^

Daily Bread

Poetic justice

The Philippine Star

“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. — Romans 12:19                

For nearly a year, a former publishing colleague lived under a cloud of fear that he would be fired. A new boss in the department, for reasons unknown, began filling his personnel file with negative comments. Then, on the day my friend expected to lose his job, the new boss was fired instead.

When the Israelites were taken as captives to Babylon, a Jew named Mordecai found himself in this kind of situation. Haman, the highest noble of King Xerxes, expected every royal official to kneel down and honor him, but Mordecai refused to bow to anyone but God (Est. 3:1-2). This outraged Haman and he set out to destroy not only Mordecai but every Jew in the whole Persian empire (vv.5-6). Haman convinced Xerxes to sign a decree authorizing the destruction of all Jews and started building a gallows for the execution of Mordecai (5:14). But, in a startling turn of events, Haman was executed on the gallows he had built for Mordecai, and the Jewish people were spared (7:9-10; 8).

In literature, this is called poetic justice. Not everyone gets justice in such dramatic fashion, but Scripture promises that God will one day avenge all injustice (Rom. 12:19). While we wait, we are to do what we can to work for justice and leave the results in God’s hands. — Julie Ackerman Link

                        

The call for justice must be strong

To show what’s right, to thwart what’s wrong,

But let’s reject the smallest part

Of vengeance harbored in the heart. — D. De Haan

                           

READ: Esther 3:1-11; 7:1-10

The  scales  of Divine justice always balance —  if not here, then hereafter.

vuukle comment

DE HAAN

HAMAN

JULIE ACKERMAN LINK

JUSTICE

KING XERXES

MORDECAI

WHEN THE ISRAELITES

XERXES

  • Latest
Latest
Are you sure you want to log out?
X
Login

Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!

Get Updated:

Signup for the News Round now

FORGOT PASSWORD?
SIGN IN
or sign in with