The Original Pony Express

Notice three times were told the same thing as refusal repetition Jews did not lay hands on their plunder.

She did not lay hands on plunder and merely defended their lives (homes and families and bank accounts and all possessions, ladies and gentlemen, not only did the Jews gain mastery over their enemies. This Jews gain mastery over cell wasn't as if the Jews were in one place. They were spread out throughout the land. This command might mean having to kill your neighbor who happened to be Jewish. Can you imagine the tension that would've caused in the kingdom but just in time a new message came from the king.

It was a message of hope and salvation that would make it possible for the Jews to survive. This is wisdom for the heart with Stephen. David is calling this message. The original pony express. Herodotus, a historian who lived during the days of days of the Persian Empire recorded that the Empire was connected by postal stations every 14 miles on one occasion Stephen wrote that we have recorded. To this day he wrote this, I quote nothing more.

No travels so fast as these Persian messengers. The entire plan is a Persian invention along the whole trail. There are men stationed with horses and will not be hindered from accomplishing at their best speed. The distance which they have to travel. I discovered the interesting fact that it was a description by Herodotus that gave postal system today in our country there on official motto. Herodotus wrote this as he described this early pony express and I quote neither snow nor rain. Recognize that, nor he, nor gloom of night stays these valiant couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds for the original pony express was more commonly used fact the government certainly used and relied upon it heavily to communicate throughout the kingdom.

Remember, their kingdom stretched from modern-day Pakistan to north Africa.

Their king had already used the pony express to deliver this terrifying death you remember back in chapter 3 of the book of Esther Heyman dispatched his edict that all of the Jews will be killed on the 13th day of the month radar. It's now all persons have the right to massacre the Jewish people without any legal reprisal news literally, then galloped throughout the kingdom which led to those you can only imagine incredible grief and in fear and despair for the Jews. Certainly for the Gentile coworkers, friends, neighbors were caught up literally had to prepare to die. But then you remember tables were turned, working Esther risked her life to get the king's attention within 24 hours.

The threat of Heyman's edict was exposed to the king and would would mean that the king's wife in a matter of hours. After that, Heyman, the Prime Minister is dead now. Most within the church believe that at this point story is over. We have the impression that the work of Esther is finished she can get a kickback and palace in Susa. Enjoy life.

Her life essay is more truth is Heyman while he may be dead. His edict is alive and well. It had been sealed with the king's insignia.

It was the wall. Esther is actually more needed than ever before. Story is an over effect is going to be another urgent message delivered by what we could call the original pony express dispatch. It is a matter of hours with rejoin the drama in chapter 8 of this book chapter 8 left off in verse one.

On that day. King has risqué the house of Heyman, the enemy of the Jews.

The Queen Esther and Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had disclosed what he wants to hurt. Guess what I got a cousin. The king took office in the ring which he had taken away from Heyman and gave it to Mordecai and Esther set Mordecai over the house payment.

If you want to write one word in the margin of your Bible. It would be the word here promotion. Josephus the first century Jewish historian, informs us that in the days of the Persian Empire. If you were guilty of treason. There would be an immediate forfeiture of your property, your possessions, your wealth to the crown. It would've included everything your hazards has promised his wife Esther half of his kingdom. He does give her what she requests. But now he gives her the wealthiest state in the kingdom to her and she immediately gave it to Mordecai was now Prime Minister turn of events. Amazing incredible turn of events. If you want to write another word.

Beginning in verse three into the margin of your Bible.

It would be the word passion look there. Then Esther spoke again to the king fell at his feet wept and implored him to avert the evil scheme of Heyman, the agate guided his plot which you devised against the Jews.

King extended the golden scepter to Esther. So Esther rose and stood before the king. Some believe that this is a separate event and I want to make a point does and I need to tell you a few things in order to do that. I believe this is at the same time I been promoted the same conversation. Same event of the King's scepter is simply another way of signifying that she still has approval to get asked what she will as she stands back, having fallen down weeping is before his throne. What that means is that Mordecai and Esther are still there. I got in verse seven, the king will answer both of them there both present what that tells us is that Esther and Mordecai's lives are now say no so you know, that takes care of God and just relax for a week or two. Our lives are spared. That's really all that matter no. Even after morning ties promoted, their lives are guaranteed safety is then asked her thoughts down and she can't hold back any longer.

All of that emotion. She releases it in tier king says you know you still love my attention. She stands she makes a request the heart of her request is in the middle of verse five, where she asks, let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Heyman. Basically, can you somehow revoke the letters devised by the king is all that concerned. In fact, little later on in verse seven we just sort of summarizing for is what he says would have given you Heyman's estate given you know the station of Heyman to Mordecai is the Prime Minister and and now you want to revoke any need to understand this is not a lot of Medes and Persians.

I can't revoke but one you and your cousin you put your heads together to come up with something and $hazards has found a loophole to his earlier decree. See, we know from history that that he can't revoke nor would he ever want to stay for the eligibility and so true. His character is here in this callous disregard for life. These is love.

