the careful student to (1) seek to be familiar with the original languages (as much as possible and with modern Bible programs on computer it is possible) and (2) to always use a more literal translation when doing serious Bible studies. (Related Resource: Bible Versions compared for how literal they translate Hebrew and Greek) Esther 3:9 "If it is pleasing to the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry on the king's business, to put into the king's treasuries.": A VERY BIG BRIBE! I will pay 10,000 talents of sliver - Let's do the math - As of June 21, 2012, the world market price of silver is $432/pound. If a talent is about 75.6 pounds, then 10K of talents is about 756,000 pounds. Multiplying (#1) and (#2) gives us over 326 billion dollars! This is quite a "chunk of change", even for a king, and undoubtedly plays a role in his unquestioning acquiescence with Haman's evil plot. NET Bible has an interesting note... The enormity of the monetary sum referred to here can be grasped by comparing this amount (10,000 talents of silver) to the annual income of the empire, which according to Herodotus (Histories 3.95) was 14,500 Euboic talents. In other words Haman is offering the king a bribe equal to two-thirds of the royal income. Doubtless this huge sum of money was to come (in large measure) from the anticipated confiscation of Jewish property and assets once the Jews had been destroyed. That such a large sum of money is mentioned may indicate something of the economic standing of the Jewish population in the empire of King Ahasuerus.
Ester 3
Spurgeon comments... Notice attentively that Haman selected a mode of destroying the Jews which was wonderfully overruled for their preservation. They were to be slain by any of the people among whom they lived who chose to do so, and their plunder was to reward their slayers. Now, this was a very cunning device, for greed would naturally incite the baser sort of men to murder the thrifty Jews, and no doubt there were debtors who would also be glad to see their creditors disposed of: but see the loophole for escape which this afforded! If the decree had enacted that the Jews should be slain by the soldiery of the Persian empire it must have been done, and it is not easy to see how they could have escaped, but, the matter being left in private hands, the subsequent decree that they might defend themselves, was a sufficient counteraction of the first edict. Thus the Lord arranged that the wisdom of Haman should turn out to be folly after all. Esther 3:14 A copy of the edict to be issued as law in every province was published to all the peoples so that they should be ready for this day.: The edict - Literally "the writing." Esther 3:15 The couriers went out impelled by the king's command while the decree was issued at the citadel in Susa; and while the king and Haman sat down to drink, the city of Susa was in confusion.: ROYAL APATHY PUBLIC APPREHENSION The couriers went out impelled - Proverbs 1:16 is apropos... For their feet run to evil, And they hasten to shed blood Citadel - This describes a heavily fortified area 72 feet above the rest of the city of Susa and surrounded by an strong wall. The citadel covered an area of about 10 acres and was the site of the palace built by Darius I. Susa - located on the Karkheh River about 150 miles north of the Persian Gulf. Sat down to drink....Susa was in confusion - An ironic contrast! What callous lack of concern for the value of human life! Was in confusion (perplexed, distressed) (0943)(buk) is actually a verb which means to be confused, to mill around, to wander aimlessly. Buk describes a confused state of mind and activity (Ex. 14:3) because of not knowing what to do. It describes the wandering of animals during the Lord’s judgments on His people (Joel 1:18). The Septuagint uses the verb tarasso (imperfect tense = over and over, incomplete action) which is used to describe a crowd in an uproar (Acts 17:8), of acute mental and/or spiritual agitation as when one is thrown into confusion (Acts 15:24). In 2Sa 22:8 tarasso describes an earthquake. Swindoll observes that... While Haman and Ahasuerus sat over their drinks in the palace, the general public wandered in bewilderment and confusion, especially the Jews, not unlike those in the ghetto at Warsaw and other European scenes of horror in the late ’30s and early ’40s. (Ed: When the modern day version of Haman had issued his "ethnic cleansing" decree) “What’s going on here?” “Why have those in authority ordered this?” “How much worse can things get?” What terror this struck in their hearts, what fear in their minds! “How can we continue?” “How can we fight this?” This was the law of the Medes and the Persians. When an edict was set forth in that era, it was final. Nobody could change this plan, certainly no Jew. Helplessness eroded into hopelessness. Yet, in the midst of all this, God was not sleeping. In His sovereign plan, He determined one person would make the difference. Again, one individual would stand in the gap. On this occasion, her name is Esther. Proverbs says that... When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when a wicked man rules, people groan. (Pr 29:2) NET Bible Note... This final statement of Esther 3:15 is a sad commentary on the pathetic disregard of despots for the human misery and suffering that they sometimes inflict on those who are helpless to resist their power. Here, while common people braced for the reckless loss of life and property that was about to begin, the perpetrators went about their mundane activities as though nothing of importance was happening. Ray
