Forgotten Justice (Esther 6)

Recently Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella has been playing in our house. It's the story of a heroine who is overlooked. She serves her family, and serves as a citizen in a kingdom, yet she is overlooked by her family, underappreciated, and mistreated. Perhaps the definitive "rags to riches" story in American storytelling, Cinderella points vividly to what a life of underappreciation looks and feels like. 

Have you ever been overlooked for something good you've done? Maybe it was being thoughtful for a friend, or helping around the house. What is it like to be overlooked? Are you left with a sense of injustice or anger? Perhaps being overlooked will lead you to think twice about helping in the same way again. No one enjoys being overlooked. Mordecai, the man who had adopted the orphaned Esther, had been overlooked for years. 

Mordecai had rendered service to King Xerxes by saving his life. We are told in Esther 2:21-23:

21 During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 22 But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. 23 And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.

Ever since this event in Esther 2, Mordecai had been overlooked. Mordecai had rendered to Xerxes as vital a service as any citizen could to a reigning monarch. His faithfulness to Xerxes had gone unnoticed and his loyalty was repaid with forgetfulness. What would it have been like for Mordecai? He lived in Susa, the capital city of Xerxes. He served near the king's gate (a position of some official capacity Esther 2:21). He had relationships with various officials in the service of the Persian empire (Esther 3:2-3). His heroic prevention of the assassination of Xerxes was a matter of official record (Esther 3:23). Despite all these factors, Mordecai was overlooked for years. He was unheralded for his heroism, and left unrewarded for his loyalty. We're told about Xerxes' ignorance of Mordecai's actions in the first few verses of Esther 6:

6:1 That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. 2 It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 3 “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked. “Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.

Xerxes' only rewards Mordecai because of his own sleeplessness on one particular night. Xerxes had to be taught about who had saved him from assassination via the reading of official records (Esther 6:1-2). Many years had taken place (at least 5, but potentially more) between the assassination attempt and the night Xerxes decided to reward Mordecai. It most likely would have been a long enough time that Mordecai would have given up hope of receiving earthly recognition for his faithful service. 

A couple of takeaways for today:

*Xerxes is ruled rather than rules. 

Throughout the book of Esther we've seen the supposedly mighty king of Persia throw tantrum, issue commands which are rejected, throw excessive parties, give himself to drunkenness, proclaim edicts with zero consideration, and bemoan bitterly his previous foolish decisions. Xerxes is an atrocious leader from almost any angle and perspective in Esther! He fails to lead his own household well, he fails to lead his armies successfully, he fails to know his own laws, and he fails to reward those who are loyal. The man who saved Xerxes' life is forgotten, and his entire people group are condemned by Xerxes inept leadership. Besides for explicit editorial comments, I'm not sure how else the book of Esther could more beautifully, more poetically, more purposefully and more clearly communicate that Xerxes was an atomic failure as ruler. 

*Faithfulness to God is never forgotten. 

While Xerxes couldn't remember his loyal citizen Mordecai, God never forgets a single good work done for his kingdom. God remembers those who are faithful:

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)

God rewards those who are faithful:

“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:12)

“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10)

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

  God's reward is one that lasts an eternity:

“And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” (1 Peter 5:4)

“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46)

 “And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." (Daniel 12:3)

If your faith is in Christ Jesus, then he has empowered you to serve him in his kingdom. No good done for his kingdom is ever forgotten, overlooked, or underappreciated. There is not a single "Cinderella" in God's kingdom, no person or good deed is forgotten. God faithfully remembers and eternally rewards those who faithfully cling to Christ in faith.