mymedcorner.net

Esther

Esther

The entire book has no mention of ‘God’ or ‘the Lord’ as other books of the Bible do. Nevertheless, throughout the 9 chapters of the book, many places disclose the intervention of the hand of God as the story of Esther is told. Many incidents occur by coincidence and the timing is so perfect while the story is developing. The aim is obvious: it is God’s work of saving the Jews from the hand of their enemies behind the scene. Or they would have been annihilated during the reign of the Persian King Ahasuerus. In addition, this awesome event of God’s salvation has to be remembered by every generation of the Jews by virtue of the festive days of Purim. Here are the places in the book where we can find God’s doing:

Queen Vashti refused to show her beauty before the notable guests of the king. The king felt ashamed and asked his princes (大臣) what to do with the queen. They suggested that she be withdrawn and her royal state be given to someone better than her. Although the king still remembered Queen Vashti afterward, his servants suggested that he choose a fair young virgin throughout the country to be the queen. This created an opportunity for Esther to be elected as the queen. (1:10-2:4)
Mordecai sent in Esther and her beauty was pleased by Hegai (希該), keeper of the women. He granted her special treatment and speedily gave her the things for purification as well as seven maidens to serve her. Moreover, he arranged for her and her maids (宮女) to reside in the best place of the house of the women (女院上好的房屋). All this preferred treatment gave her the competitive edge when she competed with other virgins for the chance to be singled out by the king. (2:5-9)
After Esther had become the queen, Mordecai sat in the king’s gate (朝門). He had no official title given him yet because he charged Esther not to disclose her Jewish identity and nobody in the palace knew his relationship with the queen. While sitting in the king’s gate in those days, he overheard two chamberlains (太監) among those who kept the door discussing their conspiracy to lay hand on the king. This evil plot was reported by Esther to the king in Mordecai’s name, meaning that it was Mordecai sitting in the king’s gate who discovered the plot. After the matter was over, it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king. (2:19-23)
When Esther had decided to go to the inner court (內院) without being called, she put on her royal apparel (朝服) on the third day of fasting and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house (進王宮的內院，對殿站立). The king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house (王在殿裡坐在寶座上，對著殿門). It so happened that the king noticed the queen standing in the inner court, and she immediately obtained favour in his sight. He allowed her in and held out the golden scepter for Esther to touch. Thus she escaped the danger of violating the law. The king promised to grant her any request, even the half of his kingdom. (5:1-3)
When Haman (哈曼) complained of Mordecai’s disrespect before him, his wife and friends suggested that he make a gallows (木架) and request the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows before joining the queen’s banquet for the second time. (5:9-14)
The night before the banquet and right before Haman entered the outer court, the king couldn’t sleep and called his servants to read the chronicles for him. It so happened that Mordecai’s achievement of saving the king’s life was read. After knowing that no reward had yet been given to Mordecai, the king thought of doing something to honour him. At this moment, Haman was entering the outward court and was noticed by the king. The king first asked him to give counsel of honouring someone he delighted to honour, without telling him who that was at the beginning. As Haman thought in his mind that the king meant to honour him, Haman gave the counsel of giving the person the highest honour ever, namely wearing the king’s royal apparel and riding on the king’s royal horse with royal crown on the head. He even suggested getting one of the king’s most noble princes to lead the honoured person through (走遍) the street of the city and proclaim, "Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour." To his utter despair, Haman was told to serve Mordecai in the manner exactly as he himself suggested. The honour that he anticipated to receive was given to his enemy and he turned out to be the servant of his enemy! At the same time, his evil scheme of hanging Mordecai, the king’s favourable person, on the gallows was totally screwed up. (6:1-11)
While Haman’s wife and his wise men were predicting Haman’s fall before Mordecai, Haman was called to join the queen’s banquet—a death banquet. (6:12-14)
As soon as the king was told at the banquet of Haman’s evil plot of killing the queen and her Jewish people, he went to the palace garden furiously, not knowing how to deal with it. In the meantime, Haman pleaded with the queen to save his life. On his return, the king saw Haman lying on Esther’s bed! (The place of the banquet might be the queen’s room.) The king was so mad and cried out, "Will he force the queen also before me in the house (他竟敢在宮內、在我面前凌辱王后嗎)?" His chamberlains heard his cry and caught Haman right away. One of the chamberlains happened to know of Haman’s plot of hanging Mordecai on the gallows in his own house. He immediately told the king about it. The king naturally executed Haman’s evil plot upon Haman himself. (7:6-10)
The king gave Haman’s house (家產) to the queen, who in turn set Mordecai over Haman’s house (管理家產). After the queen revealed to the king her relationship with Mordecai, the king took his ring from Haman and gave to Mordecai. Now, Mordecai had charge over Haman’s property and even officially took his second seat in the Persian kingdom. (8:1-2)
After the queen obtained the king’s permission to write another letter to reverse Haman’s letters, Mordecai’s command was written and sent out to all the people. Many people became Jews (入了猶大籍) for fear of the Jews. Perhaps they were the enemies before who wanted to lay hand on the Jews according to Haman’s letters but now feared that the Jews would lay hand on them instead. To be safe, they became Jews and thus the friends of the Jews. (8:15-17)
On the 13^th day of the month Adar, “the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them”, it turned out that “the Jews had rule (轄制) over them that hated them” and killed their enemies. “No man could withstand (敵擋) them, for the fear of them fell upon all people.” Even the royal officials helped the Jews and protected their lives for fear of Mordecai. Thus, the Jews who were despised before in another country were highly respected by the people all around. (9:1-5)

Implications

God controls everything that happens around us. He causes or allows things to happen according to His will and for some very special purpose. Things that we find or think to be coincidental are actually the perfect arrangement in His time.
God hates the pride of mankind who disdains human lives and completely ignores the righteousness of God. They must bear the consequence of their wickedness ultimately.
God is ready to answer those who are in urgent need of help and plead with Him seriously. Fasting is a pleasing and effective way to beg for His mercy. Unfortunately, the believers nowadays do not often pay much attention to fasting prayers even in critical matters. Believers who practice fasting prayers are only among the very few. As for the Muslims, however, they practice fasting for one whole month every year in their Ramadan month. Their piety is worthy for us to think about.
God grants us opportunity to fulfill His will. If we do not cherish the opportunity to serve Him, He can always arrange for others to fulfill the sacred task, since He can easily change the situations around us. We are merely His instruments to get things done according to His will. We should always be reminded with Esther 4:14, “who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this (焉知你得了王后的位分不是為現今的機會嗎)?”