New Life, Bright Joy

Challenge 29 - Joy in Spite of Stoopidity

Esther 8:16-17 ESV

The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor.

And in every province and in every city, wherever the king’s command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.

I don’t usually use the King James Version (KJV) in my studying, however as I was using The Blue Letter Bible website (which is set default to KJV) I found myself appreciating verse 17: …the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day.

We know that this feasting and joy and gladness came in hot on the heels of days of mourning and tearing of clothes, the wearing of sackcloth and fasting that was set off two months earlier by an edict making lawful the annihilation of the Jews. A new edict had been declared, because it was Persian law that once a law/edict was put into rule it could not be taken away, that allowed the Jews to take up arms and fight anyone who came against them. This new edict gave them life in a sense. One word brought death, another life.

Does that remind you of anything? Another Word that brought life? And light?

Just as a new word ended the mourning and fear of the Jews throughout the Persian Empire and brought them into the light and brightness of joy and gladness and a good day of feasting, so does the Word made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1: 14 ESV): Christ.

He has fulfilled the death sentence of sin on our behalf. We do not stand fearful of judgement because God has declared us justified and righteous before Him, cleared of sin and condemnation: For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8: 2 ESV)

I’ll end with this verse that is cross-referenced for Esther 8: 16…and this question for us: Are we bearing witness to the Light, as John the Baptist did, by our gladness and joy? Is our rejoicing making our days good and calling others to notice? Let’s make sure the light and joy that is upon us is recognized as being rooted in the new life we have been given in Christ!

Read Cheryl’s Esther notes here.

And find her Substack here.