August 6, 2023
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Reading along with us in Esther? Here’s today’s reading:
Esther 9 (NIV)
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.…..Continue Reading
The day is now happening where the Jews can strike down those who wanted to destroy them. It ends up being two days where they killed their enemies and then there was gladness and feasting after this on two different days. The Jewish people still celebrate these two days every year. I think that the Jewish people would be glad for they weren`t killed or their families. I don`t agree with celebrating the death of their enemies. The holiday is called Purim. I am sure that the Jewish people were going through bad times for they were living in a culture that was evil and hated God and His people. For they also had been taken away to foreign lands that didn`t know the true God. Despite this the Jews should had been drawing closer to God and being a good testimony to these other nations. Kind of like now for the United States of America is no longer a Christian nation built upon God`s Holy Word. [ Bible ] but the people are doing whatever is right in their own eyes without any consequences for their sin. But there will be consequences for their sin for God says so. It will be in His perfect time. We are to do our part and pray and share Christ Jesus to others. We are also to do what is right and not condone sin. It reminds me of a old hymn [ Dare to be a Daniel.] A hymn that I learned as a child in Sunday school and church. God bless you all.
Esther 9
Esther 9: There is a lot of information here…setting the defense of the Jews against those who thought them evil. Purim established and celebrated to this day. My question, why would the enemies continue this extermination plan, when it was clear the second ordinance was widely published (8:8-14)?
Esther 3:9-11 confirms, they would be rewarded in silver to do so! This edict was not reversed.
How did that work out for them?
There is a lot to unpack here (implications, applications). Sometimes, it is best to leave a thought to mull over. -gy
It seems as if they did not follow their extermination plans with the same vigor as if the edict had not been reversed. But those killed were known as Jew haters and probably during the days of Haman acted in ways consistent with it, so having shown their true colors, they were mostly just found while some might have made last ditch efforts to do what they thought was right and the Jews had to defend themselves.
Esther 9
Esther 9
How fitting for these events to be memorialized as a tremendous act of God to save His people and His orchestration to put His people in the right places. We see the hand of God moving again in this chapter encouraging the fear/regard of the Jews and of Mordecai so that the majority of people did not come to the aid of those who hated the Jews. What a reason for celebration and making sure future generations remember what God did. It reminded me of their celebration of the Passover and how glorious God’s redemption of His people was in that instant. How important it is for us to remember the ways that God has worked in our lives and to tell the younger generations those things so they can know and appreciate God the way we do!
At first read, the celebration of death always feels a little unsettling but rather this was a celebration of God’s provision and protection of His people. There was no plunder and no excess killing just strategic elimination of their enemies, those that sought their destruction as a people.
We should mark and celebrate times in our lives that God made a way when there seemed no way because we so easily forget His past provisions when we find ourselves in another difficult time. Honor and remembrance is important and we see it so often throughout God’s works in the Bible.
“as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration.” Thank you God for turning things around for us when we think there is no way out of a dire situation.
Amen Shelly!