Providential Peripety
Peripety: (noun) pə-ˈri-pə-tē - a sudden or unexpected reversal of circumstances or situation especially in a literary work (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peripety)
In her commentary on Esther, Karen Jobes goes to some length to show how chapter 6 is the pivot point of the narrative. Her observation is reinforced as she observes things like that there are 8 feasts in the book, 4 before chapter 6 and 4 after. Or how everything turns from a downward march for the people of God to an uphill march for the people of God. ( And conversely, Haman’s circumstance turns from good to bad and the point of change is also chapter 6.) This reversal is called peripety. And it’s the basic structure of the narrative in Esther. The darkest is before the dawn. As Esther 5 closes, there is much darkness: a death decree hangs over the people of God, a death wish hangs over Mordecai, Esther’s request on behalf of her people is yet unspoken and certainly not guaranteed. And, suddenly the king’s sleepless night turns everything on its head. Mordecai goes from almost certainly dead to being honored. Haman goes from boasting of his wealth and promotions to being told that his downfall is certain. The request of Esther will be soon heard and granted. Haman, not Mordecai will be impaled on the 75 foot pole. The Jews who were fasting and mourning will end the book in feasting and rejoicing. God’s reversal will come. The same is true for us. I will let Karen Jobes speak for herself on this point:
“In our darkest hours we can be assured of our final destiny of glory with Christ. We can be assured that the reversal of circumstance we so crave will one day be ours. By contrast, no matter how prosperous or powerful, those who are not in Christ will ultimately also suffer a reversal of fortune. Like Haman, they will find themselves caught in a web of destruction that hindsight will show to be of their own making. It can happen at any time.”
Understand this, our ultimate moment of peripety is not guaranteed until either our death or Jesus’ return. We may have seasons of wins and losses but neither of these should be interpreted as our darkest or as our true dawn. These are temporary wins and losses. They are not worth comparing with the light yet to come. That is a light that we cannot begin to imagine. That is a reversal unlike anything earth has to offer. And the best news? Nothing can stop the reversal that is to come, because it is in Jesus that our darkest turns to everlasting dawn!
Give this song a listen and rejoice in the coming dawn!