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Esther was a queen in Persia.

Esther's uncle, Mordecai, was an official in the palace and once had saved the king's life. Mordecai refused to worship anyone but the God of heaven.

Haman was the highest official next to the king. He became very angry that Mordecai refused to worship him. So Haman accused Mordecai before the king. He actually bribed the king and got permission to make a law that all Mordecai's people should be killed. He did not know that Esther was one of them.

Esther went to the king as advocate for her people. She wanted judgment. But Esther took her time, wisely preparing the way before pointing out the problem. She invited the king to a banquet, and she included Haman; then she repeated the invitation for the following day. Haman left the palace so elated at the honor of being included in a banquet with the king and queen that Mordecai's refusal to bow down to him incited even more ire. He went home and built a gallows to hang Mordecai even before the lawful execution date.

Esther's delay might have seemed disastrous except that during the delay the king could not sleep at night. He asked someone to read to him from the court record book. There the king heard that Mordecai had never yet been honored for his noble deed. In the story of Esther, reversal began when the books were opened. When the books were opened, it was manifested and announced that Mordecai was worthy of honor.

The king pondered how to honor Mordecai. Just then, Haman came in to gain official approval for his plan to hang Mordecai. Before Haman could speak, the king asked his advice about how to honor someone. He did not name the one to be honored. Since Haman thought there was no one to be honored besides himself, he called for a rich and royal celebration. Then the king assigned Haman to honor Mordecai with the honor Haman had described for himself.

The next night, Esther named Haman as the enemy of her and her people. Haman was hanged on the gallows he had built for Mordecai. The king made Mordecai his highest official. Then Esther and her uncle Mordecai announced a law reversing the law that Haman had made.

Esther was a queen. She was safe now, and beloved by her people.

The Book of Esther is the classic "hangman hanged" or "victorious victim" story, showing total reversal in the fortunes of the main characters. I think it is fascinating that at the center of the story, at the turn of the reversal, we find the reading of a court record book.

I do not think God ever forgets God’s people, but I do think that sometimes a court setting and the opening of records are needed for others in the universe to understand. In this greatest reversal of all eternity, I welcome the opening of God’s records.

Like Esther, we will be safe then, and honored in the universe.