Imagine you are living in one of the areas of London where there is a significant Jewish population. This year on the 21st March you will witness a party. Children will be out in fancy hats, dressed up and waving swords. There will be food and drink in abundance—including funny little triangular cakes (called Haman’s ears). There will be mock beauty contests. Heroes will be cheered and villains hissed. Gifts are taken to the elderly. There will be the sound of crackers and rattles that resemble the old football shakers. This is the feast of Purim.
You see the 21st March this year coincides with the fourteenth of Adar, the twelfth month of the Jewish year. The roots of this feast are found in the book of Esther. We see the instigation of this celebration in this morning’s passage!
Chapter 8—‘Deliverance brings us joy’
At the beginning of chapter 8 King Xerxes gives Esther the estate of Haman—in that society the property of condemned criminals was forfeited to the crown. Esther has now revealed how she is related to Mordecai. The king took off the signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman’s estate.
Haman may be dead but there is still a major problem—the edict ordering the annihilation of the Jews. Esther approached the king and begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite. However under the Persian legal system of the time such an edict could not be revoked. So King Xerxes tells Esther and Mordecai to write another decree that will defend them against the first. They are to seal this second decree with the king’s signet ring—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with him ring can be revoked.
At once the royal secretaries are summoned. The edict is issued, sealed and speedily delivered throughout the empire. This edict granted the Jews in every city the right to protect themselves: to destroy, kill and annihilate any armed force of any nationality or province that might attack them and their women and children; and to plunder the property of their enemies. The day appointed for this was the day their enemies would seek to annihilate them, the thirteenth day of the month of Adar.
I think that the next thing we see foreshadows Jesus. Having delivered the rescue of his people Mordecai leaves the king’s presence wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown and a purple robe of fine linen. The deliverer is given a position of honour, like Jesus who delivers his people and is given all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18) and sits at the right hand of the Father.
The city Susa held a joyous celebration—Susa clearly did not share Haman’s hatred for the Jews, they had been bewildered when the edict for annihilation was passed (3:15) and are now rejoicing at the Jews deliverance. The Jews saw the issuing of the edict as a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honour. There was feasting and celebration.
Like them we have a reason for joy. There is the irrevocable fact that a holy God must punish sin, which surely meant condemnation and hell for us. However God has a means that delivers us from this irrevocable decree—the cross of Christ! This plan of salvation delivers us from a fate worse than death. Christians are not exempt from the sorrows of life, there may be much that will cause us to weep and mourn, yet in the midst of everything we know that we have a reason for a deep gladness. Our faithful God is the one who delivers us!
Chapter 9:1-17—‘It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God’
The sensitive reader may struggle when we come to chapter 9. The Jews killed over 75,000 people in one day. We should point out that these were the people who were trying to annihilate them. We can also note that the Jews were not motivated by base motives like selfish gain—repeatedly we are told that they did not lay their hands on the plunder. Nevertheless the concept of holy war, which we read of on occasion in the Old Testament, is difficult for our modern minds to accept.
We must remember that these were unique events. There is no New Testament mandate for anything similar. Now is a time when God has called his people to call on their enemies to repentance and turn to Christ for mercy and forgiveness. These events can not be used by any person or state to justify their actions today.
We must also remember that these events were an act of God’s judgement. As such they are a warning to us if we have not turned to Christ. God takes rebellion very seriously. He sees our sin as a far worse thing than we tend to imagine. There awaits a judgement that is far worse than physical death. As Hebrews 10:31 reminds us, ‘It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.’
On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand over those who hated them. The Jews assembled in their cities to attack those seeking their destruction. No-one could stand against them, because the people of all nationalities were afraid of them. And all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and the king’s administrators helped the Jews, because fear of Mordecai had seized them.
That day the Jews killed five hundred men in Susa and 75,000 of their enemies throughout the empire. Esther asked king Xerxes to extend the edict to the next day so that the bodies of Haman’s ten sons could be hanged on the gallows. That second day three hundred men were put to death in Susa. The Jews in the provinces had rested after the day after the first day of the edict and the Jews in Susa rested after the second. That is why there was two days for celebration when the feast was instituted.
Chapter 9: 18-32—‘Victory is to be celebrated’
In the second half of chapter 9 we have the institution of Purim. Mordecai recorded the events that had taken place and instructed the Jews throughout the empire to celebrate their deliverance. These had been days in which they had got relief from their enemies, when their sorrow had turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration.
Purim comes from the word Pur which means ‘lot’. In chapter 3 Haman has cast lots seeking guidance on when to act against the Jews. Yet the day that was set for their destruction turned out to be that of their deliverance. The book of Esther reminds us of the awesome sovereignty of God spoken of in the book of Proverbs, The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD (Pr. 16:33).
God’s victories are to be celebrated. The victory of this book was celebrated with Purim. Indeed if we have placed our trust in Jesus we will spend eternity celebrating the victory of the cross. C. S. Lewis wrote that ‘joy is the serious business of heaven.’ Indeed we can start that celebration now as we live our lives thankful for what God has done.
