Est 8:7 | KingComments | STEP | Ahasuerus answers and acts as God will for the benefit of His people. He addresses his answer to Esther and Mordecai, who will have been present at Esther’s plea ( ). First, he refers to two favors he has already granted. The first favor is that he gave the house of Haman to Esther. Thus, in the future, God’s people will receive all that satan has possessed. The second favor is that Haman – “him”, with emphasis first mentioned – has been hanged. The king’s justification for Haman’s execution is interesting. After all, Haman was hanged “because he had stretched out his hands against the Jews”. The direct reason for the execution is Haman’s supplication to Esther, where he fell on Esther’s couch, which the king interpreted as sexual assault ( ). This happened in the privacy of the king’s palace. The king’s observation and conclusion are correct. Haman had nothing to do with Esther. Although he did not try to approach her physically, he did try to persuade her to adopt an attitude that would make her unfaithful to her calling. This showed blatant overconfidence and could only be punished in this way. Here we see the devil’s work and fate in the secrecy of the heavenly realms, according to God’s judgment. Now it is about what Haman has been in public. He has revealed his depraved plans everywhere and they will be carried out because they are written down in an irrevocable law. This applies to the remnant in the future as well as to us. The power of the enemy remains and turns against the people of God. Nothing can be changed. Even the greatest faith cannot stop that oppression. But the salvation is also unstoppable! To undo Haman’s plans, a new order must be issued, a counter-order. The king hands the matter over to Mordecai and Esther with the order to write a new letter ( ). They may do so as is right in their eyes and in his name. They must then seal this letter with the king’s signet ring. This results in a new law that cannot be revoked. This new law does not replace the previous law, but makes it powerless. Thus, death as the wages of sin is an unchangeable law. God cannot take back that word. That is why Christ died. Thus, the law of sin is met, and then God’s love can go out to sinners. We can say that Christ is the second commandment for us, enabling us to escape the first commandment. The solution is not that God takes away oppression, but that He gives His people the strength to fight and overcome their enemies. This also applies to us. Satan has been sentenced – of which the hanging of Haman is a picture – but his power has not yet been taken away from him. We live in the midst of hostile elements, so to speak in the midst of ‘the sons of Haman’, who have not yet been put to death – that will happen in the next chapter. The consequences of sin are not yet gone. We still have to go through a hostile world. But we have the strength to overcome. Through the struggle of the present, we are being formed for the reign of the future. Our lives are a preparation for our final destiny. The scribes of the king are called ( ). They write everything “according to all that Mordecai commanded”. Not Esther, nor Esther and Mordecai together, but only Mordecai writes in the name of the king what must be done. Earlier the commands of Haman were written down ( ), now everything Mordecai commands is written down. Mordecai takes Haman’s place in all things. And not only that. Mordecai’s authority and splendor are beyond those of Haman. We can already see that from the content of the writing. Haman has written to all nations in their own writing and language ( ). Mordecai also writes to all in the same way, adding “to the Jews”, specifically saying that the writing is directed “as well as to the Jews according to their script and their language”. Mordecai’s letter is not only about the Jews, but is also addressed to the Jews.

‏ Esther 8:7

The King’s Second Command

Ahasuerus answers and acts as God will for the benefit of His people. He addresses his answer to Esther and Mordecai, who will have been present at Esther’s plea (Est 8:7). First, he refers to two favors he has already granted. The first favor is that he gave the house of Haman to Esther. Thus, in the future, God’s people will receive all that satan has possessed. The second favor is that Haman – “him”, with emphasis first mentioned – has been hanged. The king’s justification for Haman’s execution is interesting. After all, Haman was hanged “because he had stretched out his hands against the Jews”.

The direct reason for the execution is Haman’s supplication to Esther, where he fell on Esther’s couch, which the king interpreted as sexual assault (Est 7:8). This happened in the privacy of the king’s palace. The king’s observation and conclusion are correct. Haman had nothing to do with Esther. Although he did not try to approach her physically, he did try to persuade her to adopt an attitude that would make her unfaithful to her calling. This showed blatant overconfidence and could only be punished in this way. Here we see the devil’s work and fate in the secrecy of the heavenly realms, according to God’s judgment.

Now it is about what Haman has been in public. He has revealed his depraved plans everywhere and they will be carried out because they are written down in an irrevocable law. This applies to the remnant in the future as well as to us. The power of the enemy remains and turns against the people of God. Nothing can be changed. Even the greatest faith cannot stop that oppression. But the salvation is also unstoppable!

To undo Haman’s plans, a new order must be issued, a counter-order. The king hands the matter over to Mordecai and Esther with the order to write a new letter (Est 8:8). They may do so as is right in their eyes and in his name. They must then seal this letter with the king’s signet ring. This results in a new law that cannot be revoked. This new law does not replace the previous law, but makes it powerless.

Thus, death as the wages of sin is an unchangeable law. God cannot take back that word. That is why Christ died. Thus, the law of sin is met, and then God’s love can go out to sinners. We can say that Christ is the second commandment for us, enabling us to escape the first commandment.

The solution is not that God takes away oppression, but that He gives His people the strength to fight and overcome their enemies. This also applies to us. Satan has been sentenced – of which the hanging of Haman is a picture – but his power has not yet been taken away from him. We live in the midst of hostile elements, so to speak in the midst of ‘the sons of Haman’, who have not yet been put to death – that will happen in the next chapter. The consequences of sin are not yet gone. We still have to go through a hostile world. But we have the strength to overcome. Through the struggle of the present, we are being formed for the reign of the future. Our lives are a preparation for our final destiny.

The scribes of the king are called (Est 8:9). They write everything “according to all that Mordecai commanded”. Not Esther, nor Esther and Mordecai together, but only Mordecai writes in the name of the king what must be done. Earlier the commands of Haman were written down (Est 3:12a), now everything Mordecai commands is written down. Mordecai takes Haman’s place in all things. And not only that. Mordecai’s authority and splendor are beyond those of Haman.

We can already see that from the content of the writing. Haman has written to all nations in their own writing and language (Est 3:12b). Mordecai also writes to all in the same way, adding “to the Jews”, specifically saying that the writing is directed “as well as to the Jews according to their script and their language”. Mordecai’s letter is not only about the Jews, but is also addressed to the Jews.