Now write another decree in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.” – Esther 8:8

Today’s Scripture Reading (July 10, 2014): Esther 8

In antiquity there was no such thing as a distinctive signature that identified a person on a document. So the function of a signature was accomplished with a signet ring – basically a ring that had a design that could be pressed into a wax seal identifying the one who had authored or issued the document. Because of its use, the signet ring became a symbol of raw power. Whoever held the signet ring of the king could essentially order anything that he wanted to happen. And because of the nature of communication, often once an order was issued using a signet ring, it could not be countermanded.

It is this power of the signet ring that plays a part in the ritual activities that must take place whenever a pope dies. Once the pope is declared to be dead, one of the duties of those that are caring for the interim period at the Vatican is the destruction of the former Pope’s signet ring. Until the ring has been destroyed, there is no room for the power of a new Pope – and a new ring. The life may have ended, but the power of the pope continues until the signet ring itself has also been destroyed. The ring is the power of the pope, and without its destruction we would have, in essence, two popes.

Unfortunately for Esther, this is essentially the situation in her world. The signet ring had already been used by Haman to issue an order that would result in the destruction of the Jews. And because the signet ring had been used, there was no way to cancel the order. It seemed that the ring in reality held more power than the king. The only option that the king seemed to have in this situation was to give the power of the ring to Esther and Mordecai for them to use in whatever way they saw fit.

But whatever was to happen, the power needed to be exercised carefully. Whatever it was that Esther and Mordecai decided to do, the order that they issued, like the one that Haman had issued, could not be rescinded. The control was now in the hands of Esther and Mordecai, and they would need to exercise great wisdom in whatever it was that they decided to do next.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Esther 9 & 10