Chapter 10—‘The benevolent ruler’
The book finishes with another portrait of Mordecai that I think foreshadows Jesus. Again the deliverer is given a position of honour. He is given a position of greatness and honour, second in rank to the king. Like Christ he rule is benevolent to his people: he was pre-eminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.
Conclusion
So we’ve come to the end of the book of Esther. I want to finish these studies by thinking of four ways this book helped to prepare the way for Jesus. Remember that we read the Old Testament in light of the New Testament, we read aware of the fact that Jesus taught that all of the Scripture points to him (Luke 24:44).
We have noted that this book is part of the unfolding plan of God. God had promised a messiah who would come from the Jews. If Haman had got his way there would have been an end to the Jews, and so no Messiah, no cross and no salvation. Yet God works to preserve his people and his promise. Remember Mordecai’s words to Esther: if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will come from another place (4:14). Mordecai knew that God would deliver on his promises, no matter what. Our faith should be strengthened as we see this promise-keeping God in action. Indeed he will keep his to promise to give us the strength to keep going; he will keep his promise to let nothing separate us from his love; he will keep his promise to return again in person; he will keep his promise to be with his people to the end of the age; and he will keep his promise to work all things together for the good of those who love him.
The book of Esther demonstrates God’s sovereign control over all things. God may not be mentioned in this book but he is the one who is directing all that goes on. Even people acting in ignorance of God contribute towards God getting his way. This is the sovereign control that is demonstrated so clearly on the cross—on the cross evil people got their way and crucified an innocent man, and unwittingly partook in God getting his way to deliver people from sin. God is sovereign over all things. Let us never imagine that our lives are the subject of chance or in the hands of those who want to make things difficult for us.
We have seen that certain people seem to foreshadow Jesus. Esther and Mordecai are used in the deliverance of God’s people and so point forward to the great deliverer of God’s people. Think of Esther who risks her life to go into the king’s presence unannounced and pleads for her people, like the one who faced death for our sake. In this sermon we have seen a couple of ways in which Mordecai foreshadows Christ.
Finally, there is the Purim itself. This book had the purpose of explaining the origins of that celebration. It was designed that the Jews would not forget what God had done for them—like the Lord’s Supper is designed to remind us what Jesus has done for his people. Isn’t it tragic when we forget God’s deliverance? Isn’t it sad when Christians fail to remember that it is only because of Christ’s work on the cross that we have sure hope? When churches fail to give God the credit for being their deliverer they are on the road to empty religion! Like the Lord’s Supper, Purim surely anticipates a future celebration when in heaven we rejoice forever in God’s greatest deliverance.
You see the 21st March this year coincides with the fourteenth of Adar, the twelfth month of the Jewish year. The roots of this feast are found in the book of Esther. We see the instigation of this celebration in this morning’s passage!
Chapter 8—‘Deliverance brings us joy’
At the beginning of chapter 8 King Xerxes gives Esther the estate of Haman—in that society the property of condemned criminals was forfeited to the crown. Esther has now revealed how she is related to Mordecai. The king took off the signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman’s estate.
Haman may be dead but there is still a major problem—the edict ordering the annihilation of the Jews. Esther approached the king and begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite. However under the Persian legal system of the time such an edict could not be revoked. So King Xerxes tells Esther and Mordecai to write another decree that will defend them against the first. They are to seal this second decree with the king’s signet ring—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with him ring can be revoked.
At once the royal secretaries are summoned. The edict is issued, sealed and speedily delivered throughout the empire. This edict granted the Jews in every city the right to protect themselves: to destroy, kill and annihilate any armed force of any nationality or province that might attack them and their women and children; and to plunder the property of their enemies. The day appointed for this was the day their enemies would seek to annihilate them, the thirteenth day of the month of Adar.
I think that the next thing we see foreshadows Jesus. Having delivered the rescue of his people Mordecai leaves the king’s presence wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown and a purple robe of fine linen. The deliverer is given a position of honour, like Jesus who delivers his people and is given all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18) and sits at the right hand of the Father.
The city Susa held a joyous celebration—Susa clearly did not share Haman’s hatred for the Jews, they had been bewildered when the edict for annihilation was passed (3:15) and are now rejoicing at the Jews deliverance. The Jews saw the issuing of the edict as a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honour. There was feasting and celebration.
Like them we have a reason for joy. There is the irrevocable fact that a holy God must punish sin, which surely meant condemnation and hell for us. However God has a means that delivers us from this irrevocable decree—the cross of Christ! This plan of salvation delivers us from a fate worse than death. Christians are not exempt from the sorrows of life, there may be much that will cause us to weep and mourn, yet in the midst of everything we know that we have a reason for a deep gladness. Our faithful God is the one who delivers us!
