Week 1 DAYS 5 and 6
Today AND Tomorrow
We will:
- LOOK at Esther Chapter 9:5-10, a small bite at a time.
- LEARN ‘how‘ to incorporate GODcha’s tools along the way.
- LISTEN to God speak to us as we focus on GODcha’s LEARN/LIVE question –
And Continue With an Attitude of Prayer
O LORD, You are the center of our being. In You, we live and move. Forgive our indifference, our sin this week, our wandering. We come today to see You in a fresh new way, and to see ourselves. May we have ears to hear what You are saying to us in Your Word of Truth. Oh, give us the understanding we need in order to live in obedience to You. May we know the fullness of blessing and bring You honor in Your Son’s name. Thank you.
If you get STUCK at any point in your discovery, stop, and pray!
GOD, your Creator, loves you and desires to reveal much to you.
Context
Context Tutorial >
In Esther Chapter 9:1-4
That one day had come, the day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower the Jews, but God turned the tables and the Jews overpowered their enemies.
Now, let’s unpack these verses to see how it all went down.
Today: The Jews Defeated Their Enemies
LOOK 
Always Begin By READING
READ Esther 9:5-10 and ask the who, what, where, when, why, and how questions.
Thus, what happened on this remarkable day?
Remember:
Reflect on the events that demonstrate God’s hidden hand.
Let’s Zoom In.
We’re going to take small bites, going verse by verse, dig a bit deeper, and see what we can discover.
As we do, you will want to consider what is:
Key
And check out:
Word Meanings
Cross References (aka CR) on These Key Points.
Note: Remember to check the context of these passages.
READ Esther 9:5
What is Key?
The new edict was actually a warning to 127 provinces not to attack the Jews, for if anyone did the Jews would respond. And so they did.
As we see the Jews struck all their enemies with a sword, killing and destroying – What lessons can we learn for ourselves?
1. What do you learn about the Lord who is working behind the scenes as the Jews struck their enemies?
Psa 18:47-48
2Ch 20:15, 17; 32:8
Rom 8:31
2Th 1:6
LISTEN to the Spirit
How have I experienced God’s delivering power from my enemies (physical/spiritual)?
Do I give God the credit for what happens in my life?
Respond, LIVE It Out!
Let that conversation begin, this is how communion takes place with your Creator!
2. What must we remember and do when it comes to physical and/or spiritual enemies?
Psa 20:7-8
Phil 3:3
LISTEN to the Spirit
What must change in my heart and mind so I will boast in the name of the LORD, rely totally upon Him for help and deliverance, not putting any confidence in my flesh?
Jam 4:7
Rom 8:13; Gal 5:24
Eph 6:10-17
LISTEN to the Spirit
How am I walking, talking and living? What must I do to:
- Submit to the Lord in order to resist the devil?
- Stand firm against the schemes of the enemy and the temptations of this world?
- Examine my flesh so I can put on His armor and stand firm?
Like the king – am I still chasing after my glory? Do I want to satisfy my flesh? Is alcohol a problem? Do I use and abuse people?
Like Haman – do I have a problem with anger? Am I: prideful, a control freak, impatient; harbor resentment; jealous? And the list goes on.
Like Mordecai and Esther – am I deceiving myself and love the world and all that it offers? Have I assimilated into the world, professed Jesus, but really do not possess Jesus?
Respond, LIVE It Out!
3. What is our sword?
Heb 4:12
Eph 6:17
LISTEN to the Spirit
Am I convinced that God’s Word, Truth, which is my 2-edged sword, is alive and powerful? How has it pierced my heart?
What must I do to train, practice sword thrusts and moves and positions so that I will be able to effectively use God’s Word against my physical/spiritual enemies?
Respond, LIVE It Out!
Yes, talk to God. He is waiting.
READ Esther 9:5 again.
We see killing and destroying again.
You might zoom in on ‘kill’ because it is used 6x in this Chapter.
This takes us back to Est 8:8-14 reviewing the meanings and the Cross References about ‘kill’.
Gen 4:8
Exo 20:13
1Sa 15:3, 19, 26
Ecc 3:8
Psa 18:34-40, 47-48
Gen 9:6
Num 35:33
Rom 13:4
If you you didn’t do a 
Word Search on ‘kill’ when in Chapter 8, you might take the time to do so now.
And the Jews did as they pleased to those who hated them.
What is the meaning of pleased?
PLEASED, rāṣôn raw-tsone´; delight (especially as shown):—(be) acceptable.
DON’T STOP THERE!
NOTE: Take what you have learned back to the text.
“they did what they pleased [what was acceptable] to those who hated them.”
Understand: Just from the meaning of the word we now see they did what was acceptable. What would that have been? Killing those who came to harm, murder them, and/or their families. They were allowed to freely defend themselves without restraint from the government.
