Esther 8
By Pastor David Groendyk

Haman is dead! That’s good news. If we were quizzed on the book of Esther, I suspect most of us would think that was the end of the story. However, there is still a problem. The edict that was sent out to destroy, kill, and annihilate the Jews is still in effect, and edicts decreed by the kings of the Medes and the Persians cannot and will not be repealed (v. 8; also Esth. 1:19). A genocide is still coming, and it even looks as though the hanging of Haman has done enough to appease the king’s wrath already (Esth. 7:10). So Esther must plead again to King Ahasuerus for the lives of her people.

After another appeal to the king, he gives Esther and Mordecai a blank check (v. 8). Yet again, just as he did with Haman earlier, he gives nearly limitless authority for someone else in his court to write and send out an edict in his own name. The solution to the unsolvable problem is to let the Jews fight back (vv. 11, 13). Anyone who tries to destroy, kill, or annihilate the Jews, in whatever city or province they reside, the Jews were now allowed to take up arms, defend themselves, and take vengeance on their enemies. The result of this edict being disseminated to all 127 provinces of the king’s empire was gladness, joy, honor, feasting, and a holiday (vv. 16–17). The Jews’ fasting had been turned to feasting, mourning to gladness, and grief to rejoicing. Such was the honor and joy of the Jews that apparently some other people throughout the kingdom tried to pass themselves off as Jews out of fear for both Esther and Mordecai being some of the most powerful people in the land.

Above all, notice this observation about Esther 8 pointed out by David Strain: the rejoicing, gladness, feasting, and holiday come before the victory is actually won. The actual day of destruction is nine months away. This is joy in a victory promised, not a victory achieved. It’s not unlike what Paul says about Christians in Romans 8:30: “And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” Paul speaks of our final glorification in the past tense because it is so sure and certain to happen. It is essentially already done, because once God has started his work, there’s no way for it to be reversed. Praise the Lord for such an amazing salvation! And may we be encouraged to trust in the Lord ever more deeply that his dealings and plans are working out for good.