Holy Scriptures and Israel

Guest (Male): Shalom. Holy Scriptures and Israel is a ministry designed to share with the Jewish people the good news of the Lord Jesus Yeshua the Messiah, and to instruct Christians on the Jewish roots of their faith. And now, teaching God's Word from a Hebrew Messianic perspective, here is Gideon Levytam.

Gideon Levytam: The study of Esther, Chapter 8. The Queen Vashti could not be restored back to the king when she refused to submit to the king and he gave a verdict that Vashti will no longer be his wife. Notice what it says in verse 19 of Esther Chapter 1. It says, "If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she." Notice the law of the Medes and the Persian, that it be not altered. You can never change it.

And that's a principle, a biblical, spiritual principle taught in the Word of God: that the wages of sin is death. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." And the fact that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God means that all of us, by nature, are deserved to die, will die physically, but unless we receive that new law that God have given, we will remain eternally separated from God. And so in verse 8, he says, write another letter. Write altogether another letter, he's saying to her, to you and Mordecai, and I will seal it with my ring and we will be sending this to all the Jewish community and all the people in the 127 provinces of the Persian kingdom.

And so, beloved brothers and sisters, notice from verse 9 on to verse 15, we have the second decree, the second law that was given to Mordecai and Esther for the Jewish people and for all the people around the world in these 127 provinces. It's a new law. It's the law of the spirit of life in the Messiah Yeshua, is being represented here by this new letter. And so we read in verse 9: the call for the king's scribe now to come. "Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month." Notice a few months passed by now because earlier, it was the month of Nisan. Now we are in the month of Sivan. Three months: Nisan, Iyar, Sivan, the three first months in the Hebrew biblical calendar.

"Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month of Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language."

Now, can you imagine? They didn't have internet in those days. They didn't have telephones or television in those days. They didn't have airplanes and cars and trains and buses. That they would have to hundred and twenty-seven medinot in Hebrew, as it says here, these are provinces. In Hebrew, the word is medinot, 127 countries from India all the way until Ethiopia, the then known world. So when they were writing and they were sending it away, somebody had to ride on a mule or a donkey or on a horse or a camel in order to get it somewhere far away. It takes a long time to get it.

But not only this, beloved brothers and sisters, they had to write this new law, the law we would call it from a New Testament point of view, the law of the spirit of life through the Messiah Yeshua, needed to be sent to all the nations of the world but in all different languages. Can you imagine, beloved brothers and sisters, according to this verse 9: "the writing thereof, unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their language." You see, the Hebrew language, be-Ivrit as we said, was written in Hebrew to the Jewish people, but it was written in every other language to the people of the world that they will know this new verdict that is going to be sent by the king, sealed by his ring.

Now, can you imagine? We are trying to translate a little booklet from one language to another. We have a difficult time. Who is able to rightly be able to spell and write this different language? Imagine what it meant. It also tells us how large Persia have been in those days. You see, when you think about North America and Canada, we have 10 provinces and three territories, and then in United States, 50 states. But you can send a letter to the 50 states, everyone know English. But if you send it to the 127 provinces in different language, it's another story, beloved brothers and sisters. But everyone was to hear this new verdict that is going to come out from King Ahasuerus, and the king gave permission for Esther and for Mordecai to write whatever they wish, and he will just stamp that with his own ring.

So notice that in verse 10, Mordecai prepare a letter, a new verdict, completely new, because the law of the Medes and Persian cannot be changed. The law of sin and death cannot be changed. "The wages of sin is death. The soul that sinneth, it shall die." So that's a principle that man has to realize that here is the introduction of altogether a new law, you might say, a new letter from the king. So notice verse 10: "And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries."

In other words, there were all kind of animals that people were riding, the posts it says here. They went forward to go ahead with those letters and spread it all over the 127 provinces of Persia in those days. And now notice what it says in verse 11, the content of this new decree. What was the content? Look what it says here: "Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey."

Notice the verdict now was that it given a right for the Jewish people to protect themselves on that day from what was going to happen because of the letter of the verdict that was sent by Haman earlier. Notice the five things that we read here in verse 11. He said to gather, to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish all power, whoever is going to come against them. They are to stand because the king gave them the verdict, the permission to do so. Now, beloved brothers and sisters, these Jewish people needed to believe that new letter. They have one letter in their hand says that they are going to be dead. They are going to be killed. Now they are going to receive another letter, and the letter says, "No, no, no. You can stand for yourself and the others better be careful because you're allowed to stand, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish anybody who will try to kill you."

