Monday, September 2
Read Esther 9
Think About It:
- In Esther 9:1-5, the Jews are victorious over their enemies with the help of the king. The Jews definitely had their enemies, those who wished to destroy them. Yet they had someone with power on their side: the king, with all his resources. With the king for them, it didn’t matter who was against them. We have our own enemies to deal with, Ephesians 6:12 tells us who our true enemies are: the rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Our enemies manifest themselves in the physical world in different ways. They may be difficult people or relationships we have to deal with, sicknesses, whether physical, mental or emotional, financial difficulties, bad habits or strongholds in our lives. But with the King of Kings on our side, we have no reason to fear – What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
What enemies are you facing in your life right now? Are you trusting in the King of Kings to arm, equip you and lead you in this fight?
- Esther 9:11-17 – At the king’s invitation, Esther asks for the complete defeat of all the enemies of the Jews. Many have criticized Esther for this, saying it showed a lack of love towards her enemies. Yet she displays the same principle found so often in Joshua – she would not settle for less than total victory. Haman and his sons were descendants of the ancient Amalekites. God commanded Saul, the son of Kish, to execute the full extent of God’s judgment against the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:2-3). Saul failed; but this later descendent of the tribe of Benjamin and a son of Kish named Mordecai (Esther 2:5-6) completed God’s judgment against the Amalekites. “Now it was God’s intent that a last conflict should take place between Israel and Amalek: the conflict which began with Joshua in the desert was to be finished by Mordecai in the king’s palace.” – C. H. Spurgeon
God is not mentioned in the Book of Esther, what evidence do you see of God at work throughout the book? Do you see God at work in the lives of Esther and Mordecai? How?
Family Time:
- Compare Esther 9:1 with Romans 8:28. In the middle of a difficult problem, it is hard to see how the Lord could fix it, but He promises to work all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. How did God turn the evil decree that Haman influenced in chapter 3 to good in chapter 9?
- What did the Jews do / not do with the plunder? Why might this be important? (See mistakes Saul made in 1 Samuel 15:1-9 when he fought Haman’s ancestors—the Amalekites. Was God pleased with Saul?)
- Why were the days of Purim to be remembered throughout every generation? First, think of this in our natural world… What if every generation had to relearn every new discovery? Now, think about this as it pertains to God, what if we never shared or taught truths, victories, and revelations with each new generation?
- Memorize and consider Esther 9:28a