Ester 3
Spurgeon has a few words on divine providence... The Lord’s wisdom is seen in arranging the smallest events so as to produce great results. We frequently hear persons say of a pleasant or a great event, “What a providence!” while they are silent as to anything which appears less important, or has an unpleasant savour (taste). But the place of the gorse (evergreen shrub with yellow flowers) upon the heath (an area of open uncultivated land) is as fixed as the station of a king, and the dust which is raised by a chariot-wheel is as surely steered by providence as the planet in its orbit. There is as much providence in the creeping of an aphis (small insect of aphid genus) upon a rose leaf as in the marching of an army to ravage a continent. Everything, the most minute, as well as the most magnificent, is ordered by the Lord Who has prepared His throne in the heavens, Whose kingdom rules over all. The history before us furnishes proof of this. (A Good Start: A Book for Young Men and Women) After these events ("Some time later" - NET) - Compare Esther 1:3, Esther 2:16 and Esther 3:7. About 4 years after Esther was crowned queen. Approximately 472-473BC (remember the lot was cast for a full year and a full year followed the issuing of the edict. Cf Esther 3:12-13). Summary of the events - Three Persian parties, one deposed queen, one Persian beauty contest won by the beautiful Jewess Esther who had her own banquet, and whose step-father Mordecai foiled an assassination plot which was recorded in the king's chronicles. Charles R. Swindoll asks... Isn’t it interesting how these sections tie together with these rather innocuous phrases: “after these things,” “so it came about,” “in those days,” “after these events”? That’s the way it is in life. The big events in our lives, the major turning points, don’t begin with a bold, ear-splitting announcement from heaven, “Today will bring trouble—bad trouble!” No, those days begin like every other morning. You have no idea it’s coming. And out of the blue it strikes! And you find yourself in the midst of this ancient struggle with sin and evil. (Esther A Woman of Strength and Dignity) Promoted ("Raised...to high rank" - NAB; "Honored" - NIV) - Literally "made great." What a strange juxtaposition with Esther 2:22-23. The one who should have been "promoted." Who allowed this promotion of the evil Haman over Mordecai? Daniel writes... And it is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, and knowledge to men of understanding. (Da 2:21) The LORD makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts. (1Samuel 2:7) (Do you believe God is in control of all things? Take a moment to prayerfully listen to Robin Mark's great song and may it cause you to worship the King. Amen - ALL IS WELL) Haman the son of Hammedatha ("given by the moon") the Agagite - Haman as we shall soon see is a prototype of Hitler, who was also the enemy of the Jews (Esther 3:10) whose Persian name means "magnificent!" Haman character personified everything that the Lord God hates... There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil,19 A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers. (Pr 6:16-19) Comment: See Related Resources: William Arnot's discussion of Proverbs 6:16-19 Seven Hateful Things; Joseph Parker - Proverbs 6:16-19 Seven Things Hateful to God) Agagite - Surely the appending of this unusual name is meant to give us a clue as to who he is and why he does what he does to the Jews! (See Stedman's comment below) And so it is notable that the book of Esther has the only mention of Agagite in the Bible (Esther 3:1, 10, Esther 8:3, 8:5, 9:24). It follows that we will have to look elsewhere to gain insights into the potential significance of Agagite. Remember that the best commentary on Scripture is Scripture (See Compare Scripture with Scripture), so let's compare Scriptures that could possibly give us insight. And as an important aside, remember that all of the Scriptures quoted below would have been written before the Book of Esther and would have potentially been available to Mordecai. I like the beloved pastor and expositor, Ray Stedman's exhortative comment... We get a clue in the parentage that's given for this man. He was Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite. What is an Agagite? Here we will need to do a little detective work. If you haven't learned the extreme excitement of studying your Bible as though you were Perry Mason, (Ed: See link if you are too young to know this name) you've missed a great deal of life. You need to do much detective work in studying the Bible. (The Struggle for Power in Esther 3) So let's investigate the name Agagite. The suffix "-ite" is commonly used in Scripture to indicate a connection with the main part of the word and especially in descriptions of descendants (e.g., Ammonites from Ammon, Moabites from Moab, etc). It is therefore reasonable to propose that Agagite is in some way related to Agag. The first use of Agag is by Balaam in his reply to Balak king of the Moabites in Numbers 24... When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times to seek omens but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him. 3 And he took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened; 4 The oracle of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered, 5 How fair are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, O Israel! 