A law to save the Jews from
the demise set forth by a previous law was inspired by Mordecai and
requested to King Ahasuerus by Queen Esther. After issuing the new
law for the Jews to defend themselves throughout the land of Persia,
the king gave the command that the word should be spread everywhere.
In chapter eight and verse fourteen we read more about the new law
being heralded. We read:
So the posts
that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and
pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at
Shushan the palace.
The
verse begins, “So the posts that rode upon mules
and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by
the king's commandment.” Let us use our imaginations for a
moment as we consider this scene. Scribes within the kingdom were the
printing presses of the day, so they probably wrote several copies of
this new law. Men prepared their mules and camels, and they gather
their provisions for travel. They had their map or way in tow, and
they set out on this important postal mission. Let's note too that
they were “hastened and pressed on” by the king. This was
an urgent message, and since these posts were to travel some
distances throughout the land, timing was of the essence. We can
almost picture these men driving the camels and mules to move faster
and faster as they went.
The
verse goes on to say, “And the decree was given at Shushan the
palace.” We might recall that the palace at Shushan was the
winter palace for the kings of Persia. The significance of the timing
and place of this new message was that there is a good chance that
the other edict would not have reached its destination as yet. The
second law would need to reach the people in all of the one hundred
and twenty-seven provinces before the first law took place. Shushan
is where the first law was sent out, and where the second law was
sent out as well.
The
interesting part of this verse is that it relates closely to our
gospel commission today. People are spiritually condemned unless they
have received Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. This was the
reason Jesus came to the Earth. We, like the posts of the days of
Esther, are commissioned to share the word of salvation by Jesus
Christ throughout the vast world in which we live. It is an urgent
message, and all who hear the word of the good news of Jesus Christ
must hear it before it is too late. Perhaps as we consider this verse
we will ready ourselves as the posts in Esther's day did, and
although we might not be going out on camels and mules, the message
we carry is nonetheless eternally important. May we travel with
exuberance and excitement as we hurry to share the given decree.
Next
time we will see Mordecai dressed in royal apparel, 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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