When things are darkest…
I confess, I’ve been very negative about Esther’s story for a very long time. There are many details about the characters and their actions (reactions, really) that just rub me the wrong way. They are NOT examples or heroes, in the same way Samson is NOT a role-model.
But there is something about the story that we just can’t let go – the movement and love of God in the darkest of times. I know we do not get any hints of God’s work from the original author, but we KNOW that God is there and working.
Why am I restating this? Because the dark times are coming, if they aren’t already here. They look different for each person, but we know that this world is a broken place and the darkness will come.
As a child I hated the dark. Bad things happen at night. My mom and I were mugged walking out of a grocery store at night, in the dark area of the parking lot. All the scary movies and stories take place in the dark. Hope seems to ebb and become too feeble to sustain in the dark. The world is full of darkness and deep shadows the creep over us.
When your mind finally gets quiet, the noise of the day passes – where do you go? Too often we wander into the darkest of places.
Esther’s story tells us one thing: even when it is darkest and the outlook most bleak – God is.
When the only hope looks like a young teenager without any royal experience having to place her life on the line to simply walk into the same room as the king – things are pretty bleak.
When the only hope for the line of Christ remaining is a new law from Xerxes saying the Jews could take up weapons against those wanting to attack them – things are pretty bleak.
When depression rears its head; When loneliness shadows our eyes from seeing others around us; When hopelessness makes giving up look like the easy route; When the dark comes – God is.
God is.
He hasnt moved. He will not move. When it seems there is no word, no miracle imminent, no great message – God still is.
Hear the Psalmist’s cry from the dark:
Psalm 130:1-8 NLT
From the depths of despair, O LORD, I call for your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer. LORD, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. I am counting on the LORD; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn. O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows. He himself will redeem Israel from every kind of sin.
God is.