Acting on What the King Has Spoken

Esther 9:1–2 (ESV) Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s command and edict were about to be carried out, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them. 2 The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could stand against them, for the fear of them had fallen on all peoples.

Esther 9 is the complete opposite of every other chapter in this book before it. Thus far we have seen the Jews as a helpless people, with Mordecai targeted for death, Esther as the harem girl for the king's pleasure. But all that has changed. Now Mordecai and Esther are ambassadors of the King and writing the laws of the land into effect to not only save the Jews from extermination but to empower them for triumph over their enemies. 

It's a wonderful picture of what can be done when the people of God come humbly before the King and seek His grace and power. For God's people are always the target of the enemy. And throughout history, the enemy has sought to wipe us out. We represent to him what he rejected in heaven - submission to the Father and His will. Thus, when satan sees us, he sees what he rebelled against and he will use whatever powers he can to "steal, kill and destroy" (John 10:10).

Now we have a choice, we can give up and consider ourselves as sheep to be slaughtered or we can seek the grace of God and the power of God to make us mighty with weapons of warfare from God! 

2 Corinthians 10:4 (ESV) For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

There will be moments, dear Christian, when it seems the world around you is out to get you. But it cannot do to you what God will not allow. You have access to the King's presence through the blood of Jesus shed for you and you can come boldly before Him for whatever you need. Do not despair, cry out in prayer!

I believe that when we pray, God goes to work for us immediately. And we may not see the work He's done until we ACT on what we've asked of Him. Such is the case for Mordecai and Esther.

Esther 9:3–4 (ESV) All the officials of the provinces and the satraps and the governors and the royal agents also helped the Jews, for the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them. 4 For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces, for the man Mordecai grew more and more powerful.

Interestingly, as the Jews start bringing the war to their enemies, the authority of the king is not exhausted but rather elevated. Watch:

Esther 9:11–12 (ESV) That very day the number of those killed in Susa the citadel was reported to the king. 12 And the king said to Queen Esther, “In Susa the citadel the Jews have killed and destroyed 500 men and also the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces! Now what is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what further is your request? It shall be fulfilled.”

Incredible! The king sees the Jews winning the war against those who hate them and the King gives Esther even MORE authority to see the job carried out completely. Esther requests that the sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows he built for Mordecai and the king grants her requests. Over and over again, Esther asks and the King provides. Which makes me think about our lives - what things are we not seeing simply because we are not praying and then ACTING on what we have requested?

Lastly, the end of the chapter reminds us of the importance of passing this truth along to the rest of God's people. Mordecai kept a constant watch on Esther but he also kept watch over the people of God in every manner of his life. Here he goes to work, sending messages to the Jews throughout the provinces to inform them of what has become theirs and to rejoice in it and SHARE it.

Esther 9:20–22 (ESV) And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year, 22 as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

This is what Church attendance and participation should be about. SENDING the message, reminding God's people of the war that has already been won and the authority that has already been given. We may come to church beaten down, but we should leave lifted up as we celebrate the Lord who has given us RELIEF from our enemies. 

Amen.