Queen Esther made her
tearful plea to her husband King Ahasuerus to save her people the
Jews from the evil edict that was initiated by Haman, and after
hearing her request, in chapter eight and verse seven we read the
beginning of his response. We read:
Then the king Ahasuerus
said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have
given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the
gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.
The
verse begins, “Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the
queen and to Mordecai the Jew,...” As we read the beginning of
this verse we note some additional information that we were not
exposed to earlier. Mordecai was with Queen Esther when she made her
plea. We knew from verses one and two in chapter eight that the king
elevated Mordecai as second in command under him, but we now see that
he continued to be in the king's presence as Esther made her request.
The king answers both of them as he responds to Queen Esther's
desire.
The
verse goes on to say, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of
Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows,...” The king
begins by referring to what he has already done for Esther. He gave
her Haman's house and authorized the hanging of Haman upon his own
gallows. As a way of introduction in his answer, King Ahasuerus
demonstrates his compassion for Esther's request as he employs the
word “Behold” which means “to look at, consider, or take
observance of”. In other words, Esther is to remember what he has
already done for her in the past to be sure she knows he cares about
her concerns for the future.
Finally
the verse reads, “ because he laid his hand upon the Jews.” As
the king gets closer to responding specifically to Esther's plea, he
repeats the reason why Haman was hung and his house given to her.
Haman dared to lay his hand upon the Jews, and he paid the ultimate
price for it. It is certain that Haman had no idea that Queen Esther
was a Jew, and his hatred for Mordecai and his rebellion was the
stimulus for his evil plan. However, once again, God knew the heart
of Haman, and God was overlooking His people. No one, not Haman nor
anyone else, would get away with laying their hands upon the chosen
people of God, the Jews.
As we
consider the protective mode of King Ahasuerus and his reminder to
Queen Esther that he stands in such manner, we too should be reminded
of the places where God has intervened in our lives. Before He
answers the requests of our hearts, the Almighty will often remind us
that He has been with us in the past. The assurance of His past
interventions should stimulate us to believe in Him for the cares we
have in our future as well. As we ponder the beginning of King
Ahasuerus' answer, let us ever be reminded that God Almighty has a
plan for our lives. This plan began with our creation and salvation,
and continues with a relationship and fellowship with Him from which
no one will ever be able to separate us. God preserves those He
loves.
Next
time King Ahasuerus will give permission for a special writing, so
read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” and the new marriage book “So, You Want
to Be Married” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
No comments:
Post a Comment