Now Mordecai went out
from the king’s presence in purple and white and royal attire, with a large
golden crown and a purple linen mantle. – Esther 8:15 (NET)
After all that had
taken place, this was Mordecai’s vindication. Not only that, but this
represented the vindication and deliverance of the covenant people of the
Creator God, as the Jews were saved from the destructive decree that had been
issued by Haman, and unwittingly enforced by the king.
The narrative of
Esther informs the reader that Haman had been exalted and set above all of the
officials of the kingdom of Persia (3:1). “As a result, all of the king’s
servants who were at the king’s gate were bowing and paying homage to Haman,
for the king had so commanded. However, Mordecai did not bow, nor did he
pay homage… When Haman saw that Mordecai was not bowing or paying homage
to him, he was filled with rage” (3:5). Because Mordecai would not bow to
Haman, not only was he enraged at Mordecai, but “Haman sought to destroy all
the Jews (that is, the people who were the kin of Mordecai) who were in all the
kingdom” (3:6b). Here, hatred directed towards Mordecai is converted into
a plan to wipe out the Creator God’s covenant people. In effect, for
Haman, Mordecai stands as the representative for all of the Jews.
So even though a
decree of destruction against all the Jews was set forth, the plan is reported
to have been foiled through the faithful actions of Esther, as she is urged on
her Uncle Mordecai. In a very messiah-like role, she willingly took her
life in her hands and interceded on behalf of the covenant people, so as to
spare their lives. This would have the
added effect of bringing punishment upon all that would present themselves as
enemies to her people. Effectively, prior to her brave intervention
(again, as urged by her uncle), the Jews were as good as dead. The covenant faithfulness of the Creator God
was at stake. “Throughout each and every province where the king’s edict
and law were announced there was considerable mourning among the Jews, along
with fasting, weeping, and sorrow” (4:3a). They knew that they had been
sold into death. Mordecai himself “went out into the city, crying out in
a loud and bitter voice” (4:1b). The reader of the story can almost hear
him crying, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?”
Yes, it was as if the
people of Israel had gone down into the very pit of death. Apart from the intervention of their God to
deliver them from certain destruction, there was no hope. But something
happened. Though it is well known that the God of Israel is not mentioned
in the Hebrew version of the book of Esther (though the Creator God is invoked
in the extended, Greek Septuagint version), it is resoundingly clear that their
faithful, covenant God is on their side and working on their behalf, fulfilling
His promises to them. Clearly, the
implication is that intervention is necessary for the covenant people to
continue, and for their God to be vindicated as well.
In their fasting,
weeping, and sorrow, they are clearly humbling themselves and seeking God,
according to God’s promise to Solomon that can be found in the second book of
the Chronicles (7:14). They are under intense persecution and they are in
need of redemption and deliverance. This is the same story that is presented
in the book of Exodus (the foundational narrative for the people that would
identify themselves as a people of exodus), repeatedly in the book of Judges,
and also in the prophetic work of Daniel.
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