The world is watching this morning as we watch and hear about the 33 miners being rescued from the half mile underground in a trapped mine in Chili. Last I checked 9 miners had been raised up from the depths of the earth. I watched the video clip as the first miner came up and saw the reaction of his 9 year old son when he finally got to see his dad and they gave each other this huge bear hug. Wow, not a dry eye in this house :-). Can you imagine the celebration going on and praising God for all these miners as they come up 1 by 1? The second miner that came up said that he met God and the devil and God found him. That speaks volumes doesn't it? Lets step back to Esther - Esther is getting ready to ask King Xerxes to spare her people.
Chapter 7
Verses 1-4 King Xerxes asks Esther again what is her request. Esther responds very carefully and being respectful to the king. She says if it pleases the king, to spare her people from being killed. Esther doesn't ask for herself - she asks on behalf of the whole Jewish nation living under Xerxes rule.
Verse 5 - King Xerxes asks who would in his heart could do such a terrible thing?
Verse 6 Esther replies saying the wicked Haman devised this plan! Now Haman had no idea Esther was a Jew, but yet he is horrified to be found out for what he has done.
Verses 7-8 King Xerxes left the room in anger, and then Haman begins to plead for his life with Esther. Somehow he falls on the couch near Esther and he is still on the ground when the king returns back to the room. This angers the king even more, asking if Haman is now making advances to the Queen! Then a cloth is put over his face for he will be hanged.
Verses 9-10 One of the eunuchs sees that Haman has built a gallows for Mordecai. The king says to hang him on this gallows. This is one time where evil is quickly dealt with, many innocent people are spared because of one man's guilt.
Chapter 8
Verses 1-2 King Xerxes gives Esther Haman's house, and gives Mordecai the signet rign, and Esther appoints Mordecai over the house.
Verses 3-6 Esther now pleads on behalf of her people, she gets down to his feet and cries, and asks that Haman's decree be revoked, for she cannot endure watching her people be killed.
Verses 7-14 King Xerxes could not revoke the decree he had already authorized because it had been signed with his signet ring. He makes another decree stating that whoever does harm to the Jewish community, they were allowed to protect themselves and their families even if it meant killing to protect themselves.
Verses 15-17, Mordecai is honored with robes and a crown and now in a position such as a prime minister.
The Jews rejoice for this great turn of events, and many came to the Jewish faith because they feared the Jews. I think they saw how great God is and delivered his people in such an amazing story.
Father God, today we rejoice hearing about 33 trapped miners coming out of a mine 69 days after the mine collapsed, and we rejoice that Esther was able meet with King Xerxes and he quickly dealt with the situation, he was just and killed Mordecai and then proclaimed that Jewish lives be spared. Life is precious God. We thank you for lives being saved, and reminding us that good prevails. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
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