Esther

Esther 10: Mordecai speaks peace

Begin in prayer

Before we read the last words of Esther, let us give thanks that the LORD kept His people and kept His promise. Ask Him to show us Christ, who made peace by His blood on the cross.

For the sake of the house of Yahweh our God, I will seek your good.

Psalm 122:9

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You raised up Mordecai for the good of Your people, and lead us to Jesus, who speaks peace. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

King Ahasuerus lays a tribute on the land and on the islands of the sea. The writer says that the king's acts and Mordecai's greatness are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia. Mordecai the Jew is next to the king and great among the Jews. His fellow Jews accept him. He seeks the good of his people and speaks peace to all his descendants. So the book that never names God ends with His people alive.

As you read Esther 10, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God raised Mordecai to seek his people's good, and in Christ He gives a greater peace.

Esther ends with three short verses, and God's name still does not appear in them. King Ahasuerus lays a tribute on the land and on the islands of the sea, so his kingdom is large and rich (verse 1). The writer points readers to the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia, where Mordecai's greatness is written (verse 2). Mordecai the Jew is next to the king, great among the Jews, and accepted by his fellow Jews (verse 3). He uses his place to seek the good of his people and to speak peace to all his descendants (verse 3). Haman used a place like this to plan the destruction of a whole people (Esther 3 verse 6). God has kept the Jews alive through the whole book, because the promised Christ would come from them (Romans 9 verse 5). After Christ made purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God (Hebrews 1 verse 3). All who trust Him have peace with God through Him (Romans 5 verse 1).

How does Esther 10 show us that God raised Mordecai to seek his people's good, and that in Christ He gives a greater peace?

God raised Mordecai high, and Mordecai seeks his people's good.

Mordecai is next to King Ahasuerus and great among the Jews (verse 3). The man who sat at the gate in sackcloth is now second to the king. He uses his place to seek the good of his people (verse 3). Haman used his place to plan their end, and God has turned the two men's places around.

Mordecai speaks peace, and Christ speaks peace to all His people.

Mordecai speaks peace to all his descendants (verse 3). Mordecai could speak peace inside the kingdom of Persia, but he could not make peace between sinners and God. Christ made a greater peace between sinners and God by His blood on the cross (Colossians 1 verse 20). He came and preached peace to those who were far off and to those who were near (Ephesians 2 verse 17).

God kept His people alive, and Christ came from them.

The book of Esther never names God, and still He kept the Jews alive through every plan against them. He did this because He had promised that the Savior would come from them (Romans 9 verse 5). Jesus was born into this people, and in Him God's promise to them was kept.

Memorise

seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to all his descendants

Esther 10:3

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I have peace with God, and who gives it?

Mordecai was “seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to all his descendants”. A man who once sat at the gate in danger now spoke peace to the people God had kept. Yet Mordecai was only a man, and he could not make peace with God.

Jesus can. He made peace by His blood on the cross, where He died for His people. Then He rose from the dead. His peace is full and complete, and nothing more needs to be done to win it.

So come to the Prince of Peace. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Sinners who trust Him find forgiveness, and He speaks peace to those who were far off.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God kept His people so that Jesus could come, and that Jesus gives peace with God. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Please remind them that the God of Esther is the God who rules their own days.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for keeping His people and sending Jesus, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near.

Ephesians 2:17

Lord God, thank You for keeping Your promise and for sending Jesus, who speaks peace. Please lead each child to turn from sin and trust Him. Give our family peace with You, and help us to seek the good of others this week. Amen.