March 3 The Third Day

Esther 5:1 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, in front of the king’s quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace.
 
“ON the third day” as recorded in Scripture is often a time of some significant event. The most evident is recorded in Luke 24:45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead.”
    There are about four dozen references to “on the third day” in Scripture. Obviously, there’s a reason. For example, see in Jesus’ first miracle: John 2:1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Then we note in Genesis 1:12-13 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
    We now move forward to see Abraham walking to Mt. Moriah to sacrifice his son Isaac: Genesis 22:4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then the Lord God revealed himself to his people this way: Exodus 19:11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
    The third day is also related to many worship, repentance and purification laws as in Leviticus 19:6 It shall be eaten the same day you offer it or on the day after, and anything left over until the third day shall be burned up with fire. We see, too, the Lord God’s three-day command as he heals King Hezekiah: 2 Kings 20:5-6 “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord, 6 and I will add fifteen years to your life.’” So, why “the third day”?
    Have you noticed that “the third day” is a time of revealing God’s light of new, transforming life? From the Lord forming life on earth on the third day of creation, to Abraham going to Mt. Moriah, to God descending from the mountain, to ritual cleansings, to Hezekiah’s healing and Jesus’ resurrection, “on the third day” is a mark of time to expect God to reveal himself to his people.
    That certainly is what happens here in Esther 5. God reveals to Esther her fate before the king. Esther has turned to God and waited on God. God will act in his purpose. Esther has been faithful to call on the Lord. God will come, and she will see the light of his life.
    Three days is also a practical timetable, isn’t it? Most of us who have made some major decisions in our lives know it is good to wait for a day or so to reach a right conclusion. But if we wait too long, the opportunity or the circumstances could change to our detriment.
    And in conclusion, “three days” also meant in Hebrew, “a little while”. When Jesus told his disciples he would be killed and then rise in three days, they could have understood him to mean he would come in triumph to establish his kingdom in a “little while” after his crucifixion. Thus, in the literal fulfillment of “on the third day” the disciples were greatly amazed. This added to their faith and their passion to go and proclaim the gospel. After all, they were following the Light of the World, who called them to be the light of truth into the world.
 
Prayer: Lord God, help me to see in three days a decision I must make for you. Grant to me this time of discernment, prayer and fasting. Then cause me to rise up to go do as you bid. In Jesus’ name, amen. (When I wrote this in January, I was praying over a call to go to Ghana. The Lord has said, “Go.” And Barb and I go on April 4-19.)