TIP: I would encourage you to note this discovery in your hardbound Bibles.
Today: The Jews Defeated Their Enemies
LOOK
At Verses 6-10
READ Esther 9:5-10 again.
Remember:
Reflect on the events that demonstrate God’s hidden hand.
Focus on Verse 6.
What’s Key?
The Jews are still Key.
What the Jews did and did not do is Key.
1. Who did the Jews kill in Susa, v6?
What is the meaning of ‘men’?
THINK and REASON
Mordicai countered in his edict saying the Jews could defend themselves against women and children too.
But these 500 men were probably just the fighting men who were killed.
2. Who else did the Jews kill, v7-10?
Check out the Cross References about killing Haman’s 10 sons.
Gen 12:3
Exo 17:14
3. What did the Jews not do?
It is significant that the Jews did not take the plunder of their enemies.
What is the meaning of ‘plunder’?
PLUNDER, bizzāh; booty:—prey, spoil.
Note your discovery in your hardbound Bibles.
Check out the Cross References to understand why they didn’t lay their hands on the plunder.
1. After Abram had defeated Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, what did he tell the king of Sodom regarding the plunder?
Gen 14:20-23
2. Unlike Abraham and the Jews, what did Saul do?
1Sa 14:32; 15:19
THINK: Why did Saul do this?
3. As we consider why Saul did what he did, what does Jesus and Paul tell us?
Mat 6:21, 24
Luk 12:15
Col 3:5
LISTEN to the Spirit
Is my heart like the Jews who refused to take the plunder? Or like Saul’s who took the plunder?
What needs to be put to death to have victory in my own life?
Is greed dead in my earthly body? Or do I crave more, more, more, thus an idolater?
What must I do to guard against every form of greed?
Respond, LIVE It Out!
Oh, have a heart-to-heart with the Lord.
What Did You LEARN
Check Out GODcha’s #9 LEARN Question(s).
#9. Consider:
a. What was the end for the godless enemies of the Jews? How many did the Jews kill in Susa? Who was included in those killed?
b. Why did the Jews not lay hands on the plunder (stated 3 x’s) that they had a legal right to, CR? (v5-10)
Bring It Together!
We LEARN:
The Jews struck all their enemies with a sword killing and destroying them, v5.
We Discover:
The Jews we know had the right to strike with a sword and kill their enemies.
Do you remember who the Jew’s enemies were?
Do you remember who a believer’s enemies are? We have physical and spiritual enemies.
We Discover:
Vengeance belongs to God, who delivered David from his enemies, lifting him up against those who rose against him, rescuing him from the violent man, Psa 18:47-48.
Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord, Rom 12:19.
The battle is the Lord’s; He is with us and fights our battles, 2Ch 20:15, 17; 32:8.
If God allowed His Son to die for us to save us, then He is for us, and if He is for us, then what does it matter who is against us? Rom 8:31.
God will repay with affliction those who afflict us, 2Th 1:6.
We Discover:
Our Responsibility is:
To submit to God by putting to death the deeds of the flesh, thus resisting the devil, then we can stand firm in the Lord’s strength, having put on our armor, Jam 4:7; Rom 8:13, Gal 5:24; Eph 6:10-17.
Not to put any confidence in the flesh, but rather to boast, trust in the name of the LORD, our God – in Who He is, His will and ways, then we will rise and stand upright, Phil 3:3; Psa 20:7-8.
Our Sword: is God’s Word that is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart, Heb 4:12, Eph 6:17.
Understand: We believe what He says and do what He says to do!
We LEARN:
The Jews killed and destroyed their enemies, v5.
Do you remember what we learned back in Chapter 8:8-14? The Jews had been granted the right to defend themselves, killing and destroying anyone who would ATTACK THEM.
Remember:
The first place kill is used is when Cain killed his brother Abel, Gen 4:8.
God’s 6th command tells us we are not to murder, Exo 20:13. Check out the meaning of murder. It refers to a premeditated, unjustified killing.
Remember:
Those who would attack them, including children and women, would be those Haman had influenced and other Amalakites. Remember we saw the Jew’s 1st enemy and 1st war after the Exodus was with the Amalekites.
The Amalekites who took their name from Amalek, the grandson of Esau, tried to destroy God’s people. As a result, God said He would blot out the memory of their name from under heaven for what they did to His people, Israel, Exo 17:8-16.
God commanded Saul to utterly destroy Amalek. He was to put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey, 1Sa 15:3.
But Saul did not obey and rushed upon the spoil (the plunder), which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and God rejected him from being king as a result, 1Sa 15:19, 26.
Remember:
There is a time for war and peace, Ecc 3:8
David boasts of the LORD God saying, He
– trained his hands for battle,
– enlarged his steps and his feet have not slipped,
– he pursued and overtook his enemies and did not turn back until they were consumed,
– he shattered them, so they couldn’t rise, they fell under his feet.
