Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Scripture Readings
- Primary Reading: Esther 5-10
- Secondary Reading: Psalms 113
Key Verse
For the Jews that were in Shushan assembled themselves together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.” (Esther 9:18)
Devotional Thought
The story of Esther and Mordecai is a profound testament to the providence of God, who works unseen in the corridors of power to preserve His people. We see Haman, consumed by a pride that demands total submission, plotting the destruction of an entire race. His arrogance was his undoing; in his haste to build a gallows for Mordecai, he inadvertently constructed the instrument of his own demise. It is a sobering reminder that the schemes of the proud often return upon their own heads, while those who trust in the Lord are upheld.
We see this same pattern in our world today. We read of nations in turmoil—US forces exiting Iraq while proxies and old enemies stir, and the fragile hopes of nuclear talks between the US and Iran. In the midst of such geopolitical instability, it is easy to feel as the Jews did under Haman’s decree: sold to be destroyed, trapped by forces far beyond our control. Yet, just as the King of Persia suffered a sleepless night that led to Mordecai’s honor, God is the Master of the midnight hour. He is the one who turns the heart of the ruler and transforms a decree of death into a day of deliverance.
Closer to home, we hear the heartbreaking news of violence in our own cities—a four-year-old girl fatally shot in West Houston. Such tragedies feel like an assault on the very concept of peace and safety. They leave us asking where the protection is, where the justice lies. In these moments, the “dust and dunghills” of Psalm 113 feel all too real. But the promise remains: God is high above all nations, yet He humbleth Himself to behold the things of the earth. He does not ignore the cry of the innocent or the grief of the broken; He is the God who raiseth up the poor and brings light to the darkest valley.
Let us remember that our current circumstances, no matter how oppressive or chaotic, are not the final word. Whether it is the high-stakes diplomacy of world leaders or the quiet sorrow of a grieving family, the sovereignty of God remains absolute. Like Esther, we are called to stand with courage for others, trusting that we are placed where we are “for such a time as this.” Our hope is not in the golden sceptre of a human king, but in the eternal grace of the King of Kings.
Reflection
- In what area of your life do you feel “trapped” by a situation beyond your control, and how does the providence seen in Esther encourage you today?
- How can you actively seek to be an “Esther” for someone else in your community who is facing opposition or injustice?
Prayer
O Lord, Who dwellest on high yet lookest upon the lowly, we beseech Thee to grant us Thy peace in a troubled land. Deliver us from the snares of the proud, and lift us up from the dust of our disappointments. Grant us the courage to stand for truth and the faith to trust Thy unseen hand in all things. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Psalm Verse
Psalm 113:7 — “He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;”