Year 2, Week 26, Day 4 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 26, Day 4

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Esther 5-8.

Today’s reading continues the Book of Esther. Ezra 1-6 covered a period of time from about 538 BC to 515 BC recording the first group of returnees and the work they accomplished in rebuilding the Temple. Ezra 7 will pick up in about 458 BC as Ezra is a part of the second group of returnees. The Book of Esther covers a period of time from about 483 BC to 473 BC, and notes some key events in the life of Ahasuerus, the King of Persia. Ahasuerus, and his Jewish wife, Esther. Esther 5 records the first feast that Esther throws for King Ahasuerus: “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king” (Esther 5:4). But Esther 5 also records Haman’s plans to hang Mordecai: “Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it” (Esther 5:14a). Esther 6 notes Ahasuerus’ sleepless night in which he realizes he never honored Mordecai for uncovering the assassination plot: “On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles…And it was found written how Mordecai had told about…two of the king’s eunuchs…who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king’s young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him” (Esther 6:1-3). Thinking the King was asking about himself and not Mordecai, Haman described the honor that the king should show. In a shocking surprise to Haman, the King had him honor Mordecai in the way Haman thought he was to be honored. Esther 7 records the second feast Esther throws for the King, in which she reveals her Jewish heritage and Haman’s attacks against her people: “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated” (Esther 7:3-4). A great reversal is described at the end of Esther 7, as the King learns of Haman’s scheme: “So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai” (Esther 7:10a). Esther 8 records the new edict that Ahasuerus grants to Esther and Mordecai in order to prevent the destruction of the Jews: “the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them” (Esther 8:11a).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is the mention of when the reversal of Israel’s danger began: “On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, in front of the king’s quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace. And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter” (Esther 5:1-2). While there are many things that warrant consideration in today’s reading, I want to highlight what might seem like an insignificant detail. Esther had previously expressed to Mordecai that she could not casually approach the King for fear of her life. But on the third day after that conversation, Esther is granted access to the King and welcomed into his presence. This access to the King began the process of Haman’s demise and the Jew’s deliverance.

The seemingly insignificant mention of being on the third day that the King welcomed Esther into his presence is a part of a pattern throughout the Old Testament of special encounters and sure deliverance occurring in the context of a third day. It was in connection with a third day that Issac was delivered: “On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar…And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide” (Genesis 22:4,7b-8). It was in connection with a third day that Joseph released his brother from prison: “On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: if you are honest men, let one of your brothers remain confined where you are in custody, and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your households, and bring your youngest brother to me” (Genesis 42:18-20a). It was in connection with a third day that the LORD would come down to the people at Mt. Sinai: “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people” (Exodus 19:10-11). It was in connection with a third day that the Israelites were to cross the Jordan and begin their conquest of the Land: “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess” (Joshua 1:11). It was in connection with a third day that King Hezekiah would have his life extended: “I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD, and I will add fifteen years to your life” (2 Kings 20:5b-6a). And it was in connection with a third day that Jonah was expelled from the great fish: “And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights…And the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land” (Jonah 1:17; 2:10).

Jesus predicted that He would be raised on the third day: “And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31). But in addition to the prophetic Word of Jesus, the Old Testament Scriptures patterned the third day as a day of encounter and deliverance. So, as the Apostle Paul explained the death and resurrection of Christ, he utilized the Old Testament’s pattern to help establish his Gospel message: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The Old Testament Scriptures explained the death of Christ; and they helped explain the resurrection on the third day.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe