Esther 8

“But remember that whatever has already been written in the king’s name and sealed with his signet ring can never be revoked.” (Esther 8:8, NLT)

Some things in life can be revoked. The state issues you a driver’s license based upon your ability to drive according to the law. But if you break the law by drinking and driving, then your license can be revoked. As I write this daily devotional, if I don’t like what I’ve written, I can hit “delete” and it is gone! But other things in life are irrevocable. Hurtful words that have been spoken cannot be retracted. The damage is done. We can apologize and ask for forgiveness, but the pain in the hearer may never go away.

Likewise, the laws of the Persians and Medes could not be revoked. The rule of this law exceeded the power of the king who decreed it. This presented a great legal problem for Mordecai, Esther, and all the Jews in the Persian Empire. Even though Haman was dead, his decree of ethnic cleansing was still very much alive. On March 7, all the people in the empire would attack the Jews to wipe them out and confiscate their goods. Since this law could not be revoked, the king authorized Mordecai to write another law to deliver the Jews.

“The king’s decree gave the Jews in every city authority to unite to defend their lives. They were allowed to kill, slaughter, and annihilate anyone of any nationality or province who might attack them or their children and wives, and to take the property of their enemies.” (Esther 8:11, NLT)

Mordecai couldn’t revoke the first law, but he could empower the Jews to defend themselves against their enemies and even to confiscate their property. The first decree could not be set aside, but the second decree could protect the people from its deadly effects.

In a similar way, God gave the original decree to Adam that in the day he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he would surely die. Later, God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai. Violations of these laws brought death. These decrees were irrevocable. But a new decree was written—a new covenant was made. The wages of sin is still death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). The first decree cannot be removed, but God has protected us from its deadly effects. He has empowered us to overcome our enemy, the devil. He has broken the power of sin and death that the first decrees held over us.

Does this new decree remove the battle from our door? Hardly. We must fight the good fight of faith if we are to overcome. But the new covenant guarantees our victory if we will abide in Christ, for the battle belongs to the Lord.

“Heavenly Father, we thank you for the new covenant of salvation through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you that we have passed from death to life and from the power of Satan to the power of God. Help us not to yield to sin, but to stand on your promises and fight the good fight. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.”