Est 8:5 And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces.

The problem for the Jews is not over yet even though Haman and his family had been dealt with. The law of the Medes and Persian is irreversible. This means that once it is written, the law stands. Even the king could not alter a decree once he has issued it out (Daniel 6:8). For example, King Darius made a foolish proclamation that anyone who prayed or made petition to any god except to him for the next thirty days would be thrown into the lions’ den (Daniel 6:7). Though he regretted it when his favourite minister, Daniel, disobeyed it and prayed to his God, he could do nothing to stop Daniel’s enemies from throwing him into the lions’ den. King Ahasuerus had earlier signed a decree for the destruction of the Jews. He could not reverse his order. The Persians could still, on that certain date mentioned in the decree, kill the Jews. He had to issue a counter decree allowing the Jews to defend themselves (v.11). Very messy, isn’t it? It is a lesson for us: Be careful of what we say and do; it’s messy to rectify it. Words are like water that is thrown out; we cannot take it back. It takes just one wrong word to start a quarrel and fight. That word, once it is uttered out from our mouths, we cannot take it back; hence, we must be careful with our words. James warns about the tongue: “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell” (James 3:6). The same caution extends to our actions. Once we land a punch on someone’s face, we cannot take it back. Solomon is right; he says: “The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with” (Proverbs 17:14). The beginning of strife is like letting out water; it is irreversible - so quit before a quarrel breaks out. We see that our words and actions are just like the law of the Medes and Persians; once uttered or carried out, they are irreversible. Thus, the difficulty in undoing mischief should make us cautious, watchful, and prayerful, of the words we say and the things we do, so that we do have to come back and rectify the mischief. It’s easy to start a fire; it is difficult to put it out. And even if it is put out, the damage has been done. Our wrong words and actions are like fire – Damaging! I am reminded on this song I learned when I was very young. O be careful, little tongue what you say (2x) For the Father up above He's looking down in love So, be careful little tongue what you say. O be careful little hands what you do (2x) For the Father up above He's looking down in love So, be careful little hands what you do. King Ahasuerus had to make a counter decree to remedy his first decree. Likewise, we need to repair the damage that has been done because of our words and actions: “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother” (Matthew 18:15).