"Lighting the Fire"
Jotting – Week 47

The Hidden God

Only two books in Scripture do not contain the name of God: Esther and Song of Solomon. While this has caused many to debate the authenticity and the actual history and place in Scripture–especially of the book of Esther, God’s actions and presence are surely felt throughout the book.

While many Jews, once released from captivity, returned to Jerusalem and the surrounding area to rebuild the temple and the city, a number of them stayed behind. They had built their lives and families, their businesses and homes in this area and so chose not to join their people in the homeland.

Among those who remained were a man named Mordecai and his niece Hadassah. When King Ahasuerus (known in other translations as King Xerxes) divorces his wife, Vashti, for her disobedience to his summons, then enters Hadassah, or as we know her by her Babylonian name, Esther. Through a beauty contest, Esther wins the favor of the king, and he gives her the place of high honor as his new queen.

Then we read how, through a series of events (Esther 2:20–4:17), a plot is uncovered to have all the Jews killed–annihilated. Through fasting and mourning, Mordecai lets Esther know that she has a part to play in rescuing God’s people: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14)

Esther’s reply: “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” (4:16).

Another Victory

Esther is successful in her venture. The king holds out his scepter to her. He and the plotter are invited to a banquet–then a second banquet. The conspiracy is uncovered, the evil plans of Haman come down on his own head, and the Jews are given permission to defend themselves on the day their death had been set.

Surely the victory was God’s. Surely it was His planning, His protection that kept His people safe. God’s plan to bring the Savior into the world through His chosen people would not be squashed or sidetracked by those not privy to His purpose.
It would be possibly another 450 years before that plan was brought to fulfillment. God’s people faced more opposition, more battles, more striving in that time, but God did it! He did bring about that which He had designed since before the beginning of time: “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4). Jesus Christ, Son of God, suffered and died on the cross to bring about our salvation. God didn’t want–or let–anything get in the way of that! He wants us in heaven with Him!

But, will we still have difficulties? Yes. Face evil? Most decidedly. Go through struggles? Definitely. Bear burdens, meet temptations? Yes, and again yes. But ultimately, the victory is God’s. He gives protection and surrounds us with love. He delivers us and promises His presence. He forgives and pours out His mercy on us time after time after time.

Another Celebration

The Jewish community still celebrates the victory that God gave them through Mordecai and Esther, for the time into which God had set them for such a purpose. Purim (meaning “lots”) is a noisy celebration. The book of Esther is read aloud. Whenever Haman’s name is mentioned, people respond with noisemakers called “graggers,” along with stomping of feet, hissing and rattling. It is one of the “most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar” (from Judaism 101).

Surely we too celebrate such victories over our eternal extermination, the victory new Christians should experience as part of the body of Christ, for now they too, believe that have been set free by Jesus’ death and resurrection. They too, know they are saved from being cast into hell. They too can claim triumph with Christ over sin, death, and the devil.

Surely we can celebrate that God chose us for “such a time as this” to announce His love and forgiveness to those who live among us, those we meet in our everyday lives, those who sit in the darkness of sin and unbelief.

Surely we can celebrate the God-given opportunities to reach out with hearts and hands and voices of love and compassion and make a way for the Holy Spirit to work in hearts and lives burdened with hopelessness.

“But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield” (Psalm 5:11-12).

“Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. Say to God, ‘How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. All the earth shall worship You And sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name.’  Selah ‘Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men. ... We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment’” (Psalm 66:1-5, 12).

“Sing aloud to God our strength; Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob. Raise a song and strike the timbrel, The pleasant harp with the lute. Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon, At the full moon, on our solemn feast day” (Psalm 81:1-3).

“Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing” (Psalm 100:1-2).

Pray: The victory is Yours, O God, the victory is Yours. We thank and praise You that even in times when You are hidden from our eyes, we are never hidden from Yours. You protect us, You guide us, You have given us victory over sin, death, and the evil one through Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Let us celebrate together–especially with those newly come into Your presence and into the joy of Your love. We make a joyful noise before You, O God, our King, forever and ever. In Jesus’ name. Amen.