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Speaker 1: I'm John Stangi, and today we're in Esther chapter eight,
Speaker 1: and we'll be reading from the message. That same day,
Speaker 1: King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Hayman archenemy
Speaker 1: of the Jews, and Mordecai came before the king because
Speaker 1: Esther had explained their relationship. The king took off his
Speaker 1: signet ring, which he had taken back from Haman, and
Speaker 1: gave it to Mordecai. Esther appointed Mordecai over Hayman's estate.
Speaker 1: Then Esther again spoke to the king, falling at his feet,
Speaker 1: begging with tears to counter the evil of Haman the
Speaker 1: Agagite and revoke the plan that he had plotted against
Speaker 1: the Jews. And the king extended his gold scepter to Esther.
Speaker 1: She got to her feet and stood before the king.
Speaker 1: She said, if it pleased the King, and he regards
Speaker 1: me with favor and thinks this is right, and if
Speaker 1: he has any affection for me at all, let an
Speaker 1: order be written that cancels the bulletins authorizing the plan
Speaker 1: of Hayman, son of Hamadatha the Agagite, to annihilate the
Speaker 1: Jews in all the King's provinces. How can I stand
Speaker 1: to see this catastrophe wipe out my people? How can
Speaker 1: I bear to stand by and watch the massacre of
Speaker 1: my own relatives. King Xerxes said to Queen Esther and
Speaker 1: Mordecai the Jew, I've given Hayman's estate to Esther, and
Speaker 1: he's been hanged on the gallows because he attacked the Jews.
Speaker 1: So go ahead now and write whatever you decide on
Speaker 1: behalf of the Jews, then seal it with the signet ring.
Speaker 1: An order written in the King's name and sealed with
Speaker 1: his signet ring is irrevocable. So the king's secretaries were
Speaker 1: brought in on the twenty third day of the third month,
Speaker 1: the month of Savan, and the order regarding the Jews
Speaker 1: was written word for word as Mordecai dictated, and was
Speaker 1: addressed to the satraps, governors and officials of the provinces
Speaker 1: from India to Ethiopia, one hundred twenty seven provinces in all,
Speaker 1: to each province in its own script, and each people
Speaker 1: in their own language, including the Jews in their script
Speaker 1: and language. He wrote under the name of King Xerxes
Speaker 1: and sealed the order with the royal signet ring. He
Speaker 1: sent out the bulletins by couriers on horseback, writing the
Speaker 1: fastest royal steeds bred from the royal stud The King's
Speaker 1: order authorized the Jews in every city to arm and
Speaker 1: defend themselves to the death, killing anyone who threatened them
Speaker 1: or their women and children, and confiscating for themselves anything
Speaker 1: owned by their enemies. The day set for this in
Speaker 1: all King xerxes provinces was the thirteenth day of the
Speaker 1: twelfth month, the month of Adar. The order was posted
Speaker 1: in public places in each province so everyone could read it,
Speaker 1: authorizing the Jews to be prepared on that day to
Speaker 1: avenge themselves on their enemies. The couriers, fired up by
Speaker 1: the King's order, raced off on their royal horses. At
Speaker 1: the same time the order was posted in the palace
Speaker 1: complex of Susa, Mordecai walked out of the king's presence
Speaker 1: wearing a royal robe of violet and white, a huge
Speaker 1: gold crown, and a purple cape of fine linen. The
Speaker 1: city of Susa exploded with joy. For Jews, it was
Speaker 1: all sunshine and laughter. They celebrated, they were honored. It
Speaker 1: was that way all over the country, in every province,
Speaker 1: every city. When the Kings bulletin was posted, the Jews
Speaker 1: took to the streets in celebration, cheering and feasting. Not
Speaker 1: only that, but many non Jews became Jews. Now it
Speaker 1: was dangerous not to be a Jew. Let's pray, Lord,
Speaker 1: we thank you for your word, and we thank you
Speaker 1: for the privilege of being able to look at it
Speaker 1: together today, and we thank you, Lord that we have
Speaker 1: the opportunity to witness this turn of events, as you
Speaker 1: supernaturally and providentially protected the Jewish people in the midst
Speaker 1: of this time of persecution that they were experiencing. Lord,
Speaker 1: we're grateful to see this, and we're grateful Lord that
Speaker 1: this is the type of thing that you do for
Speaker 1: your people in all generations. You ultimately work all things
Speaker 1: together for the good of those who love you, and Lord,
Speaker 1: we're grateful for that fact. We're grateful for the fact that,
Speaker 1: through faith in your son Jesus Christ, we know you,
Speaker 1: we're close to you, we walk with you, and you
Speaker 1: strengthen our faith daily and you remind us time and
Speaker 1: time again that you can be trusted. We're grateful, Lord
Speaker 1: for these truths. We're grateful for all that you've taught us,
Speaker 1: and we're grateful for your presence with us today. And
Speaker 1: we commit this day to your care, and we thank
Speaker 1: you for your providence in it. We pray this all
Speaker 1: in Jesus' name. Amen,