Rest, feasting and gladness
had begun for the Jews all over the one hundred and twenty-seven
provinces of the Persian empire. They were successful in defending
themselves against their foes who were driven to exterminate them,
and a celebration was in order. In chapter nine and verse eighteen we
learn more about what happened at Shushan where the winter palace of
King Ahasuerus and Queen Esther was located. We read:
But the Jews that were
at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof,
and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of
the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
Our
verse begins, “But the Jews that were at Shushan
assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and
on the fourteenth thereof;...” We recall from earlier verses
that the Jews were gathered together on the thirteenth and fourteenth
days of the month of Adar to defend themselves against the foes who
rose up against them. They defeated five hundred men on the
thirteenth day in the palace of Shushan as well as the ten sons of
Haman and three hundred other men located in Shushan on the
fourteenth day. This verse reviews the assembling of the Jews at
Shushan, and then leads to the rest, feasting and gladness that was
being experienced all over the kingdom.
The
verse goes on to say, “and on the fifteenth day
of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.”
It is as if this part of the verse says, “the Jews in Shushan
had to battle on both the thirteenth and fourteenth days of Adar, and
they finally rested on the fifteenth like the other Jews throughout
the kingdom”. Though the Jews in Shushan were victorious as well,
their celebration didn't actually begin until the fifteenth day.
Nonetheless the Jews in Shushan rested, feasted and were glad on
their day of celebration like the others.
There
are times where it takes a little longer to win some battles than
others. Sometimes we may be inclined to wonder why someone else goes
through a difficult time very quickly and we have to wait. Different
people experience situations and circumstances for different reasons.
For the Jews in Shushan, the battles took a little longer, and though
they were, rest, feasting and gladness finally came. Perhaps as we
ponder this verse we too will feel like we are in a never ending
battle and there never seems to be time for rest. Let us take heart
in this, the Lord God Almighty knows the timing of every experience,
and though the battle last for a while, He has our rest, a time of
feasting, and gladness ready to be distributed by His grace. In the
mean time, let us wage the war against our foes, and allow Him to
determine the timing of it all.
Next
time we will see the Jews establish this new feast day, 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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