The Signet Ring
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| https://www.neatie.com/Signet-Rings- |
"March is often recognized as a month of extremes and a battle between two seasons: winter and spring… AccuWeather meteorologists say."[1]
A
battle between two extremes? Winter and spring, cold and heat, but is there
more?
Spiritually,
March has always been a battle, not only of seasons but of good versus evil.
This portion of our year sees so much the enemy of our soul hates. Take the "jolly
Jewish holiday of Purim…celebrated every year on the 14th of the Hebrew
month of Adar (late winter/early spring). Purim 2024 begins on Saturday night, March 23, and
continues through Sunday, March 24…"[2]
Purim,
meaning lots, comes from the Book of Esther. "It commemorates the
(Divinely orchestrated) salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian
empire from Haman's plot "to destroy, kill and annihilate all the
Jews, young and old, infants, and women, in a single day."[3]
I
was excited the Jews saw Esther as "Divinely orchestrated salvation," but to
them, it was only physical. Their eyes were and still are blinded to the way the Book of Esther
shows humanity's spiritual dilemma and God's True salvation by type or
foreshadow. But how so?
While
Esther tells of wicked Haman desiring to annihilate the Jews, casting lots to
decide the month and day, and sealing Jewish destruction with the king's signet
ring, it also shows God's hand at work and His way of escape. In my opinion,
this is the reason our LORD has inspired the Jews to read the entire Book of
Esther every year on Purim. Some day He will open their eyes to their dilemma
and His Truth contained therein.
What
Truth? Wicked Haman sealed the Jews' annihilation with King Xerxes's signet ring. And, unbeknownst to Haman and
the king, Esther, Xerxes' beautiful wife, was a Jew—a nationality she could not
modify. So, the wife of the king and her people were sentenced to death
by the king's own law. In Medo-Persia, no law could be changed or altered
even by the king once it was signed.
How does this relate to our human dilemma?
We are born with a sin nature that we cannot modify.[4] Before sin entered, our heavenly King had already set sin's
penalty as death, an unchangeable law because it is God's Word,
and He does not change.[5]
Unless
something happened to counteract this death sentence, we would die in
our sin just as the Jews would have died in all one hundred and twenty-seven
provinces of Xerxes.
But
something did happen! In Esther, the king's signet
ring on the hand of Mordecai,
Esther's uncle and adopted father, was used to seal another document
into law. It allowed the Jews to arm themselves and fight their enemies on the
very day the first law assigned annihilation.
So,
the king's signet ring had set the penalty, and the king's signet ring saved.
But can a Signet Ring save us?
Consider
this: A signet ring was the symbol or image of the king's name used by another to seal a document,
making it as official as if the king signed with his own hand.
Scripture
confirms Jesus was (and still is) the express
image of the invisible God,
in whom all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily.[6] Jesus said, "I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me…I and My
Father are one…As the Father knows Me, even so, I know the Father, and I
lay down My life for the sheep (us)…No one takes my life from Me…I have power
to lay it down, and power to take it again. This command I have received from
My Father."[7]
Can you see Esther's imperfect type and foreshadow of our PERFECT Signet Ring? Yeshua, Jesus, as the Signet of the Father, came from heaven to save us from the penalty of the King's Own Law.
Demonstrating His great love, He paid sin's penalty for us—His death on the cross. Three days later,
Yeshua resurrected from the dead. After His ascension back to heaven, He sent
His Holy Spirit to SEAL true
believers—the document.[8] Wow!
Have a wonderful and
awe-filled Purim, Palm Sunday,
AND Resurrection Day!
I love you all
Anita
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