Today in Esther 9-10, we come to the end of this excellent book. What a wonderful account that describes the unnamed, invisible, God Who cares so providentially for His people. We have seen how He works sovereignly behind the scenes of their ordinary, everyday decisions to achieve His purposes according to His plans and His will. Clearly, God created Esther to be physically attractive and beautiful for His purposes in this story, and as we have seen, “for such a time as this” (4:14). However, in Esther – an otherwise insignificant exile among the many Jewish girls who were taken captive – God finds someone rare. Esther’s true beauty rests in a heart like that of His Son. Esther was prepared to sacrifice herself – yes, even to die – for the salvation of her people. Such sacrifice clearly portrays our Lord Jesus Christ, Who did die for us all. Chapters 9-10 reveal the celebrations and blessings that follow from Esther’s humble attitudes and her subsequent, bold actions. “These days should be remembered and observed in every generation and by every family” (9:28). The entire book of Esther conclusively shows us God’s majesty, His concern for beauty, His ability to include us in His “strange work” (cf., Isaiah 28:21), His final triumph over evil, and His glorious future that has been marked out for those of us who love Him (cf., 1 Corinthians 2:9). Truly, our God alone is worthy of our praise and our worship!
Today we read Proverbs 30:11-23, which contains thirteen verses about different kinds of scoundrels and the behaviors that characterize them. Nothing could more clearly identify and define the kind of conduct that God disapproves. Consider these examples: “those who curse (and mock) their fathers and do not bless (and even scorn) their mothers; those whose teeth are like swords and knives to devour the poor; adulterers; godless fools; and contemptible women” (verses 11-23). Would we not consider such people scoundrels? Today, our culture has become completely saturated with these infectious, self-destructive behaviors. They adversely affect our world – even worse than the COVID-19 virus infected and destroyed so many human beings just a couple of years ago. The writer states that, under such negative influences, the “earth trembles and cannot bear up” (verse 21). May I say to you that sin is self-destructive.
Revelation 5 presents a scene that is initially sad, but it transitions into unspeakable joy before our eyes. John sees a seven-sealed scroll – probably the title deed to the earth – which no one is qualified or even capable to open. This truth causes John to weep inconsolably. But “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” (verse 5) – the Lord Jesus Christ Himself – “has triumphed and He is both worthy and able to open it” (verse 5). At this prospect, all of heaven rings out in joyous worship because this event represents the beginning of the culmination and restoration of all things – when Satan and sin will find their ultimate death and destruction, and when peace and rest will finally come (cf., Acts 3:20-21). “To Him Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever! (verse 13). To this we reply, "Amen!"
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