They had to put faith in the message that was given through the king, by the king's signature, through those letters. They had to believe this new verdict is active, is true, and they can act upon it. And you know, it's the same thing, beloved brothers and sisters, that we learn in Scripture. If any man is going to receive the grace of God, the provision of God, he or she, man or woman, must believe. Hebrews 11 says that without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the Word of God. Romans 10 verse 9: "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth that Yeshua is Lord, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

They had to believe the new verdict. They had to accept this new principle, this new decree, this new law. Again, allow me. The first law was the law of sin and death. Because of sin, death came upon all men, for all have sinned. But the law of life, or I should say, the law of the Ruach HaKodesh, the law of the spirit of life through the Messiah Yeshua, is an altogether new law. Death we deserve because of sin. Life we receive because of the Messiah Yeshua and what He have done for us when He died for us on the tree.

So in verse 12 and verse 13, the appointed day for the Jews to protect themselves is the 13th day of the 12th month. This is the month of Adar. The very same day that they were supposed to be destroyed by the people of the world under the verdict that Haman gave by the signature of King Ahasuerus. Look at this, verse 12 and verse 13 say: "Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies."

You know, when you get one letter that says on this day, the 13th day of the month of Adar, you're going to be killed. Then you get another letter says on the 13th day of the month of Adar, you can protect yourself and destroy the other who seek even to kill you. What you're going to believe? You see, that's the beauty of the gospel. That's the beauty that we have not only in New Testament, Brit Chadashah, we find it throughout Scripture, from Bereshit, Genesis, to Malachi in the Old Testament, the Tanakh, and from Matthew to Revelation, the principle that the law of sin leads to death and the law of the spirit of life in the Messiah Yeshua leads to life and a relationship with the Lord.

And so it's so beautiful to see that they must have been amazed when they all of a sudden received these letters. It says in verse 14 that the king agreed, and then he have urged the people to go and send them quickly to send this new message. Notice verse 14: "So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace, Shushan HaBirah, Shushan the capital city of Persia in those days." Can you imagine now? The king hastening the messengers, says, "Go quickly, take this new message to all my 127 provinces."

And I think of the love of God, who is hastening the message of the grace of God through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. He urged men: be ye reconciled with God. Accept the Messiah Yeshua, the only answer for sin. Turn away, turn away from your evil way and come. God found a way to redeem my soul. No wonder Paul was saying in Romans 1:16, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of the Messiah, because it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek, to the Gentile." I'm not ashamed of this message. There is a way. The verdict that the law of sin and death is there, it didn't change, but God found a way to deliver His people from that evil verdict.

And you see, brothers and sisters, any man who one day will stand before God without the knowledge of Yeshua the Messiah will never have a word to say to God. "God, I never knew of Yeshua the Messiah, of God, of your son. God, I really didn't think that you would save me. God, I didn't experience your love for me during my life." God says, "I have found a way. I've sent my son and I judged him. I punished him. I laid upon him the iniquity of us all. He became a substitute, the just for the unjust." And no excuse man will have when he stand before God, because the wages of sin is death and the gift of God is eternal life.

Just believe, just accept this new law, new principle, the law of the spirit of life through the Messiah Yeshua. You will have life. These Jewish people, again, we are having a picture here. And again, beloved brothers and sisters, I don't apologize for a moment as I minister the Word of God to show that whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scripture might have hope. When we read this passage, God did not want us to learn a little bit how the Medes and the Persian have their rules in history. He teaches us principles, lessons that will apply to our lives as believers that will help us to appreciate who and what God have done for us.

And so listen, beloved brothers and sisters, just to conclude this, you notice that in the next verses here, verse 15, Mordecai, as it says here, he went out from the presence of the king. Notice now Mordecai. He has royal apparel, blue and white. He has a crown of gold upon his head. He has garments of linen and purple. And notice what it says in verse 15: "The city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad." The whole city of Shushan was so rejoicing, the new message give joy. You see, the old message kept them perplexed.

Just please go back to Chapter 3 when the first message was given. And notice what it says in verse 15 at the end: "The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink." Listen what it says at the end of verse 15: "But the city of Shushan was perplexed." The Hebrew word perplexed means nevokhah. They were amazed. "Why would you want to kill all these Jewish people? Why will they die?" Sadness, down, unhappiness.

But now the second law was given, the second letter. The whole city of Shushan the palace, the city was rejoicing and was glad. Life! And you see, there is joy in the person of our Lord Yeshua HaMashiach. He bring joy into the life of those who receive him. He give blessing, he give shalom, peace with God through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. Again, the law of sin and death versus the law of the spirit of life in the Messiah, in Messiah Jesus. The one lead to death, the other one lead to life. The one lead us to a relationship with God, the other one lead us into eternal separation from God.

