The tables are turned
Opening Prayer
My faithful Friend, give me eyes to see You at work in my life and around me.
Read ESTHER 9:1–17
[1] On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand over those who hated them. [2] The Jews assembled in their cities in all the provinces of King Xerxes to attack those determined to destroy them. No one could stand against them, because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid of them. [3] And all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and the king’s administrators helped the Jews, because fear of Mordecai had seized them. [4] Mordecai was prominent in the palace; his reputation spread throughout the provinces, and he became more and more powerful. [5] The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did what they pleased to those who hated them. [6] In the citadel of Susa, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. [7] They also killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, [8] Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, [9] Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai and Vaizatha, [10] the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. But they did not lay their hands on the plunder. [11] The number of those killed in the citadel of Susa was reported to the king that same day. [12] The king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman in the citadel of Susa. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? It will also be granted.” [13] “If it pleases the king,” Esther answered, “give the Jews in Susa permission to carry out this day’s edict tomorrow also, and let Haman’s ten sons be impaled on poles.” [14] So the king commanded that this be done. An edict was issued in Susa, and they impaled the ten sons of Haman. [15] The Jews in Susa came together on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, and they put to death in Susa three hundred men, but they did not lay their hands on the plunder. [16] Meanwhile, the remainder of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also assembled to protect themselves and get relief from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of them but did not lay their hands on the plunder. [17] This happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What was the attitude of the people?Now God draws the ends of the story together. Mordecai’s discovery of the assassination plot (2:22), the backfiring of Haman’s self-centered scheming, the faithfulness of Esther on behalf of God’s people, even the unfinished legacy of King Saul’s disobedience over Agag the Amalekite (1 Sam. 15)—all have led to this day of triumph. It may sound unpleasantly violent to us today, but across the huge extent of Xerxes’s empire, the number of deaths could have been worse. The time is limited throughout the empire to one day, with an extra day allowed for Susa to ensure that all of Haman’s family has been dealt with (13). With Mordecai and Queen Esther in power, local government officials and civil servants have done their best to support the Jewish cause (3). This day was about the defeat of the plot to destroy God’s people. It wasn’t about material gains (unlike Haman’s motives): “they did not lay their hands on the plunder” (10,15). Mordecai was perhaps being careful to learn from the mistakes of King Saul. In spite of the triumph of this day, and the costliness for both of them, Esther and Mordecai stay focused on God’s purposes. And now, it’s time to celebrate (17)!
Apply
Think back over any difficult times in your life. How has God worked things out? Thank him.
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