By Lynnette Easter
As we continue into the new year, I would like for us to take a brief look at the crux of Esther’s fate: the decree. Afterwards, I’d like for us to take another personal evaluation and then we will continue with the story next month.
We are now at the place of this story where Haman’s devious plan of vindication is about to be made into a legitimate law—a decree. The royal secretaries were called together on the thirteenth day of the first month to write the law in every person’s language as Haman relayed it to them.
This decree was written to every official over all of King Xerxes’ provinces in every residing person’s language. As Haman dictated the specifics to the royal secretaries they wrote out the decree as if King Xerxes were dictating it to them himself. Upon completion of penning this law, it was sealed with King Xerxes’ signet ring that Haman obtained from the King.
King Xerxes commanded the couriers to immediately carry the letters to every province; a copy of the document was posted as law. It was published in all of the provinces in the name of King Xerxes to kill all Jewish people on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month. Every woman, child, young and old as well were to be killed and their goods were to be taken.
This law was also posted in the city where King Xerxes and Queen Esther resided. While King Xerxes and Haman were drinking, the people in the city were confused regarding the new law…
Anger: the topic we are visiting again this month. As we just finished seeing the results of an angry person I must ask:
Have you ever been so angry your head hurt and/or you felt as if it would explode?
Maybe you have been so angry it was utterly impossible to concentrate or you became consumed with devising a plan of how you could lash out at the person who caused you to be angry. Then again, maybe you’re at the crossroads where you find yourself enraged towards the person who caused you to become angry because they act as if everything is just fine in their world.
Whatever the case may be, when anger is allowed to take root in ones heart it causes a metastasizing effect on the person it is affecting. It spreads and takes over the person. Their mind is altered and actions follow suit leaving lasting and impacting repercussions.
Take a look at the senseless acts of violence that are transpiring around the nation. One of the words we may hear associated with a person who committed a violent criminal act is ‘angry’. Oftentimes, when releasing an explanation regarding as to why the person acted out, we may also hear that the person’s anger stemmed from an act, word or deed that was directed towards them.
We have seen this recently in Chicago, where a few young people kidnapped and reportedly tortured another youth on Facebook Live. It’s a toxic mixture of anger, apathy, and no positive outlet for those emotions.
Angry is also being attributed to the many who are against the new POTUS Donald Trump, who was sworn into office just this past week. His administration has so far spurred many to protest in outrage over what he will put into place and remove while he is in office.
Anger is a natural emotion to feel, but it must be dealt with appropriately. So this year, let’s ensure that we guard ourselves against living and operating out of anger as we obey the scripture to “be angry and sin not” (Ephesians 4:26). If we find ourselves in a predicament where we are struggling with getting victory over this, we must ask for spiritual assistance.
Let’s go another step further. If our brothers and sisters are slipping or falling short, we must band together and help one another gain victory in this area. It is imperative that we move forward and not allow any interference to deter us from reaching our destiny and living the life God has tailor-made for each of us.
