And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus’ name, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries: Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones, and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey, upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. — Esther 8:10-12
In the book of Esther, enemies of the protagonists Mordechai and Esther have deceived the king into making a decree to genocide all Jews in his empire. God of course works all things together for good to them that love God and are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28), so the plot is exposed in the nick of time and the king reverses the decree and has the conspirators executed. Of course there are still many enemies throughout the realm just waiting for chance to appease their bloodlust, so not only does the king reverse the decree but empowers the Jews to arm themselves and form a sort of militia to stand against any who may not have received the decree in time and come to attack the Jews either by ignorance or malice.
Esther Before Ahusuerus - Artemisia Ghentileschi, Public Domain Image
This idea that Christians should always be pacifists without exception is not harmonious with the full body of scripture. Esther 8, Genesis 14:14-16, and David’s career as a young man before he was crowned king, are all chock full of instances of lawful self-defense and just warfare. Christian pacifists base their argument largely on the beatitudes of Matthew 5, “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.39 But the context of Matthew 5 has nothing to do with civil government or the responsibility of rulers, judges, and families to protect the vulnerable, it is speaking only of one’s personal and interpersonal behavior. Of course we as Christians should be merciful to others who wrong us and turn the other cheek. But in matters of government and the legal system, the Law is very clear, “And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot (Deuteronomy 19:21).”
Romans 12 says, “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.17 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.18” The apostle Paul writes this knowing that there will be times when it is not possible to live peaceably with all men. There will be times of treachery, persecution, and violence. We must use wisdom and discernment from the entire counsel of scripture to ascertain if God is to be most glorified by our martyrdom or by our miraculous deliverance from the unreasonable and wicked of this world.
“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil (2nd Thessalonians 3:1-3).”
This is not a call to arms per se, but a call to wisdom, to search the scriptures daily for answers as to how to best apply the word of God to our lives in these last days.
Selah.
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