6 "Like valleys that stretch out, Like gardens beside the river, Like aloes planted by the LORD, Like cedars beside the waters. 7 "Water shall flow from his buckets, And his seed shall be by many waters, And his (Israel's) king shall be higher than Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted. God brings him (Israel) out of Egypt, He is for him like the horns of the wild ox. He shall devour the nations who are his (Israel's) adversaries, and shall crush their bones in pieces, and shatter them with his arrows. (Nu 24:1-8) In First Samuel we find a man named King Agag, where King Saul (interestingly and ironically also a descendant of another Kish and a Benjamite as was Mordecai! - Just an ironic coincidence??) is given a very specific command from the prophet Samuel... Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” (1Sa 15:3) And checking the context gives us additional insights into why Samuel might have issued such a seemingly barbaric command to King Saul... Thus says the LORD of hosts (Jehovah Sabaoth, LORD of armies), ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt." (1Sa 15:2) Did King Saul obey Samuel (God's "mouthpiece")? And he captured Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.... (Samuel to Saul) 18 and the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, 'Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are exterminated.' 19 "Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD, but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD?" (1Sa 15:8-9, 18-19) How did God respond? Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, 11 "I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not carried out My commands." And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all night. (1Sa 15:10, 11) What is the message to King Saul and to all saints of all ages? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice 1Samuel 15:22 Saul’s failure to exterminate Agag would have led to the extermination of his own people the Jews, if it had not been for the providence of God. God is behind the scenes, keeping watch over His own. Why did God call for utter destruction of the Amalekites? 8 Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, "Choose men for us, and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand." 10 And Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses' hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set. 13 So (Always be alert to observe and query terms of conclusion) Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14 Then (expression of time - this one marks sequence) the LORD said to Moses, "Write this in a book as a memorial, and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven." (cf God's command to King Saul through Moses in 1Sa 15:2-3) 15 And Moses built an altar (What's an altar for?), and named it The LORD is My Banner (see Jehovah Nissi: The LORD Our Banner); (What is Moses saying about Who won the battle? and about Whose Name should be glorified and lifted high? Cf David a man after God's own heart - 1Sa 17:47, See also 2Chr 20:15, 2Chr 32:8, Jn 16:33, Gal 6:14) 16 and he said, "The LORD (Jehovah) has sworn; the LORD will have war against Amalek from generation to generation." (Exodus 17:8-16-expository notes; See parallel passage in Deut 25:17–19) In summary Derek Prime notes that... Haman’s ancestry is, therefore, mentioned to show that he was an enemy of the Jews by birth, and that it was more than just personal hatred of Mordecai that motivated him. (Welwyn Commentary Series) J
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Spurgeon comments on God's restraining hand of providence noting that... In another point, also, we mark the restraining hand of God: namely, that Mordecai, though he had provoked Haman to the utmost, was not put to death at once. Haman “refrained himself.” Why did he do so? Proud men are usually in a mighty tiff if they consider themselves insulted, and are ready at once to take revenge; but Haman “refrained himself;” ("disdained himself") until that day in which his anger burned furiously, and he set up the gallows, he smothered his passion. I marvel at this; it shows how God makes the wrath of man to praise Him (Ps 76:10), and the remainder He doth restrain. Mordecai must not die a violent death by Haman’s hand. The enemies of the church of God, and of His people, can never do more than the Lord permits; they cannot go a hair’s breadth beyond the divine license, and when they are permitted to do their worst there is always some weak point about all that they do, some extreme folly which renders their fury vain. The wicked carry about them the weapons of their own destruction, and when they rage most against the Most High, the Lord of all brings out of it good for His people and glory to Himself. Judge not providence in little pieces, it is a grand mosaic, and must be seen as a whole. Say not of any one hour “This is dark,”—it may be so, but that darkness will minister to the light, even as the ebon gloom of midnight makes the stars appear the more effulgent. Trust ye in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah there is everlasting strength. His wisdom will undermine the mines of cunning, His skill will overtop the climbings of craft; “He taketh the wise in their own craftiness, and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.” (A Good Start: A Book for Young Men and Women) Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews - First, notice the term of conclusion. What is he writer concluding? Is he not saying that in light of the fact that Mordecai is a Jew, if Haman