Jesus graciously shepherds the heart’s of his people to grow in recognizing the one thing that is necessary for them among the few things that are actually necessary. He does this so that we might bring that one thing into focus and hold it there for the rest of our lives more faithfully. Amidst many distractions how can we freshly see what is necessary and do what is best to guard our focus on that one thing?

The book of Esther ends with the Jews feasting and celebrating on the holiday of Purim, there is no mention of God. Are we to conclude that Esther is the reason for the season? Much like Christ is forgotten at Christmas, it seems God was forgotten for how he saved the Jews. The writer doesn’t mean to exalt Esther in place of God but through the great reversal of fortunes, the writer leaves the reader to see that this salvation could only have been accomplished by God.

Interestingly, in God’s view the reverse wasn’t official until it was both legally valid and acted upon. Even though Haman was dead the law that decreed the Jews to be killed still needed to be reversed and replaced with a new law that protected them. Not only does God provide for the law to be reversed but he empowers the Jews to take vengeance on their enemies. Hence, a Reverse Occurred.

Esther 6:1-13

Esther 2:12-23