– For God girded him with strength for battle, and subdued those who rose up against him.
– God made his enemies turn their backs to him and he destroyed those who hated him, Psa 18:34-40
God executes vengeance for him, subdues peoples under him, delivering him from his enemies, rescuing him from the violent, Psa 18:47-48
Remember:
After the Flood, the Lord instituted capital punishment for murder, unjustified, premeditated killing, Gen 9:6.
God declared, you shall not pollute the land in which you are; for blood pollutes the land and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it, Num 35:33.
God set up the civil government to administer justice and punish evil. We are to do what is good, but if we do what is evil, be afraid; for it (the government) does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil, Rom 13:4.
Remember:
Killing means slaughter.
Understand: This is war. This is not murder. This is justified killing. The Jews were defending themselves and their families.
We See: God alone is the Avenger, and He is working behind the scenes.
We LEARN:
The Jews did what they pleased to those who hated them, v5.
We Discover:
To do as they pleased to those who hated them means they did what was acceptable.
“The clause ‘did what they pleased’ does not imply that the Jews act sadistically toward those who hate them, rather that the Jews have no difficulty in dispatching quickly their enemies.” Barry Davis.
We LEARN:
At the citadel in Susa the Jews killed and destroyed 500 men, and Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, Poratha, Adailia, Aridatha, Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha, the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jews’ enemy, v6-10.
We Discover:
The 500 men that were killed probably refers to fighting men who were killed.
Note: Commentators tell us that the killing of Haman’s 10 sons would mean no one could carry on the father’s legacy. It was a Persian custom to kill the family so no one could rise up and take revenge.
Consider:
Haman bragged about having 10 sons? Was that idolatry?
God took them out just like that.
What if Haman had repented?
We would have seen a great reversal in his life.
Understand: We need to be very careful that we don’t make any in our family an idol.
We Discover:
This fulfilled the Lord’s promise to Abraham, that He would bless those who bless Israel, but curse those who cursed Israel, Gen 12:3.
And what He told Moses to write in a book as a memorial and recite to Joshua, that He would utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven, Exo 17.14.
We LEARN:
But the Jews did not lay hands on the plunder, v10.
STOP!
When God says something more than once, we need to pay attention! You will see He tells us 3x that the Jews did not take the plunder.
Why? What does this show us about them?
What lessons are here for us?
We Discover:
The LORD commanded Saul to destroy Amalak and all that he had. Saul was not to spare him, and put to death men, women, children, and all his livestock. BUT Saul disobeyed, rushed upon the spoil (the plunder), and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. Because Saul rejected the Word of the LORD, the LORD rejected him from being king, 1Sa 15:2-3, 18-23.
What was Saul’s heart? Jesus tells us where our treasure is, there our heart is also. No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other, Mat 6:21, 24
We need to be on our guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions, Luk 12:15.
We are to consider our earthly bodies as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry, Col 3:5.
What is the Spirit saying?
LISTEN
Check Out GODcha’s #9 LIVE Question(s)
#9. Jew or Gentile,
1. Who (physical) and/or what (spiritual) godless enemy am I struggling with? What must I do to defeat my enemies?
2. As I consider the plunder:
– Am I greedy? Do I gain wealth in ways that are legal, but not ethical?
– When have I disobeyed God and taken what He forbids? Will I repent?
Don’t Forget
Respond to God, LIVE It Out!
Stop and Take a Breath!
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord,” (Col 3:16).
Reflect and Meditate on what you have LEARNED!
Talk to God about how you are to live in the light of this Truth.
Save Your Discovery
In Your Notes
Today:
Did you have questions?
Put them in your Notes.
Ask God to answer them.
He will!
Record your discovery in your Notes and your hardbound Bibles.
Let’s Close in Prayer
OUR GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER IN HEAVEN, as we look at this great reversal for the Jews, help us to consider the greater reversal You have provided for us. We are no longer under the Old Edict, but we now have life in the Spirit under Your New Edict because You, Lord Jesus, sinless and innocent, became a curse for us hanging on a tree so we would not have to. Oh, You have delivered us all from our enemies so we would not be like Haman and his sons, and let our family line end because of our pride. May we be willing to repent, and help our kids do the same, having a change of mind that will indeed lead to a change of direction. Father God, even though the battle we are in, is Your battle, and You are our Avenger, may we realize our responsibility. Our sword is Your Holy Word to us. May we believe and obey You, by truly submitting to God in every area of our lives, putting to death the deeds of our flesh, thus resisting the devil so we can stand firm in Your strength and have victory. Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place, 2Co 2:14. We ask this in Your precious name Lord Jesus. Amen!
Thank you for hanging in there, we are almost done!
Rest and worship God!
See you in a couple of days to finish up Esther.
Next: LOOK@ Esther Chapter 9:11-15.
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