refrained from personal vengeance on Mordecai, he would be able to expand his murderous plans to include the entire race, which by some estimates consisted of 15 million Jews in the Kingdom of Persia and Media. Taken on face value, Haman's reaction seems a bit exaggerated to say the least! Personal affront from a single Jewish man is hardly sufficient motivation to desire to exterminate an entire race! This is where the historical background we looked at in Esther 3:1 helps us interpret this verse. This was more than a personal offense but reflected the Biblical truth that "The LORD (represented by His Chosen People, the Jews) will have war against Amalek (now represented by Haman) from generation to generation." (Exodus 17:16-note). Haman Deceives King to Decree Death to Jews Esther 3:7 In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, Pur, that is the lot, was cast before Haman from day to day and from month to month, until the twelfth month, that is the month Adar.: (cast lots: Es 9:24-26 Pr 16:33 Eze 21:21,22 Mt 27:35) CASTING LOTS FOR DAY OF JEWISH EXTERMINATION ESV In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, they cast lots) before Haman day after day; and they cast it month after month till the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. NIV In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, they cast the pur (that is, the lot) in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar. NLT So in the month of April, during the twelfth year of King Xerxes' reign, lots were cast in Haman's presence (the lots were called purim) to determine the best day and month to take action. And the day selected was March 7, nearly a year later. International Children's Bible It was in the first month of the twelfth year of King Xerxes' rule. That is the month of Nisan. Pur (that is, the lot) was thrown before Haman. The lot was used to choose a day and a month. So the twelfth month, the month of Adar, was chosen. New American Bible In the first month, Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, the pur, or lot, was cast in Haman's presence to determine the day and the month for the destruction of Mordecai's people on a single day, and the lot fell on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar. NET note: The LXX adds the following words: “in order to destroy in one day the race of Mordecai...” The LXX reading is included by NAB. Why is Haman casting lots? He is attempting (superstitiously) to determine a date for the extermination of the Jews!
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Spurgeon comments in his sermon on God's providence in Esther that... GOD PLACES HIS AGENTS IN FITTING PLACES FOR DOING HIS WORK. The Lord was not taken by surprise by this plot of Haman; he had foreseen it and forestalled it. It was needful, in order to match this cunning, malicious design of Haman, that some one of Jewish race should possess great influence with the king. How was this to be effected? Should a Jewess become Queen of Persia, the power she would possess would be useful in counteracting the enemy’s design. This had been all arranged years before Haman had concocted in his wicked heart the scheme of murdering the Jews. Esther, whose sweet name signifies myrtle, had been elevated to the position of Queen of Persia by a singular course of events. It happened that Ahasuerus, at a certain drinking bout, was so far gone with wine as to forget all the proprieties of eastern life, and send for his queen, Vashti to exhibit herself to the people and the princes. No one dreamed in those days of disobeying the tyrant’s word, and therefore all stood aghast when Vashti, evidently a woman of right royal spirit, refused to degrade herself by being made a spectacle before that ribald rout of drinking princes, and refused to come. For her courage Vashti was divorced, and a new queen was sought for. We cannot commend Mordecai for putting his adopted daughter in competition for the monarch’s choice; it was contrary to the law of God, and dangerous to her soul in the highest degree. It would have been better for Esther to have been the wife of the poorest man of the house of Israel than to have gone into the den of the Persian despot. The Scripture does not excuse, much less commend, the wrong doing of Esther and Mordecai in thus acting, but simply tells us how divine wisdom brought good out of evil, even as the chemist distils healing drugs from poisonous plants. The high position of Esther, though gained contrary to the wisest of laws, was overruled for the best interests of her people. Esther in the king’s house was the means of defeating the malicious adversary. But Esther alone would not suffice; she is shut up in the harem, surrounded by her chamberlains and her maids of honor, but quite secluded from the outside world. A watchman needed outside the palace to guard the people of the Lord, and to urge Esther to action when help is wanted. Mordecai, her cousin and foster-father obtained an office which placed him at the palace gate. Where could he be better posted? He is where much of the royal business will come under his eye, and he is both quick, courageous, and unflinching: never had Israel a better sentinel than Mordecai, the son of Kish, a Benjamite — a very different man from that other son of Kish, who had suffered Amalek to escape in former times. His relationship to the queen allowed him to communicate with her through Hatach, her chamberlain, and, when Haman’s evil decree was published, it was not long before intelligence of it