Thanks Marg, you constantly open my eyes to see things afresh! Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. “For such a time as this” (Esther 4) ... Jobes, Esther (The NIV Application Commentary; Zondervan Academic) Kindle Edition, location 1882. By God’s grace she chose right, saying that she would go through it and play her assigned role, and if she should perish, “then she would perish” (Ester 4:16). This is what happened with Mordecai and Esther, and just as He did with them, we too can be sure the Lord will also wake us from our spiritual stupor to serve the kingdom. It is hard to imagine what it would have been like for women, and for men, thousands of years ago. The question is whether we will speak up when called upon, or will we “remain silent.”. “All the royal officials and the people of the royal provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner courtyard and who has not been summoned—the death penalty— unless the king extends the gold scepter, allowing that person to live. Become a Patron! Your email address will not be published. 11.6.1 §190). One thing that is certain, God will have his way and accomplish his purposes. 2:10). All the royal officials bow to Haman but, for some undisclosed reason, Mordecai refuses. Saul lost his crown because of his disobedience (1 Sam. Josephus presents the king and the situation in a positive light: “When Esther had come to him, he was pleased with her, and fell in love with the girl, and married her, and made her his lawful wife …” (Ant. Josephus writes that four hundred such virgins were added to the harem in this way. Chapter four of Esther opens with Mordecai learning of Haman’s plot to annihilate the Jews. Bible Commentary Bible Verses Devotionals Faith Prayers Coloring Pages Pros and Cons, 30 Compelling Bible Scriptures on Poverty, Genesis 2:24 Meaning of They Become One Flesh, Isaiah 45:7 Meaning of I Form the Light and Create Darkness, Hebrews 9:27 Meaning of People Are Destined to Die Once, Genesis 3:22 Meaning of the Man Has Now Become like One of Us, Galatians 5:13 Meaning of Serve One Another Humbly in Love, 10 Powerful Prayers for a Wedding Reception, Whatever Your Hand Finds to Do Meaning and Meditation, Ephesians 5:11 Meaning of Fruitless Deeds of Darkness, Ephesians 4:30 Meaning of Do Not Grieve the Holy Spirit. Life inside a harem was heavily supervised and greatly restricted, and it was competitive. All too often, we are just like Esther and Mordecai. Maybe their lives would be threatened if others knew they were Jewish? Chapter 4 in the Hebrew Bible, however, simply closes with the line, “So Mordecai went and did everything Esther had commanded him” (Esth. Esther was made queen in the seventh year of his reign, 479 B.C. Or, it is possible Mordecai does not care to imitate saints like Joseph and Nehemiah and submit to earthly rulers (Gen. 41:37–45; Neh. 2:3, 4, 12). Thanks Marg. There’s was more I could have written about the male characters, but I wanted to focus on Esther. Most could have been taken against their will and against the hopes of their families who might never see their girls again. . These are the brave and determined words of a heroine. Gender Obsessions: Emphasizing our Differences or our Similarities? Even keeping in mind that the values in modern western culture are very different from those in the culture of ancient Persia, it’s hard to say if joining Xerxes’ harem held any appeal to any of the girls except perhaps to those who had experienced extreme adversity and were grateful for the luxurious seclusion of palace life. The Septuagint even records Mordecai’s and Esther’s prayers (Greek Esther C:1-30). And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Est. Esther may have been as young as 12 years old when she was taken. The Next 500 Years: 2017 National Conference, Show Me Your Glory: Understanding the Majestic Splendor of God, La Biblia de Estudio de La Reforma, Spanish Edition, Naming Ligonier the Beneficiary of a Bank or Investment Account, Gifts That Provide Income and Tax Benefits. This record will later cause Mordecai to be honoured and Haman to be humiliated. God may very well have said to Adam, “relief and deliverance will come from another place,” having in mind his Son, Jesus Christ, who was planned to be the lamb slain since the foundation of the world (Rev 3:8) even before Adam had ever sinned. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4: 13-14 (NIV)) The story ends well. Marg Mowczko lives north of Sydney, Australia, in a house filled with three generations of family. Or was Esther being shrewd? Perhaps she realised that the best way to survive the harem was to listen to Mordecai who had experience with palace politics and to Hegai who knew all about life in the harem. But what was it about Esther that he found so appealing? 2:1–8), thereby revealing a lack of faith. 11.6.1 §190) Karen Jobes provides a time frame for elements in the story. I and my female servants will also fast in the same way. Haman is an Agagite which means he is from Agag the Amalekite, and this group were supposed to be blotted out earlier in the story of Israel. First published in Tabletalk Magazine, an outreach of Ligonier. Despite the way Esther claimed the throne, she desired to save her people once Haman’s threat awakened her to what was right. In Esther 2:8 we read that Esther is one of the virgins “taken” (laqakh, לָקַח) to the palace in Susa. It was against Persian law for anyone to appear before the king unbidden, and this law had a death penalty for those who disobeyed and displeased the king. KJV For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? . For permissions, view our Copyright Policy. Marg has a BTh from the Australian College of Ministries and an MA with a specialisation in early Christian and Jewish studies from Macquarie University. Her words help her reputation. They weren’t competing for a marvellous prize.
Supplementary Meaning In Urdu, Greek Goddess Shampoo, Ventral Synonym Anatomy, Wedding Cake Prices, How Much Money Do You Get From Cash Assistance?, Laskar Pelangi Plot, Padma Halal Food Japan, Cream Cheese Dish, 7 Inch Single Row Led Light Bar, Ontario Temperature Map, Federal Prosecutor Salary, Jumpstart Academy School, Note 20 Wallet Case, Lipstick Under My Burkha Cast, Graphic Design Competition Website, Flo Control Solenoid Valve, Cù Sìth Pronunciation, Mage Of Life, Waring Pro Blender Parts 51bl26, Date And Walnut Cake Recipe, Mouni Roy Net Worth, Gordon Ramsay's Fast Food Pdf, Kabaddi Rules And Regulations,