Reflection
As we wrap up the book of Esther, we are left with a heavy tension that God’s people have experienced a big victory and yet they still have to live day-to-day under the control of the Persian Empire. They are rescued from the current moment of distress and fear, but they are still being held captive, slaves to a kingdom to which they do not belong. God’s people are still longing for a Savior to save them—they are longing for ultimate freedom.
This is how Christians are also living today. Yes, Christ has come and defeated death. He came and died for our sins, giving us a level of freedom that did not exist before. And yet, the battle is not over. We still live in a daily fight against our own brokenness and the brokenness of the world. Evil is not done away with yet. We live with the promise of Christ’s return, but we are currently in a gap of time where it has not yet happened. That creates tension for us just like it did for the Jews at the end of the book of Esther.
So, the challenge for us, just like it was for them, is how do we live in that tension faithfully? This is why they set up ways to remember. They established a yearly celebration where they would reflect on God’s faithfulness and how he once delivered them from what seemed to be an impossible situation. These rhythms helped them worship God for his goodness and faithfulness even though daily life was still hard and they were still in captivity. This is how they were able to live faithfully in the tension—creating the opportunity to remember and worship.
- How can you intentionally remember God’s goodness and faithfulness in your life?
- Christ’s death frees us from our sin and brokenness, but yet, brokenness still exists in the world today. Are there ways that you have felt the tension of living in the “not yet”?