reached her ear, and she felt the danger to which Mordecai and all her people were exposed By singular providences did the Lord place those two most efficient instruments in their places. Mordecai would have been of little use without Esther, and Esther could have rendered no aid had it not been for Mordecai. Meanwhile, there is a conspiracy hatched against the king, which Mordecai discovers, and communicates to the highest authority, and so puts the king under obligation to him, which was a needful part of the Lord’s plan. (Providence—As Seen in the Book of Esther) Esther 4:6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai to the city square in front of the king's gate.: The city square...king's gate - "Archaeologists have uncovered the king’s gate—a large building, 131 by 92 feet, with a central room 69 feet square. The discovery that the gate opened onto a city square corroborates the accuracy of details such as that given in this verse." (Woman's Study Bible) Esther 4:7 Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.: The exact amount of money (Esther 3:9) - 10, 000 talents of silver. How did Mordecai know this detail? The text and context does not give an answer, but clearly Mordecai had connections with the inner workings of the King's court. Esther 4:8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict which had been issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show Esther and inform her, and to order her to go in to the king to implore his favor and to plead with him for her people.: NIV He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to urge her to go into the king's presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people. He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict - The decree in Esther 3:13. What does Mordecai's possession of a written copy suggest? That he was a person of some influence and importance in Xerxes' kingdom (cp his seat at the king's gate in Esther 2:19). Notice that Mordecai does not just give Hathach a statement of the imminent danger of the Jews, but he is very specific, substantiating his claim by explaining the "price on the head" of the Jewish race and the written decree to carry out the deadly deed. This clear evidence was provided to Esther, so that the monumental decision Mordecai called her to make would be based on a firm foundation of solid evidence regarding Haman's plot to destroy all the Jews. THE QUEEN'S "DEADLY" DILEMMA To order her to go in to the king to implore his favor and to plead with him for her people - In short, in this passage Mordecai relates to Hathach that Esther is a Jew ("her people"). We recall from chapter 2 how Esther had been submissive to her step father's commands to not divulge that she was a Jew. But this command to go into the king had serious personal implications as Esther explains in the following text. The "ball was in her court" as the modern saying goes! Wiersbe agrees writing that... When Mordecai told Hathach to tell the queen to ask for mercy “for her people,” he divulged to him the fact that Esther was a Jewess. Esther 4:9 Hathach came back and related Mordecai's words to Esther.: Paul Ferguson makes a good point emphasizing that... This servant had an awesome responsibility even if he did not know it. Tens of thousands of lives hung on his effective delivering of the message from Mordecai. Esther 4:10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and ordered him to reply to Mordecai:: It is interesting that God records the detail of this intermediary, who was responsible for transmitting conversations which dealt with the fate of the entire Jewish race! Wiersbe makes an excellent point... Keep in mind that Mordecai couldn’t speak directly to Esther but had to send his messages to her via Hathach. Esther had no way of sensing personally how Mordecai felt, nor could Mordecai fully understand how Esther was expressing herself. What a difference it makes when we can see the faces and hear the voices of the people we communicate with! Hathach certainly had a great responsibility placed on him as the living link between two distressed people who held in their hands the salvation of the Jewish nation. Esther 4:11 "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live. And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days.": ESTHER'S RATIONALE FOR RELUCTANCE TO RISK HER LIFE The golden scepter - John
Ester 3
Spurgeon comments that... We are very much in our position as a church as Esther was to the Jews. If she did not do her part, Mordecai told her God (Ed: He implied that God would do it) would do it by somebody else, and put her away. And so it is with us. If we lag and loiter in work for Christ, He will put us away as a Christian church—not from His eternal love, for that He will never do—but from our position of honor and usefulness. May it please Him to remove me, His unworthy servant, and give me rest from my labors, before such a catastrophe as that should overwhelm us. Every child of God is where God has placed him for some purpose, and the practical use of this first point is to lead you to inquire for what practical purpose has God placed each one of you where you now are? You have been wishing for another position where you could do something for Jesus: do not wish anything of the kind, but serve Him were you are. If you are sitting at the King’s gate there is something for you to do there, and if you were on the queen’s throne, there would be something for you to do there; do not ask to be either gate-keeper or queen, but