Stand for Your Lives

by

Esther 8:11 – Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life…


Even though King Ahasuerus has hanged Haman, his decree has already been issued, and it couldn’t be changed. On the 13th day of the month Adar the slaughter of the Jews will begin. So the King issues another edict, sealed with his ring showing his favor. This decree tells the Jews to stand for their lives; to defend themselves; to fight their enemies; all with the King’s blessing.

We learn that some things can never be reversed (vs. 8). There are things in our culture and society, that are wicked and against God, and they are not going away. We have to make a choice whether we are going to let them influence us for evil or if we are going to “abstain from all appearance of evil.” The world might be going to hell, be we are not. Carnal Christians might be giving in to societal sins, but we don’t have to!

With the issuing of the new decree the Jews understood that they had a higher power to obey (vss. 10-11). The message was to draw together, defend, and destroy the enemy. The man behind the message was the King himself. And the manuscript was published (vs. 13) so it could prepare the people. It was also posted, or sent out, so all the Jews would hear the orders. We have been given our orders in the Bible. It’s time to follow them!

Once the word was spread the Jews “had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day (vs. 17).” We can have a “good day” even in bad times. They had contentment, communion, and even conversions – “And many of the people of the land became Jews” all because of the published word. Their hope and constant source of peace was in the word of the King and what they could accomplish because of it! Things are bad and they are going to get worse, but you can fight, you can stand for your life!