What a turnaround! King Ahasuerus gave Esther the house of Haman. Esther told the king how Mordecai was her uncle so, he took the signet ring taken from Haman and gave it to Mordecai. This would be the signet ring given by the king to Haman to recognise his authority, which the king had removed from Haman before his execution. Thus, Mordecai was appointed to the position which Haman had held, until his demise – the man Haman hated, a Jew, now in control of Haman’s household. What a turnaround indeed! I guess Haman’s wife would not be happy with that but there was nothing she could do about it (v1,2).
Someone has likened Haman’s success to climbing the ladder, finding that his ladder was leaning against the wrong wall. He had left God out of his plans to his cost.
Esther’s job was not over yet. Haman had met his fate, but there was an edict to change and, as I said earlier, the law of the Medes and Persians cannot be altered. Esther fell on her knees and begged the king with tears to overturn Haman’s evil scheme and decree which still stood. The king held out his golden sceptre to her and she pleaded with the king (v3-6) with the greatest of respect, full of tact and requested the king to revoke the law by revoking the letters written by Haman, ordering the annihilation of the Jews. Her plea ended with the heart-rending statement – “…. how can I endure to see the evil that will come to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my countrymen?”
The king replied to Esther and Mordecai (v7-14). He reiterated that he had given the house of Haman to Esther and hanged Haman on his own gallows. He then gave Queen Esther and Mordecai the job of writing a new decree concerning the Jews. The previous decree could not be cancelled because the law of the Medes and Persians could not be altered, however, he could authorise a new decree which would supersede the old one, similar to King Darius in the case of Daniel. The king gave them authority to write the law in his own name and seal it with his ring. Such laws cannot be revoked.
We are all sinners and God’s law states that the soul that sins shall die. Sin leads to death and that law still stands, but Jesus died for our sin. His sacrifice on the cross paid the price for our redemption. It satisfied God’s justice in sending His Own Son to take the punishment for our sin. If we repent and believe on The Lord Jesus Christ, by faith receive Him as our Saviour, we will be forgiven and receive eternal life. If we do not, we remain in our sin and will receive the just punishment. God’s love and justice met at Calvary. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God,” (1 Peter 3:18)
The king called his scribes on the 23rd day of the third month, Sivan, and they wrote as Mordecai told them. This was sent to all the leaders of 127 provinces in their own languages. It was written in the name of the King Ahasuerus and sealed with his signet ring. These letters permitted the Jews to protect their lives; to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both women and children, and to plunder their possessions on the 13th of the twelfth month, Adar. Let me remind you that the original decree to annihilate the Jews was to take effect on that date (see 3:7). Thus, the Jews would be able to avenge themselves on that date and it was swiftly taken by couriers on horseback throughout the provinces from Shushan.
God was doing more than saving the Jews, He was raising up Mordecai to the high position which Haman had been previously appointed to (v15). He left the king dressed in royal apparel of blue and white, wearing a crown of gold and garment of fine linen and purple. This appointment was popular in Shushan for we read that the city rejoiced and were glad. Needless to say, the Jews were overjoyed, they had light and gladness, joy and honour (v16). They could now look forward to good times rather than the pending disaster of the 13th of the twelfth month, Adar.
This went even further, for in every province and city, the Jews had a feast and a holiday. As a result, many converted to Judaism, because they were afraid (v17). God’s protection of the Jews was attractive to non-Jews.
