The Golden Scepter
Last August, I joined my cousins for a tour of the Rembrandt exhibit at the Art Museum in Minneapolis.
As the tour guide took us from painting to painting, she went to great lengths explaining how to recognize an authentic Rembrandt painting from those created by his students who worked his studio under his tutelage. By the time the tour had ended, we were able to identify the difference in style, technique, lighting, shadows, angles, and color pallets.
The painting which most caught my attention depicted the Old Testament story of Esther. Rembrandt had captured the attitudes of Queen Esther and her Uncle Mordecai as they boldly exposed the wicked conspiracy of Hamen to annihilate the entire Jewish race. King Xerxes is glaring at Hamen, (in whom he had trusted all matters of the kingdom), with both anger and disbelief. Hamen is painted with darker hues while Esther is painted with a much brighter pallet, giving her the appearance of a fair complexioned redhead.
As a side-note, I have to say that Rembrandt's rendering of her bothered me because we know she was a Jewess and therefore would have been dark complected with jet black hair - and according to the Scriptures was stunningly beautiful, having won a beauty pageant (the prize being her queenly position) over hundreds of other women.
The king had not summoned her into his presence for thirty days, but it became necessary that she speak with him for the sake of her people. To approach the King uninvited would be a death sentence unless he extended his gold scepter. After three days of fervant fasting and prayer, Queen Esther is seen pacing in the inner court of the palace, praying fervently that the King would extend his scepter in a gesture of grace. She must have been shaking in her royal robes as she exclaimed, "if I perish, I perish!" (Esther 4:16). King Xerxes reached out his scepter and, inviting her in asked, "What is it? What is your request?" (Esther 5:3). She must have been so relieved to hear his kind voice!
Freeze-frame that picture in your mind and fast forward to the New Testament. The scene: Solomon's temple. There, a veil hangs, separating the Most Holy Place where priests performed sacrifices for the sins of the people. This veil is described as being approximately four inches thick and forty five feet high. Only the priests were allowed to enter the presence of God Himself. There, they would petition God for mercy not only for the sins of the people but for themselves as well.
Next scene: Golgotha, the place where Jesus hangs in agony on a wooden cross. It is three o'clock in the afternoon and darkness has enveloped the land since noon. As Jesus gives up His Spirit, there is a violent earthquake. The rocks split open and the veil in the temple is torn from top to bottom, eliminating the possibility of any man tearing it. (Matthew 27:51) God Himself tore the veil, signifying that there would be no more separation between He and His people.
To us, the King of Kings extends His golden scepter to us and says "Come here my child and tell me what's on your heart."
May we humbly enter His presence knowing that our gracious Father delights in us and desires to grant us undeserving grace and mercy if we would only ask.
As the tour guide took us from painting to painting, she went to great lengths explaining how to recognize an authentic Rembrandt painting from those created by his students who worked his studio under his tutelage. By the time the tour had ended, we were able to identify the difference in style, technique, lighting, shadows, angles, and color pallets.
The painting which most caught my attention depicted the Old Testament story of Esther. Rembrandt had captured the attitudes of Queen Esther and her Uncle Mordecai as they boldly exposed the wicked conspiracy of Hamen to annihilate the entire Jewish race. King Xerxes is glaring at Hamen, (in whom he had trusted all matters of the kingdom), with both anger and disbelief. Hamen is painted with darker hues while Esther is painted with a much brighter pallet, giving her the appearance of a fair complexioned redhead.
As a side-note, I have to say that Rembrandt's rendering of her bothered me because we know she was a Jewess and therefore would have been dark complected with jet black hair - and according to the Scriptures was stunningly beautiful, having won a beauty pageant (the prize being her queenly position) over hundreds of other women.
The king had not summoned her into his presence for thirty days, but it became necessary that she speak with him for the sake of her people. To approach the King uninvited would be a death sentence unless he extended his gold scepter. After three days of fervant fasting and prayer, Queen Esther is seen pacing in the inner court of the palace, praying fervently that the King would extend his scepter in a gesture of grace. She must have been shaking in her royal robes as she exclaimed, "if I perish, I perish!" (Esther 4:16). King Xerxes reached out his scepter and, inviting her in asked, "What is it? What is your request?" (Esther 5:3). She must have been so relieved to hear his kind voice!
Freeze-frame that picture in your mind and fast forward to the New Testament. The scene: Solomon's temple. There, a veil hangs, separating the Most Holy Place where priests performed sacrifices for the sins of the people. This veil is described as being approximately four inches thick and forty five feet high. Only the priests were allowed to enter the presence of God Himself. There, they would petition God for mercy not only for the sins of the people but for themselves as well.
Next scene: Golgotha, the place where Jesus hangs in agony on a wooden cross. It is three o'clock in the afternoon and darkness has enveloped the land since noon. As Jesus gives up His Spirit, there is a violent earthquake. The rocks split open and the veil in the temple is torn from top to bottom, eliminating the possibility of any man tearing it. (Matthew 27:51) God Himself tore the veil, signifying that there would be no more separation between He and His people.
To us, the King of Kings extends His golden scepter to us and says "Come here my child and tell me what's on your heart."
May we humbly enter His presence knowing that our gracious Father delights in us and desires to grant us undeserving grace and mercy if we would only ask.
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