Chapter 9:1-17—‘It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God’
The sensitive reader may struggle when we come to chapter 9. The Jews killed over 75,000 people in one day. We should point out that these were the people who were trying to annihilate them. We can also note that the Jews were not motivated by base motives like selfish gain—repeatedly we are told that they did not lay their hands on the plunder. Nevertheless the concept of holy war, which we read of on occasion in the Old Testament, is difficult for our modern minds to accept.
We must remember that these were unique events. There is no New Testament mandate for anything similar. Now is a time when God has called his people to call on their enemies to repentance and turn to Christ for mercy and forgiveness. These events can not be used by any person or state to justify their actions today.
We must also remember that these events were an act of God’s judgement. As such they are a warning to us if we have not turned to Christ. God takes rebellion very seriously. He sees our sin as a far worse thing than we tend to imagine. There awaits a judgement that is far worse than physical death. As Hebrews 10:31 reminds us, ‘It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.’
On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand over those who hated them. The Jews assembled in their cities to attack those seeking their destruction. No-one could stand against them, because the people of all nationalities were afraid of them. And all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and the king’s administrators helped the Jews, because fear of Mordecai had seized them.
That day the Jews killed five hundred men in Susa and 75,000 of their enemies throughout the empire. Esther asked king Xerxes to extend the edict to the next day so that the bodies of Haman’s ten sons could be hanged on the gallows. That second day three hundred men were put to death in Susa. The Jews in the provinces had rested after the day after the first day of the edict and the Jews in Susa rested after the second. That is why there was two days for celebration when the feast was instituted.
Chapter 9: 18-32—‘Victory is to be celebrated’
In the second half of chapter 9 we have the institution of Purim. Mordecai recorded the events that had taken place and instructed the Jews throughout the empire to celebrate their deliverance. These had been days in which they had got relief from their enemies, when their sorrow had turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration.
Purim comes from the word Pur which means ‘lot’. In chapter 3 Haman has cast lots seeking guidance on when to act against the Jews. Yet the day that was set for their destruction turned out to be that of their deliverance. The book of Esther reminds us of the awesome sovereignty of God spoken of in the book of Proverbs, The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD (Pr. 16:33).
God’s victories are to be celebrated. The victory of this book was celebrated with Purim. Indeed if we have placed our trust in Jesus we will spend eternity celebrating the victory of the cross. C. S. Lewis wrote that ‘joy is the serious business of heaven.’ Indeed we can start that celebration now as we live our lives thankful for what God has done.
Chapter 10—‘The benevolent ruler’
The book finishes with another portrait of Mordecai that I think foreshadows Jesus. Again the deliverer is given a position of honour. He is given a position of greatness and honour, second in rank to the king. Like Christ he rule is benevolent to his people: he was pre-eminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.
Conclusion
So we’ve come to the end of the book of Esther. I want to finish these studies by thinking of four ways this book helped to prepare the way for Jesus. Remember that we read the Old Testament in light of the New Testament, we read aware of the fact that Jesus taught that all of the Scripture points to him (Luke 24:44).
We have noted that this book is part of the unfolding plan of God. God had promised a messiah who would come from the Jews. If Haman had got his way there would have been an end to the Jews, and so no Messiah, no cross and no salvation. Yet God works to preserve his people and his promise. Remember Mordecai’s words to Esther: if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will come from another place (4:14). Mordecai knew that God would deliver on his promises, no matter what. Our faith should be strengthened as we see this promise-keeping God in action. Indeed he will keep his to promise to give us the strength to keep going; he will keep his promise to let nothing separate us from his love; he will keep his promise to return again in person; he will keep his promise to be with his people to the end of the age; and he will keep his promise to work all things together for the good of those who love him.
The book of Esther demonstrates God’s sovereign control over all things. God may not be mentioned in this book but he is the one who is directing all that goes on. Even people acting in ignorance of God contribute towards God getting his way. This is the sovereign control that is demonstrated so clearly on the cross—on the cross evil people got their way and crucified an innocent man, and unwittingly partook in God getting his way to deliver people from sin. God is sovereign over all things. Let us never imagine that our lives are the subject of chance or in the hands of those who want to make things difficult for us.
We have seen that certain people seem to foreshadow Jesus. Esther and Mordecai are used in the deliverance of God’s people and so point forward to the great deliverer of God’s people. Think of Esther who risks her life to go into the king’s presence unannounced and pleads for her people, like the one who faced death for our sake. In this sermon we have seen a couple of ways in which Mordecai foreshadows Christ.
Finally, there is the Purim itself. This book had the purpose of explaining the origins of that celebration. It was designed that the Jews would not forget what God had done for them—like the Lord’s Supper is designed to remind us what Jesus has done for his people. Isn’t it tragic when we forget God’s deliverance? Isn’t it sad when Christians fail to remember that it is only because of Christ’s work on the cross that we have sure hope? When churches fail to give God the credit for being their deliverer they are on the road to empty religion! Like the Lord’s Supper, Purim surely anticipates a future celebration when in heaven we rejoice forever in God’s greatest deliverance.
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