Esther 1:1 Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces

NOW we return to the “Five E’s” – Ezekiel, Elijah, Elisha, Esther and Ephesians.

    To begin our study of Esther, I’d like to compare Esther 1:1 to Luke 2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. How are these two verses alike? As you may recall from our Advent study, one reason Luke wrote that sentence regarding Caesar Augustus was to give the evidence of historical reference to our Lord’s human birth. Historians have found a definite time to mark Jesus’ birth as they look at Rome’s and Judah’s histories. We must know Christianity’s history to defend our faith against its many detractors. Knowing God’s history also assures us he is our promise-keeping God. We can trust his Word.

    The writer of Esther does the same thing as Luke. As in many biblical writings, secular “scholars” and others who try to discredit God’s Word have created controversy over the authenticity of Esther. There are such questions as, “How could this story of a peasant girl confronting both a sovereign king and his second in command be true?” Using the references to King Ahasuerus (also known as Xerxes in some other translations) and Persia, historians look at the story’s details regarding time, customs, languages and habits of its people. They see that all the events give us a true view of other historical references to Persia and its people at that point in time.

    And what time do these events occur? This is also very important to know. It helps us to see the Lord’s plan to save you today is accomplished even through his preordained events through ancient pagan kingdoms. The time is after the Jews’ exile to Babylon. When Persia defeated Babylon, many Jews returned to Jerusalem and Judah. But many others remained and lived in Persia, formerly Babylon. Also, it is important to note the Jews, who lived in Judah, were still subject to Persia’s rule. The 127 provinces mentioned include nearly all of what we know today as the Middle East, extending from India to southern Egypt and Somalia. Ahasuerus’ decrees were supreme law over a very large territory – similar to what the Jews would later experience under Rome. Ahasuerus was an extremely powerful man.

    The reason I mention this historical information is to help you pay close attention to the central theme of Esther: God is sovereign. He is so even to use an uneducated, peasant girl of minimal faith to advance his salvation promise to the world.

    Perhaps it’s easier to see God work his sovereign plans through such Prophets as Ezekiel, Elijah and Elisha. And certainly we know God sovereignly sent his Son to earth as Luke records. But as each of us lives our “normal” lives, we must be mindful that our real God uses real people – even you – to exhibit a real, transforming faith “for such a time as this”. (Esther 4:14)

    Are you saved into the Kingdom of God through Jesus’ blood? Then you have been called to faithfully respond to the most powerful king of all.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the extraordinary ways you call me to be a faithful witness for you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Luke 2:21-24 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. 22 When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” 

WHY take pigeons to the temple? God’s law commanded this as a process of circumcision of the male child and purification for the new mother. Leviticus 12:3-5 And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying… And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting (now the temple) a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering…8 And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.  
     This is God’s law. Mary and Joseph took the pigeons to the temple because their lives are based on this core value: Obey God’s commands.
      This most basic value of life is demonstrated in this quiet obedient couple. There were no angels with trumpets announcing the Savior coming into town. There was no heavenly music, and there was no parade of the shepherds and their friends rejoicing over the child Jesus.
     The One who would make this sacrifice law obsolete by becoming the Sacrifice for mankind, came that day in the arms of his parents. Joseph and Mary persistently obeyed God’s commands.
     This is worship. This is righteousness. Matthew says, “And her husband Joseph was a righteous man.” (1:19) Joseph and Mary are living into their core value: Obey God’s commands.
     Do you feel their worshipful wonder and awe of a God who has shown himself to them in this intimate way? Knowing what Jesus has done for you, what is your core value? Do you live in worshipful awe of the Savior’s salvation?

Prayer: May our offerings, Father, be offerings of worship to you. Draw our hearts to righteous living, obeying your commands. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Luke 2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

THE angels told the shepherds to go and see the Christ child. The angels described the scene in some detail. Then the shepherds went to the manger and saw the scene “just as they had been told.” The shepherds then returned to the fields in high spirits. They saw the Savior, and they glorified God. This means they elevated him to the highest place in their hearts and minds, rejoicing in the wonder he had done.
     That’s what happens when God breaks into the darkness, bids his people to go to the Light, and they go. There are no people on this earth who glorify God more passionately than those whom God rescues from great darkness.
     A young man I know has experienced a powerful transformation in his life as God rescued him from drugs, alcohol and other addictions. He knows he had nothing to do with the rescue. He was near death in the emergency room with an overdose of drugs, and God stepped in to say, “I love you.” For a time he sought God, glorified his name, it seemed, but then old habits returned.
     Again my friend was homeless, cold and without hope. Then one night he saw the light on in a church. He walked into a room, and God held out his hand again and said, “I love you.” The church gave flesh to God’s love. They got him to the place he needed to be to heal, rest and begin anew. Joyfully, his love for Jesus has grown to great proportions. He will tell you and anyone he meets, “I love Jesus.” His life glorifies the God whose favor rescued him.
     We all need that attitude. We all have sinned. We all were dead in our sins, enemies of God; yet, God has come to say, “I love you.” Through his favor of faith on you, you are his, and he is yours.
     Have you heard the good news that Jesus is born; Jesus is crucified; Jesus has died; Jesus is alive; Jesus is ascended to Heaven? Yes, it is just as you have been told. The God of Heaven and earth, the Everlasting Father is yours.
     Find ways this year to put flesh on God’s love.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, that your gospel is true. Thank you for your light to draw me into you. Give me joy to tell all, “I love Jesus.” In his name, amen.