Living for the Kingdom
Esther 6:1-11
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
(ROMANS 8:28)
On a recent car trip, the highway I traveled became enveloped in dense fog. I prayed for safety and discernment along the nearly invisible road. Mordecai may have felt he was in a fog too - perhaps he prayed the same prayer, listening to assassins plotting the king's death. Loyal to Persia and its king, he reported the conspiracy, saving the king's life.
From this point on, the Bible story reads like the libretto for a comic opera, complete with an intrepid cast, mistaken identities, death plots, and vile villain. But this is no joke! This is the account of a historical Jewish man, displaced, yet flourishing and faithful to both his heavenly and earthly kings. Eventually, through a series of God-directed circumstances, the villain is revealed, and the Jewish people are saved.
As believers, we, too, trust God to intervene for us. We know His greatest intervention ever: sending Jesus Christ into our sinful world to save us. Our every footstep has been navigated by the Lord (see Proverbs 20:24).
INSIGHT
"IF WE HAD FAITH...IN GOD...WE WOULDN'T BE ANXIOUS OR WORRIED OR FEARFUL....FAITH AS TRUST GENERATES [AS] PAUL TILLICH SAID, 'THE COURAGE TO BE.'" (MARCUS J. BORG)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Nehemiah 5-6
Psalm 33
Mark 12
Esther 6:1-11
New International Version (NIV)
Mordecai Honored
6 That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. 2 It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
3 “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked.
“Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.
4 The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.
5 His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.”
“Bring him in,” the king ordered.
6 When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”
Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” 7 So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, 8 have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor! ’”
10 “Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”
11 So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”
MORE THAN GOLD
Throughout history gold has represented success, victory and wealth. Olympians dedicate years of their lives to win it. Yet the Bible says it will perish. Is there anything that truly lasts forever?
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