Wednesday 10 November, 2021

9 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. 18 The Jews in Susa, however, had assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth, and then on the fifteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy. 19 That is why rural Jews—those living in villages—observe the fourteenth of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting, a day for giving presents to each other.

Two of King Xerxes decrees came into effect on the same day.  One decree allowed the enemies of the Jews to go into battle against them while the other allowed the Jews to defend themselves.  This battle was to take place across the 127 provinces of Persia. The expected wiping out of the Jewish people did not occur. The reverse happened – the Jews were overwhelmingly victorious! The enemies of the Jews were afraid of them largely because of the reputation and influence of Queen Esther and Mordecai.  In fact, rather than standing against, the nobles, officials and governors came to the assistance of the Jewish people. The Festival of Purim commemorates this victory to this day.

On first glance this passage speaks of God’s sovereignty and his care of his people.  This is true of our lives as well.  We can never be reminded enough that God loves and cares for us.  What also can’t be shied away from is the battle!  Bringing God’s purposes to pass will bring opposition.  For Queen Esther and Mordecai this purpose was life preservation for the Jewish people who lived in the provinces of Persia under King Xerxes rule.  Whatever our purpose we can be encouraged by their stand and their ultimate victory.

Dear God, thank you for your sovereignty in our lives. Help us to bring about your purpose in our lives Amen.

Written by Ps. Ainslie Woods