You guys come up with something and I wiggle out of this claim any responsibility but whatever you can think up and I'll sign it and and change the subject. If you want another word to right next to verse eight would be the word permission.

King says now you write to the Jews as you see fit. His name sealed the king segment ring for decree which is written in the name of the King sealed King signet ring may not be revoked over the not within my first unit was wrong, but I'll let you write craft another when and I'll sign that second send it around somewhere like I draws of these letters is obviously the primary author Esther looking over his shoulder.

No doubt same presence of Mordecai and describes its written in plural form letters which indicates it's also translated all of the different languages throughout the kingdom that would need to have in their native tongue, not a letter to summarize for the sake of time basically gives the Jews several right legal rights that they had seen forfeited in that first needed to verse 11 in them. As these letters the king granted the Jews who were in each and every city the right to assemble that Hebrew verb literally means to muster an army, they can literally gather an army to defend themselves and he goes on to say just that to defend their lives to destroy to kill to annihilate the entire army of any people or products which might attack them, including children and women and plunder their spoil on one day and all the provinces of King hazardous the 13th day of the 12 month Jews have just been given legal right to mount an army to take a personal arms look at their pistol and put real bullets in defend themselves, even if it means killing a Persian citizen factor given the right to plunder the Persian those who come against them to try to take their life by the way is doing here in the ceiling is quoting Heyman's earlier word for word what is counterbalancing the edict of Heyman with this new eating the Jews now have the ability to respond exactly like the Persians have been given the ability to initiate verse 14 and the couriers pony express amounts they are hastened and impelled by the king's command, and they go out riding on the Royal steeds and now the news is literally galloping from Susa to the Sudan two months earlier. The pony express and delivered at Eden – to the Jews. Now they're about to deliver an edict of life to the Jews what the sea effectively does is communicate to everyone needing to understand that everyone is basically encouraged to restrain themselves is no longer a matter of law that you must try to kill a Jew and a Jew doesn't necessarily have to kill a Persian impact. If the person doesn't initiate a Jew… Defend himself. So basically what this counterbalancing helix says if you read between the lines, and everybody got the message. Don't do anything that 13th day, and guile will pick up a star get a hold of your green any animosity keep it in check and no one dies by weight is also informed the Persians that there are no longer going against unarmed you. This is not going to be sort of easy things of plundering they would be risking their own lives, because now the Jews will have their swords ready in self-defense. This is a brilliant counterbalance to an unchangeable. He is absolutely masterful. Mordecai was the turn of events hereto before we go to quickly head and can we back up history and just try to imagine you can for a moment what it must've been like to be a Jew reading that first needed. You're gonna die on the 13th day of the month and I mean imagine getting in your mailbox tomorrow when you come home from work or or are you glad and get your mail out of the mailbox.

When you see the mailman combiner 230 o'clock and it says all on 13 December.

Your neighbor has the right to kill you take your property your accounts get the keys to your vehicles. It's all on 13 December exactly with the system to for two months and since that first made its way around the kingdom Jews in view of your one of them would've won sackcloth and ashes.

You been mourning and grief and terror of imagine the horror of the 13th day of AR with that would be like for you and your family and friends, your coworkers, your neighbors have been effectively commanded by the Prime Minister to wipe you off the face of the earth. They can in the process. Take your homes in your possession, your bank accounts themselves, which gives them quite an incentive to do so you imagine the suspicions mount tension developing everyday you get to the point where no one would dare look a person in the Jew.

What I want to infringe or offend in any way person would probably drop his head, and I think I've got plans. What's even worse is along the way, this is you know they think people you know they must've been a threat to the government somehow we didn't need it in the got removed from planet are your reasons for this kingdom. Why edict. In fact, you discover in the edict that the king has effectively thrown his weight on your side. All of the princes and the officials were told side with them. For the most part. No wonder as the news leaks out first around the palace and Sue said that the celebration immediately began to verse 15 it informs us that Mordecai would happen. The presence of the king and royal robes of blue and white, with a large crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple. These are, by the way the real colors of the ancient kingdom of Persia and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced in for the Jews. There was a lie and gladness and joy and honor bringing told in verse 17 that many of the people of the land became Jews.

Some would believe that they literally align themselves to the Jews whenever the 13th day appeared. I think we have every reason to take this text at face value what we have here is with Gentiles becoming proselytes to the to the Jewish faith like Ray had heard the rumors of Israel coming in. She was ready. She left everything she knew that she married an Israelite or like Ruth who left her Moabitess, heritage, and in the pagan idolatry were people and and and adopted the God of Abraham and Isaac, and Jacob, but you have happening here. The city of Susan is celebrating this night special for the Jewish people to do notice in verse 16 with the Jews. Everything was light. I love the word translated hope. Hope is the reversal of darkness. Everything is reversed. Darkness is now lie. Sadness is not gladness. Grief is now July disrespect is now on her in the Persian pony express is full speed. Can you imagine galloping across the Sahara desert. There were rushing along the banks of the Euphrates River down into India up into northern Africa. There's another word you write in the margin of your Bibles is the word protection date of massacre is about the dawn Jews are vastly outnumbered.

