The Commandment was Published Esther 8:13 - Equipped for Battle

As our story in Esther continues, we have seen the writing of a second law by Mordecai who has been made second in command throughout King Ahasuerus' Persian empire. This law was to counteract the first edict which called for the extermination of the Jewish people scattered throughout the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces in the Persian kingdom. In chapter eight and verse thirteen we see the actual publishing of this command and the importance it served for the Jews. We read:

The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

The verse begins, “The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people,...” Confirmation of this second law went into effect once it was put into writing. As we recall from previous studies, whenever a law was written in the Persian empire it could not be altered even by the reigning king. The fact that this command was not only written but also “published” which means “uncovered, revealed, disclosed or made known” for everyone in the kingdom to know meant that the law was established, and no one could change it.

The verse goes on to say, “...and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.” This law provided the protection the Jews needed against the previous law which gave others the right to destroy them. With this new law the Jews could prepare themselves for those who might attack them. They knew the day of destruction appointed by the first law, and they knew the threat which lie ahead for them should they not be protected. With this new law whatever it took to prepare themselves could be put in place before the attack. They could avenge themselves of any foe who came up against them.

What if we knew we were going to be under attack on a certain day? What if we knew a day when someone was going to attempt to destroy us, attack us, or eliminate our families? How would we respond? What would we do to get ourselves ready for our enemy's plan to rid the world of us? If we think about this long enough, we will realize that we are under attack every day. The enemy of our soul desires to destroy us, eliminate us, and counteract any blessing that we might be to the kingdom of God. God allowed for this defensive law of the Jews to be written and published throughout the vast Persian empire, and He also caused His provision of protection to be written and published for us as well – the Bible. When we consider that the all-knowing God gave us His law, His word, and His way of escape, we now may avenge ourselves of our enemy by taking up our sword, the Bible, and defending ourselves with it. May we ever more be about the defense He has given.

Next time we will see the fulfillment of the spreading of the law, 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