The Word is Truth

Esther 9:1b-2, 5, 20-28

On that day, the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but quite the opposite happened. It was the Jews who overpowered their enemies. 2 The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the king’s provinces to attack anyone who tried to harm them. But no one could make a stand against them, for everyone was afraid of them.

5 So the Jews went ahead on the appointed day and struck down their enemies with the sword. They killed and annihilated their enemies and did as they pleased with those who hated them.

20 Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to the Jews near and far, throughout all the provinces of King Xerxes, 21 calling on them to celebrate an annual festival on these two days. 22 He told them to celebrate these days with feasting and gladness and by giving gifts of food to each other and presents to the poor. This would commemorate a time when the Jews gained relief from their enemies, when their sorrow was turned into gladness and their mourning into joy.

23 So the Jews accepted Mordecai’s proposal and adopted this annual custom. 24 Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews, had plotted to crush and destroy them on the date determined by casting lots (the lots were called purim). 25 But when Esther came before the king, he issued a decree causing Haman’s evil plot to backfire, and Haman and his sons were impaled on a sharpened pole. 26 That is why this celebration is called Purim, because it is the ancient word for casting lots.

So because of Mordecai’s letter and because of what they had experienced, 27 the Jews throughout the realm agreed to inaugurate this tradition and to pass it on to their descendants and to all who became Jews. They declared they would never fail to celebrate these two prescribed days at the appointed time each year. 28 These days would be remembered and kept from generation to generation and celebrated by every family throughout the provinces and cities of the empire. This Festival of Purim would never cease to be celebrated among the Jews, nor would the memory of what happened ever die out among their descendants.

As we see hear in these verses the plans that God gave to Mordecai to be implemented were very successful. The Jews were able to defend themselves against their attackers. One thing I noticed that was in another verse was that even though they had the ability to take whatever belonged to their attackers and make it their own, they did not do that. That was a pretty big deal in those days. That was how all the armies got paid was by the plunder from their defeated enemies.

This festival implemented by Esther and Mordecai, the Festival of Purim, is still celebrated today by Jews. Once again we see that what the Bible has written down is very much applicable today and it is truth.

As the Bible also points out we can know in whom to put our trust. Here is what I am talking about.

John 1:1-5

1 In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through Him,
and nothing was created except through Him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and His life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.

And here is where we find out who the Word really is:

John 1:14, 17-18

14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

John 14:6 finalizes it.

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Since Jesus is the Word and the Word is truth then we can have the utmost confidence of what the Word is telling us. The Word would not lead us into anything bad, but only that which is good.

Father I thank You for Your Word, both written and living. I thank You for revealing to me the plan of salvation through Jesus and for sending the Holy Spirit to be my guide. I praise You for the revelation that the Holy Spirit brings to me each day. I love getting to know more of You and Your plans for me. Amen.

Published by Erik L. Vakula
Daily Bread From the Word
Copyright © 2009 Erik Vakula, All Rights Reserved