Esther 9:1 Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)
2 The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.
3 And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.
4 For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.
5 Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.
6 And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men.
7 And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,
8 And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,
9 And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,
10 The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.
In chapter 9, the day of judgment has come. For several months both Jews and Gentiles have lived in anticipation of this event. It is an occasional situation where much warning was given of an upcoming major destructive event.
The king certainly could not look on this situation as a high point in his reign. He had allowed Haman to construct a command to cause great division in his empire. He had changed course but he still had this black mark against him.
This situation had brought the Jews together in a greater way. They were unified in defending themselves against anyone who would want to do them harm. The king was not a unifier. He was causing division amongst the citizens of his empire. Haman had offered thousands in silver to implement his plan of hatred. The king had allowed a letter to counter Haman’s plan, but thousands would be killed for no good reason. This was a problem created by a wicked man under the supervision of a wicked king.
Antisemitism has been a problem for generations. Gentiles have failed to understand, that we too can be a part of the family of God. We too can enjoy the promised blessings of God. Those blessings do not increase for Gentiles, if the Jews suffer. The fact is that the Jews will never be destroyed and thus it is a futile effort to try to eliminate them.
In verse 3 we see that the rulers of the provinces helped the Jews. The fear of Mordecai fell upon them. This is significant. It was not the fear of God that fell upon them. When those who should know the LORD refuse to know Him, they are not much of a help. The hope of man is not in man. It must be in God. When people trust in God they have a Saviour Who does not die. They have eternal life.
We can look at the Old Testament records of the nation of Israel. If there was a good king in Judah, the people served God. If there was a bad king in Judah, the people did not serve God. We can go back to the time of Samuel and see that the people clearly stated they wanted a king like the nations around them. Samuel was upset with their request. God told him to accept their request. He told him that they had not rejected Samuel, but rather they had rejected Him from ruling over them. That attitude was not an insignificant one. That was the heart of the nation of Israel, and still is today. That is also the heart of the Gentile world. The fact is that we are all born as lost sinners, and as such have all rejected God from reigning over us.
We need to come to the place where we submit to God’s rule and thus to receiving His blessings.
In verse 4 we read that Mordecai was great in the king’s house. His fame spread abroad. His reputation spread abroad and he gained great respect. He conducted himself in a better way than Haman had. However, he was still just a man who would die one day. Who would succeed him? Shortsightedness does not win the day. Mordecai had great opportunity to be a Daniel, but he chose to be a secular Jew.
In verse 5 we read that the slaughter began. The Jews could not reason with their enemies. They had to use their swords and eliminate their enemies. They did what they could to those who hated them.
In verses 6 and following we read of the numbers of Gentiles killed. In Shushan the palace five hundred Gentiles were killed.
In verses 7 through 10 we read of the names of the 10 sons of Haman. Not only did Haman lose his life, but his sons also died. They obviously adopted his same hatred for God and the Jews. They obviously also wanted to be worshipped. God took care of them.
I read this morning of another Hamas leader who was finally eliminated. He had made it a practice to keep hostages around him to try to keep the IDF from being able to get him. However, God is still in charge. The IDF found out where he and some of his top aids were and they eliminated them. He could have turned to God but few Muslims will get saved. There are stories of Muslims seeing visions of Jesus and turning to God, but they are just stories. We have a Bible. The Bible declares:
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
God did not leave us a picture of what Jesus looked like. Most of the pictures of Jesus were imagined by Catholics and they are a corruption of what He would have looked like. We are not saved by visions. We are saved by humbly surrendering to the will of God as declared in the Word of God.
The hatred for God is what is behind the hatred for the Jews. It is this same hatred that is expressed toward true Christians. I have been a recipient of this hatred, as will be true of any true Christian. There are many pseudo Christians who are loved by the world. They have their reward. True Christians know the peace of God in their hearts and they also know that the rewards are in heaven. Persecution is to be expected if we stand for the truth. We do not expect the support of the governments. We do not bow to the wicked mandates of society. True Christians serve the true and living God and they rest in Him.
As we see in our passage, the Jews did not take the spoil of Haman’s sons. They were not looking to get rich. They were looking to be able to live in peace. They did not need wealth that had been gained through corruption. That is how Haman had operated and that was how his sons had operated. True saints are content to live for God and thus they want to live honestly.
It is important that we not look down upon Jews. It is important that we pray for Jews and Gentiles and desire to see individuals saved and serving God faithfully.
Pastor Bartel