SecondDay

One title applied to this Sabbath is Zachor, because it is a Sabbath of Remembrance. It is the Sabbath before Purim, and it is set aside to remember the story of Esther. Purim is a feast that was created by the leaders of the Jewish people of Persia (now Iran/Iraq) to memorialize the day when God's people were delivered out of the hands of an evil, Satan-like character named Hamen by the favor of the king. The king of Persia (which means "pure, splendid") was named Ahasuerus or Xerxes (meaning "lion king, great warrior"), and he "... reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia." (Est. 1:1). As we can see, this king was the ruler of a great empire. His kingdom is described as "glorious", with the "splendor of his excellent majesty" (v. 4). The Book of Esther has an important meaning to the Church, both Jew and Gentile, because Esther was the bride of this (Lion) King, who ruled with excellent majesty, a glorious, pure kingdom of splendor. This puts us in mind of Christ, His Bride the Church, and His kingdom. I think, however, there is also an important message here to the individual believer in Christ as well. Although Esther was married to the king, and had the title of queen, she did not have a close relationship with the king (Est. 3:11). The king had not summoned her for the past thirty days. She told her uncle that anyone who comes into the king's presence unbidden can be pur to death. Her uncle, Mordecai, told her that unless she sees and speaks to the king, she and her people will perish as a result of Haman's plot against them. He suggested to Esther that this is even her life's purpose: "...who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Est. 4:14). The Jews, Mordecai said, would fast and pray on Esther's behalf, and Esther decided to go before the king: "...and if I perish, I perish!" (Est. 4:16). So Esther changed her garments, put on her royal robes, and stood at the door of the king's court (Est. 5:1-2). Esther was willing to risk her life to fulfill her kingdom purpose. The king saw her, and extended his mercy and permission for her to enter. He must have wondered what motivated Esther to risk her life to come before him unbidden. He must have then been very surprised to hear that she took such a risk merely to invite him, and Haman also, to a banquet! On the second day of the banquet of wine that Esther had prepared, the king said to her: "What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!" (Est. 7:2). Jesus said the same to us: "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." (Jn. 14:13-14). We do not just chant Jesus' name as if it were a magic word, but we ask in what His name represents, His identity as the Son of His Father. We can also understand what happened for Esther in the phrase "second day" that we see above, which has a special meaning. The Hebrew root word sana means to change, alter, transmute/change into another state or form, to fold, to transfer to another place, to change oneself as in changing garments. As we can see from the root meaning of the phrase used above, it indicates a complete change, even into another state or form. Esther then revealed Haman's plot on that second day of the banquet, and how it would affect her and her people. The king said to Haman, who had fallen across Esther's couch appealing to her for mercy: "Will he also assault the queen while I am in the house?' As the word left the king's mouth, they covered (hapa - "overlaid, veiled, encased") Haman's face." (Est. 7:8). So on the second day of Esther's banquet of wine, Haman was condemned by the king. In the Song of Songs, the bride says of her Beloved: "He brought me to the banqueting house (house of wine), and his banner over me was love." (Song of Songs 2:4). In the Book of Esther, we see Esther in several forms: First as Hadassah, the Jewish orphan. Then we see Esther, hiding behind a Gentile identity. We see her then given the title of "queen" by marriage to the king, but it was an empty title without a relationship with that king. She was a queen without access to the king, and relegated to the women's chamber. It wasn't until Esther became queen in royal purpose, which came after her reunion and dependence upon the king, that he offered to give her anything she asked even up to half of his kingdom. In this relationship with the king, she was given permission to ask for whatever she wished. What does this mean to us? We saw a change or transmutation in Esther and her position, in the king's feelings towards Esther, and in the circumstances that were within the power of the king. The same type of transmutation is necessary for us according to scripture. It is one that we resist, however, as we cling in our minds to the natural view we have of ourselves. Do we think of ourselves as no longer belonging to ourselves, but to Christ, our King and Husband? (1 Cor. 6:19-20). The transmutation necessary to change from royalty in title only to royalty in purpose and fact as Esther did requires a new way of thinking. This is the necessary change that Paul spoke of: "Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Cor. 5:16-17), and also, "For in Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God." (Gal. 6:15-16). The transmutation comes from being IN Christ. My identity ends, and Christ's supernatural identity is what exists instead. Esther's identity went from being the Jew, to the Gentile, to the wife/queen who waited in the women's chamber, into being a reigning queen in her husband's presence, who was offered up to half the king's kingdom upon request. After this "change", the king even let Esther compose the decrees that went throughout the kingdom, sealed with the king's own signet ring (Esther 8:7-8). Paul also wrote of enthroned authority already accomplished in Christ: "...and raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Eph. 2:6-7). Paul said this: "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Gal. 3:27-29). Have we changed our natural garments, and put on Christ instead, in agreement with the meaning of "the second day"? Or are we still clinging to our natural identities - identities that we cannot imagine being without? We are heading for the "third day" spoken of in regard to Christ's return, but we have not yet made the change necessary of the "second day". We did not exist in eternity with God in our natural identities according to scripture: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love..." (Eph. 1:3-4). We are not to think of ourselves, or others, by our natural identities: "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Col. 3:3). There are Haman types in the world today doing much damage to the people of God. It is not our own natural identity, but the identity of the King, Jesus Christ in whom we exist, that enables our kingdom purpose to be accomplished. We have to allow that change to take place. If you would like to learn more about being in Christ, you can pray with me: "Lord Jesus, You came as the firstfruit of many brethren. Our existence began in You before the foundation of the world, and You died and rose from the dead to reconcile us back to the Father in Your Being. Fill me, Lord, with the Holy Spirit to help me to be conformed to Your image. the image of the dear Son (Rom. 8:29). I ask this in Your name, Jesus, AMEN."