Paul said that all the scriptures are for teaching and for an example to us. I believe there are many, many parallels between events in the OT and current events. Didn’t Solomon say there was nothing new under the sun?
Also, when we look at who these people were, most are listed in the lineage of Jesus Christ. And since we’re Abraham’s children and sons and daughters of God, the people in the OT and their stories really affect us directly, because they are our spiritual ancestors.
In the book of Esther we see our people under direct attack for obeying God. Any time we’re persecuted for doing right, God is there and His angels are there, ministering servants sent to care for us, His saints in this world who pray to Him for help and wisdom. When we ask, God answers.
Anyway, one Jew wouldn’t bow down to one of the King’s servants and in a fit of rage and bitterness, Haman (the King’s high official) decided to wipe out not only Mordecai (the good, obedient one) but his entire race! (Sound familiar?) He went to the king and convinced him that it was in his best interests to kill all the Jews.
“If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king’s business, that they may put it into the king’s treasuries.” (Esther 3:9 ESV)
“Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with instruction to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.” (Est. 3:13 ESV)
This date, according to the NLT Bible, was March 7, 473 BC.
Of course all the people were horrified when they heard the news, confused about the decree, and scared for their lives and for their families, because a decree issued by a King was irrevocable. It seemed inevitable that they would all die.
If you’re familiar with this story you know that Queen Esther steps in and she and her good uncle Mordecai get the king’s attention and he agrees that the two of them may do whatever is necessary to correct the situation.
“But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king’s ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s ring cannot be revoked.” (Est. 8:8 ESV)
Any edict written in the name of the king and sealed with his seal was irrevocable. This worked against them in the case of the decree to kill all the Jews, because it meant that that law couldn’t be taken back! But these two wrote around that law, finding a way to keep their people alive.
“Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king’s service, bred from the royal stud, saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them…” (Est. 8:10b-11a ESV)
This decree proved so successful that “many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them”! (Est. 8:17b ESV)
What is my point? I believe that this is an example written for us. A decree has been issued that we are to defend ourselves against attacks. Attacks against our faith, attacks against our bodies which are the temple of God, attacks of lies trying to exalt themselves above God’s Truth.
Paul simplifies our defense by telling us what we’re fighting and how to fight back – to stand against what comes against us.
We are fighting “cosmic powers over this present darkness, against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12) How exactly, do you go about fighting against a spiritual force of darkness??!!
By speaking the Word of God which is TRUTH. The Word is our Sword which operates in the spiritual realm, calling things that are not as though they are, by hearing the Word and allowing faith to grow as we hear the Truth.
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm… having fastened on the belt of truth… the breastplate of righteousness… shoes… given by the gospel of peace… take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one… the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication… keep alert with all perseverance…” (Eph. 6:13-18 ESV)
As Satan fires his darts at you – darts of lies and deceptions – hold up your shield of FAITH which deflects them. Faith in what? The Word as Truth! If you read something in the Bible and you hear something like, “Well, that doesn’t apply anymore,” or “No, that went out with the old church,” or “Well, we don’t believe that,” stop! Think about what tries to exalt itself against the Word! Speak back – the sword of the Spirit IS the Word of God! – and hold onto to your faith! Tighten the belt of Truth and stay alert to anything which doesn’t quite sit right in your heart.
Don’t take my word or anyone else’s – not even a preacher’s – if it goes against what you’ve read in the Bible and believed to be truth. Pray at all times, asking God to open your heart to the truth and believe that the Holy Spirit guides you into all truth. Don’t harden your heart to something that speaks to you in the Bible; if it’s hard or goes against traditional doctrine, PRAY! Ask God to reveal His truth and Wisdom to you because He said He will!
“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.” (2 Cor. 10:3-6 ESV)
As Paul said, our spiritual weapons are for the purpose of destroying ‘strongholds’. What are strongholds? As he explains in this verse, strongholds are ‘arguments’ and ‘opinions raised against the knowledge of God’, ‘thoughts’. The truth will set you free – in fact it’s already done. Jesus made provision for your freedom and now it’s up to you to receive it.
“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ. In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see our good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.” (Col. 2:1-5 ESV)
Follow Paul’s advice: ask for God to explain and reveal His mysteries to you. Ask for increased knowledge (His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge!) and wisdom (the Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom but this requires a humble spirit instead of a proud spirit which assumes that nothing more can be learned). And finally, do not be deluded by “plausible arguments”. Stand firm in faith and pray at all times. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit, an irrevocable decree, issued by THE King of Kings.
Peace and joy to all,
Laurie
A Calll To Arms 
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