The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor.
A death sentence still hung over the Jews, yet mourning turned to celebration. What changed, when the first decree still stood and the dreaded day had not yet come?
From the sentence of death to morning
The rescue came at the lowest point, when hope and fear were still fighting it out.
The Christian's FriendI need hardly say how Esther and her people were delivered at the moment of deepest despair. The struggle between hope and fear ended in the most glorious and wonderful triumph of hope. The Jews had the sentence of death in themselves. But there is One who raises the dead, and turns the shadow of death into the morning.
A written word, not a changed situation
Nothing outward had improved when the celebrating began. The first decree stood, and the day of slaughter had not yet come. What had arrived was a letter, and the Jews treated it as reliable.
C. E. StuartWhat a change had been brought about. Perplexity gave way to gladness; feasting took the place of fasting. Why? The thirteenth of Adar had not yet come. The first decree stood unrepealed. Why this change? The written word of that second decree had made all the difference. Relief had come; a way of escape from that dreadful doom was offered to the Jews. They believed it, and they acted as if they believed it.
Honour through an accepted man
The honour in this verse was not something the scattered Jews had earned. It reached them through one man who had stood before the king and came out crowned.
C. E. StuartThey learnt that the king counted them an accepted people. Yet most of them had never seen the king, and had probably never been to Shushan. But Mordecai had seen him, and stood accepted before him. Anyone could know this who heard how he came out from the king's throne room, dressed in royal robes of blue and white, with a crown of gold on his head.
Light at evening
The word "light" is the first of the four, and it answers the darkness the Jews had been sitting in.
H. L. RossierWhat a change of scene! For souls plunged into the night of despair, the sun has risen. There is light for the Jews "at evening time." (Zech. 14:7) Where fear and terror reigned, there is now only joy and happiness. It is a feast day, a day of celebration. One solitary man, Mordecai, has been the instrument and the organizer of this immense deliverance.
A picture of Israel's coming day
Commentators see the scene as a picture of a day still to come. Israel will recognise Christ, and the nations will share the joy.
Leslie M. GrantIn keeping with Mordecai's exaltation, "The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor" (v. 16). This will be wonderfully true when Christ is recognised by Israel at the beginning of the millennium... many of the Gentiles became converts and took their place with Israel. That may not be the case in the millennium. Even so, the joy of the Gentiles over the blessing of Israel will be a striking sight.
The Jews were glad before a single enemy had been struck down.
H. L. RossierEven before vengeance is carried out, the Jews rejoice. Rest and perfect confidence are born in their hearts when He appears — the only One who can turn wrath away from the head of the people. In just this way, the appearance of Christ will put an end to the great tribulation, even before the final blow has been struck.
Real gladness, but not the highest
Not every writer treats this feast as the highest joy possible. One turns the scene on God's people today: real rescue and real gladness can still fall short of full blessing.
The Christian's FriendThrough grace and mercy they do sometimes have a feast and a good day. They do have answers to their prayers, special marks of God's favour, and striking help on their behalf. God may also use them greatly in leading others to turn to Him, as we read, "Many of the people of the land became Jews." But I press it: they are still short of their true, full blessing.
Summary
- Darkness first. The Jews held the sentence of death in themselves; the light of this verse shines out of the deepest despair.
- A word brings the light. The old decree still stood and the fatal day was still ahead. Only a written promise had changed — and they believed it and acted on it.
- Honour through a representative. Most had never seen the king. They counted as accepted because Mordecai stood accepted before him and came out crowned.
- Light spreads outward. Outsiders took their place with the very people who had been marked for death.
- A rehearsal of a greater day. Commentators see Israel's future gladness here, when Christ is recognised. One adds a caution: real gladness can still fall short of full blessing.