Well, let me conclude with verses 16 and 17. And so verses 16 and 17, we see the joy and the gladness that the Jewish people have experienced because their lives have been preserved. And so we read here in verse 16, it says: "And the Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honor." In Hebrew: "La-Yehudim hayetah orah ve-simchah ve-sasson ve-yekar." There was light. There was gladness. There was joy. There was honor. And it didn't even happen. Just to hear that message that they can be saved!

And look at the last verse, beloved brothers and sisters, that lead us actually into the messianic kingdom where Israel will be saved as a nation. It tells us: "And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day." Notice what it says here at the end: "And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them." Now, what does it mean, many of them became Jews? You cannot be a Jew unless you're a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Le-hiyyot Yehudi, to become Jew in Hebrew, it says here in this verse, to become Jews, it simply means that they have adopted and embraced the God that the Jews believe in. Like for example, Ruth the Moabitess who say, "Your people shall be my people, your God shall be my God. Where you go I will go, where you die there will I die, and there will I be buried," Ruth said. Rahab the prostitute said, "The fear of your God fell upon all of us," and she have embraced the God of Israel. Now, those people could not go and get circumcision and become all Jews all of a sudden. How they become Jews? They have embraced the truth that the God of the Jews taught.

And that takes us also, beloved, to the messianic kingdom in a future day when Israel, according to Romans 11, all Israel shall be saved, future tense. Today, the people that are saved from among our own Jewish people are minority of the minority. But there is a day coming that all the nation as a nation will embrace the Messiah Yeshua and be saved, a redeemed nation. And Israel as a nation will be saved, but the salvation of Israel will bring such a blessing to the nations of the world. You know, people make a mistake. They don't realize that. They think the more I hate the Jews, the more I'll please God. They don't realize that we cannot hate the Jews and please God. We have to love the Jewish people because one day God is going to bring about a blessing to the world through the Jewish people.

Look, just to close with Isaiah 2, please. And Isaiah takes us to the future day when Israel as a nation will be restored. And I'm reading in Isaiah Chapter 2. Notice just the earlier verses. Verse 1: "The word of Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days," taking us to the kingdom age, "that the mountain of the Lord's house," that word for mountain is the kingdom of the Lord's house, "shall be established in the top of the mountains," top of all the kingdom that will exist here in this world. The kingdom of God under the reign of the Messiah going to be above all.

"And it shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." You see, beloved brothers and sisters, this is the plan of God here for this world that is filled with sadness and sorrow and the law of sin that lead to death.

That one day will come, and we long for that in our own hearts. God longs for that. Yeshua HaMashiach longs for that day when Israel as a nation will acknowledge and accept this new law, the second law, the law of the spirit of life in the Messiah Yeshua, and they will become as a nation, a redeemed nation. And all the nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob."

And then he says, "We will walk in his path, for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." They will come to acknowledge that the God of Israel is the true and living God, and they will bow their knees before him and they will ultimately be as it says here, they will become Jews in a sense of they will embrace the true and living God.

Now, what about you and I today? Do you know if you and I, and I'm just going to close with this, in a practical way will allow the law of the spirit of life in the Messiah Yeshua to control our lives? We will be able to influence others as well and we will be able to lead others to the knowledge of Yeshua Jesus the Messiah today. How many times we fail by the manner of our behavior and we are not leading others to Yeshua the Messiah because they say, "What are you going to give me? Look at the way you behave. Look at the way you act. I don't want your Jesus, your Yeshua. Keep it for yourself." But if we will allow the spirit of God to lead us in our day-by-day life, to control our life, to lead us by the word we speak, the action that we have, we will also be able to be tools in the hands of the Lord to lead us to be a blessing to people around us. May the Lord help us, beloved brothers and sisters.

Guest (Male): You have been listening to Holy Scriptures and Israel with Gideon Levytam. Gideon teaches God's Word from a Hebrew Messianic perspective. For more information about this ministry, write to Holy Scriptures and Israel, Box 1411, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, L0S 1J0, or visit our website at holyscripturesandisrael.com. You are also invited to Gideon's weekly Bible teaching on Fridays at 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM and Saturdays at 1:00 PM at Willowdale Christian Assembly Hall, 28 Martin Ross Avenue in Toronto. Holy Scriptures and Israel is made possible by your prayers and financial support. If you would like to support the program, visit holyscripturesandisrael.com. God bless you. Shalom, shalom.