King Ahasuerus has begun his
answer to the tearful request of Queen Esther to save her people the
Jews from the extermination inspired by Haman. Although Haman was
dead, the law of the Persians was irreversible. In chapter eight and
verse eight, we see the king issue a writing that will help the Jews
defend against the charge. We read:
Write also for the
Jews, as it likes you, in the king's name, and seal it with
the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name,
and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.
The
verse begins, “Write also for the Jews, as it likes you, in the
king's name, and seal it with the king's ring:...”
Though the first law could not be reversed even by the king
himself, there was no law that said another law could not be written
to defend against the first one. King Ahasuerus defers the answer to
both Queen Esther and Mordecai who are before his throne in
intercession. He says, “write,...as it likes you” or in
other words, write what you would like the law to say. He adds that
they may write their words “in the king's name” and “seal
it with the king's ring” which means that he will stand behind
whatever they write. The king knows their concern, and there is no
one who will know better what to write than they.
The
verse goes on to say, “for the writing which is written in the
king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.”
King Ahasuerus knows the Persian law well, and he reiterates it
for Queen Esther and Mordecai. He knows the first law to destroy the
Jews has already been written and cannot be changed, however, if
another law is written that defends against that first law, that also
will not be able to be changed. Notice too “may no man reverse”
is the key component to what was written in both occasions. As we
have shared previously, once the Persian law was in place, not even
the king could alter it. What Queen Esther and Mordecai would write
would be as much law as the edict to destroy them.
It might
seem like a simple statement, but “God's word is God's word.”
What God has written, no man may reverse it. God is not fickle like
man who changes laws all the time just for the sake of changing them,
but rather He stands upon His word. As we consider the compassion of
King Ahasuerus and his willingness to solve the problem for Queen
Esther, let us keep in mind that God Almighty has written words that
intervene on our behalf as well. Let's remember the words of the
Psalmist in chapter one hundred thirty eight and verse two:
I will worship toward
your holy temple, and praise your name for your lovingkindness and
for your truth: for you have magnified your word above all your name.
Next
time we will see the king's scribes get involved in this 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
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