Peace Portrayed

"Mordecai [מׇרְדְּכַי, Bitterness; Crushed; *see note below]… great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, [was] seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed" (Esther 10:3).  "How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God!  Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings" (Psalm 36:7).  "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).  "Come, ye blessed of My Father" (Matthew 25:34).

*The Persian meaning of Mordecai is literally, "belonging to Marduk".  The name Marduk is obviously not Hebrew, but can be constructed from Hebrew elements to represent a profound meaning, deriving the first part from the verb מרר (marar), meaning to be strong or bitter.  The second part could then be drawn from the adjective דך (dak), meaning crushing.

As Mordecai portrayed the fame

That typified our Lord and Savior,

We see embedded in his name

The bitterness that brought us favor. 

How excellent is heaven's love

In Christ our Lord, the King of kings,

Who brought salvation from above

To shelter us beneath His wings! 

How bitter was salvation's price

Procured by Jesus Christ our Lord,

Which came by His own sacrifice

For peace that we could not afford! 

Our peace portrayed is marvelous,

O Lord, as prophets have revealed,

Foretelling what You did for us

By dying so we might be healed!  

Pleasantly Pleading

"Plead my cause, O LORD… say unto my soul, I am thy Salvation… O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me" (Psalm 35:1,3).  "My son, attend unto My wisdom, and bow thine ear to My understanding… lest thou give thine honor unto others, and thy years unto the cruel" (Proverbs 5:1,9).  "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you… Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away" (Matthew 24:4,35). 

The Lord was pleading for my soul

Upon the cross on which He died. 

He paid my ransom there in full

And for this cause was crucified. 

How pleasantly I hear Him say

That He Himself is my Salvation! 

I know He is not far away;

I hear His voice of consolation.   

His counsel gives me understanding

That in my heart the Lord may rule. 

I heed His gentle reprimanding,

Lest years be given to the cruel. 

How pleasantly I hear You pleading,

With words, O Lord, forever true,

Providing all that I am needing

That I may trust alone in You.  

Joy And Light in Jesus Our Lord

"The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and… the Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honor… a feast, and a good day" (Esther 8:13,16,17).  "O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together" (Psalm 34:3).  "The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Proverbs 4:18).  "One is your Master, even Christ... and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted" (Matthew 23:10,12). 

The Gospel sent to every land

Is cause for joy an light in hearts

As people come to understand

The wondrous grace that Christ imparts.

O let us magnify our Lord   

Together as we praise His name!

His life for us has been outpoured

To rescue us from sin and shame. 

The day has dawned and still growers brighter

For all who have been justified! 

Our sins are gone!  We are made whiter

Than snow, since Jesus for us died. 

Lord, thank you for the joy and light

That You have given to the humble. 

As Master, guide our hearts aright;

Correct us also when we stumble.   

Christ our Creator

"Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.  For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast… He looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.  He fashioneth their hearts alike; He considereth all their works" (Psalm 33:8-15).  "The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath He established the heavens… The LORD shall be thy Confidence" (Proverbs 3:19,26).  " What think ye of Christ?" (Matthew 22:42). 

Let all the earth now fear the Lord

And stand in awe at His creation! 

Our hearts by Him have been explored

As He has searched our meditation. 

He looks at all humanity

In hearts He made in His own fashion.

He ponders the insanity

Of those resisting His compassion. 

Christ made the heavens and the earth

By wisdom and omnipotence. 

As we explore His matchless worth,

The Lord shall be our Confidence. 

We worship You, Lord Jesus Christ,

As our Creator and our Savior,

Our Hero for us sacrificed,

And Fountainhead of heaven's favor!  

Fall Foreseen

"If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou [Haman] hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him" (Esther 6:13).  "Surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto Him" (Psalm 32:6).  "The wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it" (Proverbs 2:22).  "Whosoever shall fall on this Stone [Christ] shall be broken" (Matthew 21:44). 

When Haman had begun to fall,

His dreadful end was surely clear. 

There was no way to then forestall

His self-destruction drawing near. 

The flood in Noah's day was sent

Which was foreseen for many years. 

Yet no one bothered to repent

Before destruction came with tears. 

The day is coming on this earth

When all who will not seek God's face,

Refusing thus the second birth,

Shall perish then without His grace. 

O Lord, the fall has been foreseen

Of all who stumble at the Stone,

And yet we pray You'll intervene

Where we have made Your Gospel known.  

Glory of the Gallows

"And Haman told them of the glory of his riches… and he caused the gallows to be made" (Esther 5:11,14).  "Into Thine hand I commit My spirit… My times are in Thy hand… Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD" (Psalm 31:5,15,24).  "The prosperity of fools shall destroy them.  But whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil" (Proverbs 1:32,33).  "The Son of man came… to give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28). 

When Haman boasted of his glory

And caused the gallows to be made,

He typified the Gospel's story

Of Satan's great defeat portrayed.

The glory of the gallows planned

Was seen when Haman suffered loss,

For here we see Christ's sovereign hand

Foreshow the glory of His cross. 

How fleeting is prosperity

In which the fool shall be content,

Who shall regret eternally

His proud refusal to repent!

The glory of the gallows, Lord,

Was seen when Haman was defeated,

Yet in Your cross we have explored

Our ransom in Your work completed!