This chapter takes place a little bit after Haman had been hung.
Esther 8:2
"The king took off his signet ring—which he had taken back from Haman—and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai to be in charge of Haman's property." (NLT)
Esther 8:5-10
"Esther said, 'If it please the king, and if I have found favor with him, and if he thinks it is right, and if I am pleasing to him, let there be a decree that reverses the orders of Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, who ordered that Jews throughout all the king's provinces should be destroyed. For how can I endure to see my people and my family slaughtered and destroyed?' Then King Xerxes said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, 'I have given Esther the property of Haman, and he has been impaled on a pole because he tried to destroy the Jews. Now go ahead and send a message to the Jews in the king's name, telling them whatever you want, and seal it with the king's signet ring. But remember that whatever has already been written in the king's name and sealed with his signet ring can never be revoked.' So on June 25 the king's secretaries were summoned, and a decree was written exactly as Mordecai dictated. It was sent to the Jews and to the highest officers, the governors, and the nobles of all the 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. The decree was written in the scripts and languages of all the peoples of the empire, including that of the Jews. The decree was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the king's signet ring. Mordecai sent the dispatches by swift messengers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king's service." (NLT)
I really liked these verses because it shows that all of the waiting that Mordecai and Esther did, pulled through in the end. God was with them the whole time and had a plan for them. They really showed the strength of their faith. Their wisdom, trust, and paitience in God finally paid off. The king took his signet ring, which he had taken back from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. This automatically gave Mordecai the position and authority in the kingdom that Haman had had. Queen Esther then appointed Mordecai to be in charge of Haman’s estate.
Also, I loved when Esther went to the King to ask. Although she was Queen and knew that the King had found favor in her, she was still humble and knew that it was a large request she was going to ask him. But she knew it had to be done. Not for her safety, or revenge on an enemy, but for the safety of her people.
Esther 8:15-17
"Then Mordecai left the king's presence, wearing the royal robe of blue and white, the great crown of gold, and an outer cloak of fine linen and purple. And the people of Susa celebrated the new decree. The Jews were filled with joy and gladness and were honored everywhere. In every province and city, wherever the king's decree arrived, the Jews rejoiced and had a great celebration and declared a public festival and holiday. And many of the people of the land became Jews themselves, for they feared what the Jews might do to them." (NLT)
I love how this whole thing worked out. God turned what looked to be an impossible situtation, into reality. He completely turned the tables on evil ones and raised up those he loved. it just shows that God can do any, and all things. He really turned this whole thing around. Sometimes when something looks like it’s the absolute end, it is actually the beginning. We may not recognize it right away, but later on we’ll see how God worked for us in answer to our heartfelt prayers. Which is exactly what happened in the story of Esther.
"They say good things come to those who wait, but the best things come to those who pray."
-Anonymous
That's it for chapter 8! Tomorrow is Chapter 9! I hope you all are having a wonderful week! BYE :) :) :)
2 comments:
I liked verse 3-5 because you could see how scared Esther was, but in spite of her fear, she was able to confront the king anyway. She shows how much she trusts God because if the king didn't raise his golden scepter, Esther would have been killed.
3Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews. 4When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, 5Esther rose and stood before the king. And she said, "If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king. Esther 8:3-5
Catherine I really liked what you said about how we might not always recognize at the time what is going on, but we have to know that God is in control and he is going to handle it.
I also liked verses 3-4. Here they are again:
Then Esther went again before the king, falling down at his feet and begging him with tears to stop the evil plot devised by Haman the Agagite against the Jews. (4) Again the king held out the golden scepter to Esther. So she rose and stood before him. (NLT)
I think the most important word in both of these verse is "again". "Again" Esther went and saw the king. She was risking her life "again" for her people and for God. That is something I hope I can do. Stand up for God when it is right and to be courageous enough to do so.
You're doing such a great job on the blog Catherine! I like the quote you had on there today! :)
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