For such a time as this!

A couple of days after my previous post, the Jewish people celebrated the Feast of Purim. The historical background to this festival is found in the Book of Esther - a book that doesn't take too many minutes to read. Indeed, at Purim, in synagogues around the world, the entire scroll of Esther, which is called the Megillah, is read twice - once on the night of Purim and once on the following day of Purim (the Jewish day starts in the evening, at sunset.). During the reading, the listeners participate by cheering whenever the hero Mordechai, guardian of Esther, is mentioned, and by booing whenever Haman - the influential anti-Semite who had called for the annihilation of all the Jews of Persia - is mentioned.

Esther is Purim’s heroine. The Scroll of Esther is one of the five Biblical Scrolls, which are highlighted on Jewish holidays. The others are: Song of Songs (Passover), Scroll of Ruth (Pentecost), Lamentations (the 9th day of Av – destruction of the Jewish Temple), and Ecclesiastes (Feast of Tabernacles).

The story is beautiful in its simplicity - and there is a fair amount of irony, and intrigue, as well! It begins with Queen Vashti refusing to obey an order from her husband, the Persian King Ahasuerus (Xerxes). She is summarily dismissed, and replaced by a young Hebrew girl named Hadassah (= Myrtle) - whose name was changed to Esther (= hide, conceal) in order to hide her Jewish background.

Meanwhile Mordechai, Esther's older cousin, and guardian, had become a government official and foils a plot to assassinate the king. However, the other main character in the story, Haman - an ambitious, self-serving, descendant of Agag the Amalekite (I Sam.15) - was appointed second-in-command in the Persian Empire. He had no time for Mordechai, who refused to bow to him (3:2-4), and decides to arrange for his death, and that of all of the Jews in Persia (modern Iran - history can, indeed, repeat itself!). Haman then persuades the king to issue an edict condemning the Jewish people - without actually identifying them as such (3:8-9) and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa (the capital city). Mordechai learns of Haman's plot, and sends a message to Esther that she should go to the king and plead on behalf of her people. 

Esther is, by now, familiar with court protocol that states that she may be killed for entering the king's inner chamber without being summoned, and responds to her cousin appropriately. His response is the true centre of the book: "... if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (4:14). However, Esther enters the king's presence, after three days of fasting and prayer in which she is joined by all of the Jews in the capital city.

The queen invites her husband to a banquet, which the only other invited guest is Haman - much to his delight! The king asks Esther what she wants from him, and she replies that she wants both of them to come to another banquet on the following day, when she will make her request. However, that night the king is suffering from insomnia and, as one does, flips through some records in the royal archives. He reads of the assassination plot that was foiled by Mordechai, and is astonished that such an act had never been rewarded! Later, he asks Haman what should be done for the man the king wished to honour. Haman, being Haman, assumes that the king is referring to him, and makes some lavish suggestions. Imagine his horror when the king instructs him to do all of that to Mordechai, whom he hates! 

At the second banquet, the king again asks Esther what she wants, and she tells him that someone has plotted to kill her, and her people - and she names Haman as the culprit! The king rises, and walks out to the garden and, in his absence, Haman begs Esther for his life. However, as the king returned, Haman was falling on the couch on which Esther reclined (as was the custom). The king was livid, interpreting this as an assault upon the queen.

Haman is taken away, and one of the eunuchs who attended the king informs his master that Haman had prepared a high gallows for Mordechai! The king immediately decrees that Haman should be the one hung thereon.

The final act in this true story sees Mordechai appointed as the new Prime Minister and, with the king's approval, he arranges for a new edict that would permit the Jews to defend themselves. "And in every province and in every city, wherever the king’s command and his edict came, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them." (8:17).

One of the interesting things about the Book of Esther is that there is no direct reference to God! However, that is an important lesson in itself. Events may occur in our lives that seem random, but the book of Esther reveals that God is in control, no matter how powerful our enemy or how bleak the situation. Whatever our situation or circumstance, we can rest in the assurance that our times are truly in God’s hands. (Psalm 31: 15).

Because of Esther's courage, the nation was spared. Seeing her God-given opportunity, she grasped it, with no thought for her own safety. She made a difference. You and I may not be the means by which a nation is spared - but if we watch for opportunities, we will see God work in our lives. Could it be that He has chosen you "... for such a time as this?"!

Lost!

The parable for this post is actually only the first part of a parable! It is found in Luke's account of the Gospel, and in chapter 15. In v.3 of that chapter, we read: "So He told them this parable:" The following words lead us into the parable of the lost sheep - but Jesus goes on to deal with the lost coin, and then the lost son. The parable is a parable of the lost, with three examples being used, and three lessons being taught.

So, we begin by looking at the lost sheep. Sheep, in God's Word, are usually portrayed as foolish creatures, prone to wandering off and getting into trouble. It was its own foolishness that led to the sheep being lost. That, of course, is why sheep need a shepherd! 

But it is not only the four-footed animal that acts so foolishly. Isaiah, the Old Testament prophet stated: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;" (53:6). In other words, you and I can be as foolish as any sheep! The Pharisees and the Scribes would have had no difficulty in seeing the tax collectors and sinners thus described - but they would never have applied such a description to themselves! Yet the prophet made it clear that "all" are involved! Peter told his fellow-believers that "you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls." (I Peter 2:25); while Paul states, quite bluntly, that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Rom.3:23). "All" includes even those who are "religious" - even those who hold high office in the church!

Leaving the ninety-nine sheep was not an indication that the shepherd didn't care for them. Of course he did. But they were together and, even in the wilderness, were safe. However, when he went to look for that foolish sheep that was lost, he showed that each individual animal was important to him. Note, too, that when the shepherd finds the lost sheep, he doesn't treat it harshly for its foolishness. No, "he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing." (v.5).

And there is rejoicing! We are not told how the sheep felt but, remembering that the sheep represents the sinner who has been saved, those who have been touched in that way, and have become children of the heavenly Father, know this joy - and God's Word confirms it. When the Ethiopian eunuch to whom God the Holy Spirit had directed Philip was baptised as a disciple of Jesus, "the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing." (Acts 8:39; emphasis added). The shepherd, we have noted, was also rejoicing. And I guess that the event that comes second to our rejoicing when we are saved, is being used in the salvation of another. Finally, Jesus assures us that "there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." (v.7). Yes, the very angels rejoice when a lost sheep is found - when a sinner is saved. By the way, there is actually no-one who does not need to repent! Jesus is here referring to those who think that they have no such need - the "self-righteous". Remember the Pharisee in the Temple, in another parable! (Luke 15: 9-14).

Are you still a "lost sheep", lost in sin through your own carelessness? Then let the Good Shepherd find you, and bring you into the fold of His body. You will never regret it.