Purim - Jewish holiday commemorating the story of Esther- Monday-Tuesday this week.
The story of Esther opens with a lavish banquet at the palace of King Xerxes. The king had become drunk with wine and commanded that his wife, Queen Vashti come at once, to show everyone how beautiful she was. Queen Vashti refused to obey her husband and didn’t come when he beckoned. The king was so enraged at her disrespect and disobedience that he decided to divorce her.
The king then arranged for all the beautiful virgins in his kingdom to come forth – a type of beauty pageant – so that he could choose a new queen.
Esther, a beautiful young Jewish woman in the kingdom, who had been raised by her cousin Mordecai when her parents died, was among those who were summoned to the palace. Before she left, Mordecai told Esther not to tell anyone her nationality as it could be very dangerous for her. There were many who despised the Jews. There was a man named Hegai who was put in charge of preparing the women for meeting the king. Hegai was struck by Esther’s beauty, and she was given special attention.
When Esther was called before the king to “be paraded”, he immediately was drawn to her for her beauty and placed the queen’s crown on her head. King Xerxes then held a grand banquet for his new queen, Esther.
One night while Mordecai was sitting by the king’s gate, he overheard two guards conspiring to assassinate King Xerxes. Mordecai immediately told Queen Esther of the plan and Esther told the king. She of course, gave the credit to Mordecai for his protection of the king and the two guards were hanged.
The King had a “right hand man”, Haman who was full of pride and haught. When Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman This bothered Haman to the point of rage. When Haman found out that Mordecai was a Jew, he decided to kill not just Mordecai, but all the Jewish nation. To carry out his evil plan, Haman convinced King Xerxes that the Jews opposed the king and advised that they all be killed to protect the king. The King, relying on his most trusted adviser, agreed, and set a date for the Jews to be killed.
When Mordecai learned of Haman and the king’s plan, he told Esther about it. He implored her to approach the king to stop it. Of course, Esther was afraid for her own life, too. No one was to approach the king, without being first called before him. Ester tried to avoid taking any action, but Mordecai again pleaded with Queen Esther to do something to save the Jewish people.
Esther 4:14(AMPC)
14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?
Finally, Esther instructed all the Jews to join her in fasting for three days and three nights. At the end of those three days, she would then approach the king with her request.
As promised, Esther went to King Xerxes after the period of fasting. The king asked her what her request was and told her she could have up to half the kingdom if she pleased. Queen Esther requested that the king and Haman join her at a banquet the next day. The king said yes, of course, and asked Esther to tell him about her request at the banquet.
Meanwhile Haman was still so infuriated with Mordecai that the morning before the banquet, he went to set up the pole to impale Mordecai.
The king could not sleep that night and began to read the book which listed all that occurred during his reign. The king reread and was reminded of how Mordecai saved his life by exposing the plot to assassinate him. He decided that Mordecai deserved a reward for this good deed, so he called Haman to seek his advice.
He asked Haman what should be done for a man whom the king “delights in.” Haman, being the self-centered, boastful man that he was, thought the king was referring to him. He responded by saying that the man should be rewarded with land, gifts, and honor.
When the king revealed that the one who he was delighted by was Mordecai, Haman was furious!
The next day, during the banquet Queen Esther had arranged for the King and Haman, the king again asked Esther what her request was.
Esther, using all the bravery she could muster, boldly requested that she and her people be spared. She further shared that Haman had been the one plotting to kill all Jews. The king was filled with anger against Haman and had him hanged on the very pole that Haman had set up for Mordecai.
Queen Esther and Mordecai were given Haman’s estate and were honored with royal garments. The king also wrote a special decree to protect all Jews.
Esther 9:2-5(NKJV)
2 The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, because fear of them fell upon all people.
3 And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and all those doing the king’s work, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.
4 For Mordecai was great in the king’s palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai became increasingly prominent.
5 Thus the Jews defeated all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, with slaughter and destruction, and did what they pleased with those who hated them.
Esther 4:14(AMPC)
14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?
Matthew 11:12(NKJV)
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
(NLT)
the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing,
Matthew 11:12(AMPC)
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize—a [d]share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].
Matthew 11:12(TPT)
12From the moment John stepped onto the scene until now, the realm of heaven’s kingdom is bursting forth, and passionate people have taken hold of its power.
1 Timothy 1:18-19(NKJV)
18 This [f]charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,
19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,
1 Peter 5:8-10(NKJV)
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be [c]sober, be [d]vigilant; [e]because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But [f]may the God of all grace, who called [g]us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, [h]perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
Perfect
to render, i.e. to fit, sound, complete
to mend (what has been broken or rent), to repair
to complete
to fit out, equip, put in order, arrange, adjust
to fit or frame for one's self, prepare
Establish
to make stable, place firmly, set fast, fix
to strengthen, make firm
to render constant, confirm, one's mind
Strengthen
to make strong, strengthen
of one's soul
Settle
to lay the foundation, to found
to make stable, establish
2 Corinthians 2:10-11(NKJV)
10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For [b]if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.