whichever you are, serve God therein. Are you rich? God has made you a steward, take care that you are a good steward. Are you poor? God has thrown you into a position where you will be the better able to give a word of sympathy to poor saints. Are you doing your allotted work? Do you live in a godly family? God has a motive for placing you in so happy a position. Are you in an ungodly house? You are a lamp hung up in a dark place; mind you shine there. Esther did well, because she acted as an Esther should, and Mordecai did well, because he acted as Mordecai should. I like to think God has put each one in the right place, even as a good captain well arranges the different parts of his army, and though we do not know his plan of battle, it will be seen during the conflict that he has placed each soldier where he should be. Our wisdom is not to desire another place, nor to judge those who are in another position, but each one being redeemed with the precious blood of Jesus, should say, “Lord, what would thou have me to do, for here I am, and by Thy grace I am ready to do it.” Forget not then the fact that God in His providence places His servants in positions where He can make use of them. (A Good Start: A Book for Young Men and Women) Question - What does it mean that Esther was appointed “for such a time as this”? | Answer: Esther was a Jewish maiden who was taken into the royal court of King Xerxes and eventually chosen to be queen of Persia. She was integral in delivering the Jews from destruction, an event celebrated in the Feast of Purim. The Bible makes it clear that Esther was placed in her influential position “for such a time as this”—God’s purpose was accomplished through Esther in the perilous time in which she lived. Esther had been one of the “beautiful young virgins” from whom King Xerxes could select a new queen (Esther 2:2). Esther had been orphaned as a child, and her cousin, Mordecai, cared for her. In adherence to Mordecai’s instructions, Esther did not reveal to anyone that she was a Jew. In time, Esther won the favor of King Xerxes, and he crowned her queen (Esther 2:17). Sometime later, Xerxes gave Haman the Agagite great honor and commanded the officials at his gate to kneel in Haman’s presence and pay him homage. Mordecai, who worked in the gate, refused to do so. This so enraged Haman that he sought to destroy all of Mordecai’s people—the Jews—and obtained the king’s permission to carry out the genocide (Esther 3). When the edict against the Jews was issued, Mordecai mourned in sackcloth and ashes. Queen Esther, as yet unaware of the plot against her people, heard about her cousin’s mourning and sent a eunuch in her service, named Hathak, to inquire the reason for Mordecai’s sorrow. Mordecai gave Hathak a copy of the edict and asked him to tell Esther to go to King Xerxes and beg for mercy on behalf of her people. Esther was reluctant to approach the king, because it was against the law to come before the king’s presence uninvited—on pain of death. The eunuch reported Esther’s response to Mordecai. Then Mordecai sent word back: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13–14). Mordecai, in urging Esther to take action, points her to a higher purpose: “Who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14, NASB). He frames it as a possibility for her to consider: could it be that God has placed Esther in her royal position precisely because of the clear and present danger the Jews are in? It was just such a time—a time of crisis, a time of existential threat—that the Jews needed her. It was no accident that Esther became queen of Persia; she was there for a reason. Mordecai was right. Esther was indeed on the throne “for such a time as this,” and she became God’s instrument of deliverance for the Jews in Persia. Sometimes we miss the importance of Esther’s obedience in God’s plan. Mordecai presented Esther with a choice. She could choose to recognize her providential placing in the royal court and opt to risk her own life in an effort to save her people. Or she could choose to remain silent, try to protect herself, and hope for the best. Either way, Mordecai knew that God would rescue His people. Esther chose the path of joy and blessing when she agreed to play her role in God’s plan. We serve the God who “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:11). As the experience of Esther shows, God uses people in fulfilling His purpose. No matter what the situation, God has His instruments of deliverance and victory. “For such a time as this,” God has at the ready brave, committed, obedient individuals who will step out in faith and accomplish His work. In ancient Persia, Haman was doing the devil’s work, but there was Esther to counter it. God had set the board, and He moved His queen to checkmate the enemy. “He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others” (Daniel 2:21). We, like Esther, have meaningful choices to make. We may not have as much power and influence as Esther had, but God has still placed us where He wants us to be “for such a time as this.” We are not here by accident. We have a God-given circle of influence. We cannot stand idly by while injustice occurs. We must pay attention to what’s happening around us and seek God’s direction in how He wants to use us. He has placed us in the time, the position, and the place He wants us to be. And He invites us to confidently join in His work. In Esther’s day, the duty to save a nation fell to her, and God had given her all she needed to accomplish the task. God has