Esther

Esther 8: A new letter brings light

Begin in prayer

Before we read about a second letter that sets God's people free, let us give thanks to the LORD for turning mourning into gladness. Ask Him to show us Christ, the light of the world.

You have turned my mourning into dancing for me. You have removed my sackcloth, and clothed me with gladness

Psalm 30:11

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You answer a letter of death with a letter of rescue, and lead us to Jesus, the light of the world. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

On that day the king gives Haman's house to Esther and gives Haman's ring to Mordecai. Esther falls at the king's feet and begs him with tears to put away Haman's plan against the Jews. The king holds out the golden scepter, but he says a letter sealed with his ring cannot be reversed. So he tells Esther and Mordecai to write another letter in his name, and scribes write it in the language of each people. The letter lets the Jews in every city gather, defend their lives and destroy any force that attacks them, on the day Haman chose. Riders on royal horses carry it through 127 provinces. Mordecai leaves the king in royal clothing, and the Jews have light, gladness, joy and honor.

As you read Esther 8, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God answers a letter of death with a letter of rescue, and His people have joy.

Haman is dead, yet his letter stands, because a letter sealed with the king's ring could not be reversed (verses 5 and 8). The king gives Haman's house to Esther and gives Haman's ring to Mordecai, who is set over the house (verses 1 and 2). Esther falls at the king's feet and begs with tears, and the king holds out the golden scepter (verses 3 and 4). He cannot cancel the old letter, so he lets them write a new one in his name (verses 7 and 8). It allows the Jews in every city to gather, defend their lives and destroy any force that attacks them (verse 11). Riders on royal horses carry it to 127 provinces, in the writing and language of each people (verses 9 and 10). No verse calls the second letter a picture of Christ, yet God's judgment on sin is also not erased, and Christ bore it. Susa shouts, and in every province the Jews have a feast and a good day (verses 15 to 17). Their joy follows the new letter, and God's hand is behind it though His name is not written.

How does Esther 8 show us that God answers a letter of death with a letter of rescue, and that His people have joy?

Esther begs with tears for her people.

Haman is gone, but his letter is not, so Esther falls at the king's feet and begs with tears (verse 3). She cannot bear to see the evil that would come to her people and the destruction of her relatives (verse 6). The king holds out the golden scepter again, and she stands before him (verse 4). Jesus also wept over the city of His own people (Luke 19 verse 41).

A law that cannot be reversed is answered by a second letter.

The king says that a letter written in his name and sealed with his ring may not be reversed (verse 8). So Mordecai writes a second letter, sealed with the same ring, that lets the Jews defend their lives (verses 10 and 11). Please explain verse 11 to the children in your own words, since it speaks of the Jews destroying those who attack them. The old letter stayed, and a new one answered it.

The Jews have light, gladness, joy and honor.

Mordecai leaves the king in royal clothing and a great crown of gold, and Susa shouts and is glad (verse 15). The Jews have light, gladness, joy and honor (verse 16). In every province they have a feast and a good day (verse 17). Jesus said He is the light of the world, and His followers have the light of life (John 8 verse 12).

Memorise

The Jews had light, gladness, joy, and honor.

Esther 8:16

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, who can answer the sentence my sin has earned?

The king said that a letter “written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may not be reversed by any man”. So the old letter stayed, and a new letter was written to answer it. Then “the Jews had light, gladness, joy, and honor”.

God's sentence on sin cannot be reversed either. God does not pretend sin away. Jesus took that sentence on Himself, and on the cross He died for His people and paid all that they owed. On the third day He rose from the tomb, and there is nothing more to pay. The answer to the sentence of death has been written in His blood.

So come to Him. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Sinners who trust Him are forgiven, and they walk in the light of life.

Parent's note

Tell your children that Jesus answers the sentence of death that our sin has earned. 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. Verses 11 and 13 speak of the Jews defending themselves against their enemies, so please explain this in your own words.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for turning mourning into gladness, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so invite each one to speak if they want to.

a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.

Luke 2:32

Lord God, thank You for the letter that set Your people free, and for Jesus, the light of the world. Please bring each child to turn from sin and trust Him. Fill our family with the gladness that comes from knowing You. Amen.