Esther 8:15-17 – “A Good Day”

Here’s my fairly literal translation of these verses:

¹⁵and Mordecai went out from the faces of the king in clothing of royalty, purple wool and linen cloths and a great crown of gold and a mantle of fine linen and violet wool and the city of Shushan shouted and rejoiced. ¹⁶To the Jews, it was brightness and gladness and joy and honor, ¹⁷and in all of a province and a province and in all of a city and a city, a place which the word of the king and his law arriving, gladness and joy to the Jews, a feast and a day of good and many from the peoples of the land became Jews because the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.

Isn’t it interesting that back in 3:15, when Haman’s decree went out, the city of Shushan was “perplexed,” or “bewildered,” or “in confusion,” or “in turmoil” (depending on which translation you’re reading). Now, as Mordecai’s decree is proclaimed, the city “shouted and rejoiced,” or “held a joyous celebration,” or “shouted with joy.” Our text doesn’t favor us with much information about the city itself, but it will always be true, “When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan” (Prov. 29:2). We learn only of Haman’s malignant treatment of the Jews, however, such a vindictive ogre no doubt accumulated his great wealth at the expense of many, many innocent people’s lives and he would have been well known for his cruel oppression. We aren’t told so, but you can bet the people of Shushan hated Haman.

On the other hand, you definitely get the impression that the Jews had found considerable favor amongst the people of Shushan. The entire city is bewildered at Haman’s decree and rejoices at Mordecai’s. I would like to suggest that isn’t so hard to believe. For all the failures of the Jewish people, at least they had a moral compass to live by, at least they had a force within them always calling them to the high road, to honesty, kindness, and hard work. Joseph “found favor” with the Egyptians along with the people of Israel themselves. Daniel and his three friends were found “ten times better than all the wise men in Babylon,” and, of course, we’ve already seen our Esther enjoying the same.

I’m then not surprised by the concluding statement that “many of the people of the land themselves became Jews, because the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.” First of all, I need to clarify something—that this statement “fear of the Jews had fallen upon them” doesn’t necessarily mean what we think. We immediately take it as “because they were scared of the Jews.” I have to be brief, but, in their world under real kings and autocratic leaders in every position, you had every reason to “fear.” However, you could have a very good king (or boss, or whatever) whom you loved, but you would still “fear” them, since they always held your very life in their hands. You could affectionately call them “your fear” even though you personally had no “fear” of them, because you loved and trusted them. Suffice it to say we shouldn’t run to the picture of people cringing in fear. For these Persians, I think the “fear” idea comes entirely from the realization that, with Mordecai serving as Prime Minister, the Jews have become powerful. However, in their world, that doesn’t mean people love them any less or are actually “scared” of them. I would suggest, in today’s terms, it would have been written, “For great respect for the Jews had fallen upon them.”

That brings us back to our “many of the people of the land themselves became Jews.” I would suggest that the general integrity of the Jewish people had, in a sense, plowed the ground. Now, when the Lord steps in and acts miraculously, the Persian people’s hearts are ready to acknowledge in fact it is Him. The Persian people have already found the Jews to be very unusual and admirable. Now they are allowed to see the God of the Jews clearly displaying His power and His love for His people. No one else’s god makes people so admirable and certainly no one else’s god ever displays such power and love for their people. I don’t believe I’m reading too much into the text here. This is exactly what should be happening all day every day, all over the world.

It is the place of God’s people to be His representatives—to care, to love, to be people of real integrity, so that, whenever and however the Lord wishes to call someone to Himself, their heart is already soft and receptive. It worked in Persia and it would work today too, if only God’s people would get serious about their relationship with Him, if they’d really get serious about the business of living Jesus in their family, their workplace, their neighborhood, their school, and wherever else life takes them. Jesus is “the brightness of God’s glory,” and He is “altogether lovely” to those whose hearts are ready to see it. Though we blunder around just as badly as the Jews, may the Lord use our feeble lives to, in fact, prepare people’s hearts.

What a different day this is. The text calls it a “good day.” Mordecai leaves the palace wearing the symbols of royal authority, and for the Jews it is a day of “light and gladness and joy and honor.”  For the Jews, they have lived in a state of almost complete terror and despair for over two months, then suddenly the sun rises and it’s a whole new day. Of course, we should all be reminded, that’s the way it often is with the Lord. He will allow us to see those dark days, to feel the same terrors everyone else in this world faces, but He says to us, “Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.” To these very exiles He had said, “I know the plans I have for you—plans to do you good and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.” As for myself, I know I have a very forgetful soul, but, may this day in Mordecai and Esther’s life remind me not to despair, no matter how dark my world appears. Our good, kind, and wise God is always ruling over it all, so that even our worst trials are carefully designed for our good, and we (can) live in the quiet assurance He’s always up to something good.

The darkest day in all of human history was the day we killed the Messiah, the day we crucified Jesus and laid His lifeless body in a tomb. Yet three days later, that same Jesus arose the victorious Conqueror who had, in fact, crushed the head of the serpent. Since that day, sin and evil have been, like Haman, defeated foes. This world has a Savior who will come again to finally lay that foe in its own tomb forever.

Thinking about these first eight chapters of this book, we can say that just like Mordecai and Esther, as we live in this “world without God,” we can still be people who see this God who, in fact, is quite present. May their example and even the account of this day encourage us to remember the Lord’s words, “Be still and know that I am God.” As we learn to trust Him, may the lives we live soften the soil of others’ hearts and may someone’s eyes be opened to see our Jesus in all His beauty! That would be a “good day!”