done the same for us, whatever the task He assigns, and He will use us in “such a time as this.” GotQuestions.org Related Resources: Who was Mordecai in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Who was Esther in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Who was Haman the Agagite? | GotQuestions.org Who was Xerxes in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org What does it mean that Esther was appointed “for such a time as this”? | GotQuestions.org Summary of the Book of Esther - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org Why doesn’t the book of Esther mention God? | GotQuestions.org Who was Hadassah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org What does the Bible say about false accusations? | GotQuestions.org What is the Feast of Purim? | GotQuestions.org Esther 4:15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai,: Note that "them" is added by the NAS and is not in the original text. Young's Literal says "And Esther speaketh to send back unto Mordecai" Esther 4:16 "Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.": Clearly Mordecai's speech had the intended effect on Esther's will so that we see was now prepared to die for the cause! Ferguson adds that Esther... acknowledges the danger, so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law but true courage acts in spite of fear. Only fools act rashly without fear. Fearfulness is understandable in this context but not cowardice or disobedience. She was willing to do her duty and leave the consequences to God. It is interesting to note that fasting in this context contrasts with feasting later in the book. Spurgeon comments that Esther having been encouraged by Mordecai's speech... braced herself to the effort. She did not sit still and say, “The Lord will arrange this business, there is nothing for me to do,” (Ed: Like a modern false saying "Let go and let God.") but she both...ventured her life and her all for her people’s sake, and then acted very wisely and discreetly in her interviews with the king. So we rest confidently in providence, but we are not idle. We believe that God has an elect people, and therefore do we preach in the hope that we may be the means, in the hands of His Spirit, of bringing this elect people to Christ. We believe that God has appointed for His people both holiness here and heaven hereafter; therefore do we strive against sin, and press forward to the rest which remains for the people of God. Faith in God’s providence, instead of repressing our energies, excites us to diligence. We labour as if all depended upon us, and then fall back upon the Lord with the calm faith which knows that all depends upon Him. (Ed: Our part, God's part is shown throughout the Scriptures - e.g., see Col 1:28, 29, 1Cor 15:10) If I perish I perish - These final words echo Jacob in Genesis 43:14. Swindoll writes that Esther... has changed from fear to abandonment and faith, from hesitation to confidence and determination, from concern for her own safety to concern for her people’s survival. She has reached her own personal hour of decision and has not been found wanting. The words of Amy Carmichael, the famous missionary to India, remind me of Queen Esther's willingness to be a sacrifice... Give me the Love that leads the way The Faith that nothing can dismay The Hope no disappointments tire The Passion that’ll burn like fire Let me not sink to be a clod Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God” “O Lamb of God, deliver me…” From subtle love of softening things, From easy choices, weakenings, (Not thus are spirits fortified, Not this way went the Crucified) From all that dims Thy Calvary O Lamb of God, deliver me. Edward Everett Hale wrote the following words which resonate with Esther's declaration... I am only one, But still I am one. I cannot do everything; but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. Ferguson sums up this final section... God uses frail vessels of clay like Esther and Mordecai to work out His purposes. It is the only material He has available, as there is no perfection found in man. Am I a soldier of the cross, a follower of the Lamb, and shall I fear to own his cause, or blush to speak his name? Must I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease, while others fought to win the prize, and sailed through bloody seas? Sure I must fight if I would reign; Increase my courage, Lord. I'll bear the toil, endure the pain, Supported by Thy Word. Esther 4:17 So Mordecai went away and did just as Esther had commanded him., Esther had commanded him - Henceforth Esther takes the lead in seeking deliverance for the Jews. How important is one person? Clearly Esther emphasizes the impact one can make. Chuck Swindoll had a fascinating quote of the difference one person made in the following historic votes... • In 1645, one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England; • In 1649, one vote caused Charles I of England to be executed; • In 1776, one vote gave America the English language instead of German; • In 1839, one vote elected Marcus Morton governor of Massachusetts; • In 1845, one vote brought Texas into the Union; • In 1868, one vote saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment. • In 1875, one vote changed France from a monarchy to a republic; • In 1876, one vote gave Rutherford B. Hayes the United States presidency; • In 1923, one vote gave Adolph Hitler control of the Nazi party; • In 1941, one vote saved the Selective Service System just 12 weeks before Pearl Harbor!