Napoleon once remarked, tongue-in-cheek God was on the side of the largest arm. That's the way the world thing added at the fact that there will be evidently Persians been waiting scheming planning, conniving to get that guy's house.

His current his cattle, his possessions verse one of chapter 9 open down the 12 months that is the month they are on the 13th day the king's command and edict were about to be executed on the day when the enemies of the Jews watch this hoped to gain mastery over them. They had hope. Notice in verse one, further, but was turned to the contrary, so that the Jews themselves gain mastery over those hated those who came against so fighting evidently did break out around kingdom since the Jews were able to defend himself after one day of fighting back after two moment not one is not one record of any Jew die.

However, most notable among the Persians who died versus 6 to 10 informants are the 10 son of Haman then asked her do something surprising. Verse 13 where Esther goes back to the king, and she then asked for one more day for the Jews to defend themselves time to do that. Evidently she turned the plot there, primarily in Susa. The Texans indicated to place in around the palace, one is likely fomented by those loyal to Haman those loyal to the sons of Haman and Leona take over the fact that guy has Prime Minister we like Haman. We like this 10 son Esther perhaps found out about that.

She asked the king in verse 13 to display the body's 10 sons of Haman who've already been killed.

To further discourage any more killing. She wants them publicly displayed as a warning against any further palace plot.

Verse 16 summarizes these two days of fighting we read out the rest of the Jews were in the king's provinces assembled to defend their lives and rid themselves of their enemies and they the summary statement killed 75,000 of those who hated them, but they did not lay hands on their plunder and you might think. After reading that as I did 75,000 Persian citizens means there must've been fighting all throughout this must have been a one. I thought the same until I discovered one historical document the Persian kingdom during this particular period of time in history is estimated to be right around 50 million only 75,000/50,000,000 and the reason I tell you, that statistic is because you need to see them that God has obviously turned the hearts of the Persian citizens toward the Jews want you to notice three times were told the same thing. God is repeat second repetition in verse 10. In verse 15 in verse 16 as read. The author is careful to let us know what the Jews did not lay hands on their plunder Jews did not lay hands on their plunder. They merely defended their lives ever been ripped off to lose any sleep over there been mistreated by one of the higher-ups in your company and then you got a promotion over the well within their who will I have do all that over time spread. This is your chance get even. I mean nobody will not legally letting look good. Would you do to your enemy.

If you had the chance you may not use a gun, you might not use the sword but you might use a ballpoint pen to write that or you might send reminders, Utah the enemy of our soul knows so well within us apart from the spirit of God. We still fall under the same description of vanity there is in our flesh, not one good so when those kinds of things happen to you.

Is it any surprise enemy tends to show I can't help but admire the Jewish people even more here because they didn't have what we have in Scripture. Further, in the new covenant further clarify for us the will of God.

For instance were Paul writes never pay back evil for evil, if possible, and I love this text if possible. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Sometimes it is up to you sometimes arisen PC done everything you can do but so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men leave room. He says for the wrath of God, for it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay.

The Lord says I fix everything one day to make things right. In the meantime, do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good love and learn from these Jews. Here they they refused to do any of that and listen.

Don't think for a that the Persians did notice they will be unbelievably amazed at that… A person can literally walk away from revenge, that somehow that person can can harness those thoughts of greed and vindication.

Ladies and gentlemen, not only did the Jews gain mastery over their enemies. This day the Jews gain mastery over themselves and that kind of reaction by the way, then and now I kind reaction gives our God, to a watching world. Great honor great honor. When you choose not to get back or get even as God is greater on your testimony receives greater credibility than ever before, and there may be some people say you know your God is greater than any my gods because my God still allow power to walk away from Jesse. So God is on celebration as God's people have the unique opportunity to reflect his character in the way we respond to insults and intentional injury. I pray that God will give us grace to respond biblically as we put this lesson into practice.

Thanks for listening today to wisdom for the hearts, our teacher is Stephen Davey.

This is the time of year when students are finalizing their plans for the fall.

If you're a college graduate.

Let me ask you a question. How would your life be changed if you set aside one year to study God's word experience authentic Christian community growing discipleship study in Israel and earn your Masters degree in theological studies. Stephen is also the founder and president of shepherds theological seminary shepherds. Seminary has launched a program called shepherds Institute. This unique one year program offers a life-changing opportunity to all believers no matter your vocation, shepherds Institute invites you to invest one year of your life to equip yourself for the rest of your life. Learn more@shepherds.ed you and plan to study with us next year. If we can assist you any way with our ministry.

You can write to us at info@wisdomonline.org.

Our number is 86 648 Bible 866-482-4253 I'm Scott Wiley. I thank you for listening. Join us next time. For more wisdom