January 26, 2020
January 31, 2020
Esther 9:18-32
18 The Jews in Susa, however, had assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth, and then on the fifteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy.
19 That is why rural Jews—those living in villages—observe the fourteenth of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting, a day for giving presents to each other.
20 Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, 21 to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar 22 as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
23 So the Jews agreed to continue the celebration they had begun, doing what Mordecai had written to them. 24 For Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast the pur (that is, the lot) for their ruin and destruction. 25 But when the plot came to the king’s attention,[a] he issued written orders that the evil scheme Haman had devised against the Jews should come back onto his own head, and that he and his sons should be impaled on poles. 26 (Therefore these days were called Purim, from the word pur.) Because of everything written in this letter and because of what they had seen and what had happened to them, 27 the Jews took it on themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should without fail observe these two days every year, in the way prescribed and at the time appointed. 28 These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never fail to be celebrated by the Jews—nor should the memory of these days die out among their descendants.
29 So Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim. 30 And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of Xerxes’ kingdom—words of goodwill and assurance— 31 to establish these days of Purim at their designated times, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had decreed for them, and as they had established for themselves and their descendants in regard to their times of fasting and lamentation. 32 Esther’s decree confirmed these regulations about Purim, and it was written down in the records.
Esther 10
10 King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire, to its distant shores. 2 And all his acts of power and might, together with a full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king had promoted, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Media and Persia? 3 Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.
Hosea 2:13
13 …she decked herself with rings and jewelry, and went after her lovers, but me she forgot,” declares the Lord.
Deuteronomy 4:9
9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.
Psalm 9:1
1 I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
John 13:35
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Matthew 16:24-27
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
Over and over again we see the pattern of God’s miraculous works soon forgotten by His people.
In our lives we often see the victory of God only to soon put His love and help out of our minds and turn again to our own desires
Hosea 2:13 New International Version (NIV)
13 …she decked herself with rings and jewelry, and went after her lovers, but me she forgot,” declares the Lord.
Remember that in the book of Esther God is conspicuously absent and that we said perhaps that was a way of God pointing out to His people that they had forgotten Him but that he had not forgotten them. Mordecai and Esther knew the importance of establishing a plan of remembrance. It is this remembrance that helps us continue to walk in the benefit of the victory that God has given us.
For instance, that’s why after 9-11 we took hold of the thought – “We Will Not Forget”
God established many ways to help his people remember, because He knew that without it, we would forget.
It’s Time to CELEBRATE and CONTINUE TO WALK IN the victory God has given us
- By remembering what God has done for us
- By remembering to love and encourage others
- By remembering to focus on our own personal inward growth
The book of Esther ends not by refocusing on the victory over Haman’s plot, but on the character of Mordecai himself. The greatest victories in our lives are not those we win on the outside, but those we win on the inside. If we win the public battles but loose our personal ones what good is it?
Sally Losco says
Thank you Pastor David. Even though I’m not there for the moment; this close of Esther gave me such wisdom and a jubilant cry to tell everyone how Good God has blessed me and my family. I want to be God’s messenger for all mankind; to share in my victories. Just being able to listen to you Pastor while I’m recovering; has lifted me in every great thing God has done. My heart is full because YOU taught the WORD!! Thank you 🙏