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In today's reading we will complete the Book of Esther with Chapters 7, 8, and 9. Today we will read about Esther asking King Xerxes to save her and her people, the Jews, from Haman's evil plan to kill them all. The king elevated Mordecai to second in command of his kingdom, executed Haman on the pole that he had set up for Mordecai, and instructed Mordecai to write a law that would satisfy Esther's request to save the Jews. With the new law the Jews were allowed to assemble and fight back to anyone who tried to kill them. After the appointed time that Haman had set up to kill the Jews Mordecai declared that all the people should set up a yearly holiday in remembrance of the event and how God had taken care of them. The holiday is called Purim, named for the Hebrew word for "lot" because Haman cast the lot to determine the day that the Jews should be killed. Throughout the Book of Esther we can see that Mordecai had a heart for God. Even when declaring a remembrance day for the Jews he showed his heart for God and all people by declaring that the yearly holiday should be celebrated by giving gifts to others, including the poor. The story concludes stating that Mordecai was well liked by the people because he worked to treat them right and spoke up for them.
In our discussion for daily application we look at Mordecai's example of looking out for other people- to treat them right and speak up for those who could protect themselves. These are things that God has been teaching us throughout the year. God wants us to stand up for people who cannot stand up for themselves. God wants us to care for children who have lost their parents. God wants us to look out for women who have lost their husbands. We, too, need to be sure that in today's "look out for number one" society that we are not being selfish but are looking out for other people, looking for opportunities to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. God places us in positions to be able to do these things so we need to be mindful of them and remember that like Esther (and Mordecai!) God has placed us where we are, in places and positions to be able to help other people for such a time as this.
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