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Class Ten- 10.31.18
~Discussion
Esther Chapter 9 -10
Chapter 9 Verse 1-4:
- On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, ”Adar” the day when the Jews were going to be massacred per Haman’s first Royal Decree , God instead turned the tables. Because of Esther and Mordecai’s Royal Decree, the Jews were able to defend themselves against the people who originally were going to try to kill them.
- The Jews organized in every city in each province , and all the governors and officials and satraps supported the Jews because they were afraid of Mordecai, who has now become an extremely important and influential person. His powerful reputation was very well known throughout Xerxes’ kingdom. God provides us with the same promise:
- You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.1 John 4:4
- “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Rom 8:31
Verse 5-10:
- The Jews kill over five hundred of their enemies in the citadel of Susa as well as every one of Haman’s ten sons – who are all named – but they didn’t take ANY plunder their wealth. They were only defending their own lives.
- The details are gruesome. Why did the Jews have to kill people? Because it was kill in self defense or be killed in anger. Haman wanted to murder the Jews. The Jews were going to kill their enemies who sought to murder them. Why did they have to go through battle? Sometimes God wants us to go through the battle to experience the rescue by the mighty hand of God. Victory comes by way of the sword and nowadays, for us by way of the Sword – The Word of God.
- This was self defense – not murder. There is a difference between being the aggressor and killing in self defense. Kill or be killed.
Verse 11-15
- The king hears about this news and asks Esther what else has happened in the rest of the provinces. Then he asks her what she’d like him to do next and whatever it is he will grant her request.
- Esther tells Xerxes that the Jews should be allowed to keep defending themselves against their enemies for another day and that Haman’s ten sons’ corpses should be impaled on the infamous gallows.
- The king agrees to her requests and another Royal Edict was issued extending the Jews ability to defend themselves for another day.
- So on Adar 14, the Jews kill another three hundred people in Susa and impale Haman’s sons’ bodies, yet they took no plunder for themselves. Their goal was not enrichment and profit, rather self defense.
Verse 16:
- At the same time, throughout all the outlying provinces, the Jews have assembled to defend themselves against those who were trying to carry out Haman’s first edict and they kill over seventy-five thousand of their enemies.Again, they took no plunder. They then rest and celebrate on the following day.
Verse 17-19:
- The people in the provinces rest on the Adar 14 and the people of Susa rest on the Adar 15, celebrating at slightly different times. These days were celebrated with joy and feasting. From a people who were on the brink of death to a people who were given life! Psalm 30:5b -weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 126:5-Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.
Verse 20-22:
- This is how the holiday of Purim came to exist: Mordecai sends out another decree telling everyone that they should observe the fourteenth and fifteenth days of Adar as a holiday every year from now on.
- The purpose is to celebrate how their near extermination as a people group was turned into a day of rejoicing (not to mention successful revenge)
- They should give food gifts to one another and give presents to the poor, feasting and making merry.
Verse 23-28:
- The Jews agreed to honor Mordecai’s command and each year hold a celebration to remember how their people were saved from extinction.
- The Celebration of “Purim” has its name is because Haman plotted the perfect day to destroy the Jews by casting the “Pur”- “the lot or dice”. But instead, the lot was reversed against him—he therefore had determined the day of his own downfall and
- The Book of Esther records that at Esther & Mordecai’s direction, Purim became a holiday that every Jew should continue to observe throughout history. Purim is still celebrated today March 13 with fasting, in remembrance of Mordecai & Esther’s pleas to fast, then Adar 14-15 are feast and celebration days.The book of Esther is read every year during the Purim celebration to commemorate God’s deliverance.
Chapter 10
- This-short chapter ends the book, stating that King Xerxes continued to have great power, collecting tribute money from all the various lands in his Empire. All of his acts of power and might, along with the full story of the greatness of Mordecai are recorded in the official history books of the kings of Media and Persia
- In the end, it says Mordecai became the king’s second-in-command and was able to benefit his people and all of their descendants.
Typology in Esther:
(A type is a shadow/person/thing/event that points to something yet future. It is not an allegory)
- Queen Vashti, the gentile Queen who is removed before evil Haman comes to power is the Bride of Christ (Church) who is removed by the Rapture before AntiChrist (Haman) is revealed to the world.
- Esther, Jewish, replaces Vashti, gentile, as Queen to King just as Israel is restored/reconciled to her King Yeshua Messiah during tribulation. Vashti is gone during the tribulations of the Jewish people.
- Haman, an Amalekite hated Jews and by demonic influence//control was led to plan to exterminate the Jews. The AntiChrist, by Satanic influence, will attempt to annihilate the Jews during the Tribulation.
- Haman’s evil plan doesn’t succeed, just as the AC does not.
- Mordecai the Jew refuses to bow down to worship Haman, just as the Jews will refuse to bow down in worship of the AntiChrist after the Abomination of Desolation at the Tribulation midpoint.
- Haman is father to 10 evil sons and the AC will preside over 10 Kings during the Tribulation. His sons are destroyed just as the 10 Kings will be during the Tribulation.
- Mordecai is type of Holy Spirit as Esther’s adopted Father, we are adopted sons and sealed with the HS. Mordecai was Esther’s guide and counselor just as the Holy Spirit is our helper, guide and counselor.
- Esther & Mordecai’s 3 Day Fast for deliverance was ended on Nisan 16 – the day Jesus rose from the dead after 3 days in the tomb.
- King Xerxes has a 7 day Wedding banquet – The Marriage Feast of the Lamb for His bride, the Church, is going to be 7 days.
- The Feast of Purim, a celebration of God’s deliverance after Haman’s attempt to destroy them is a picture of The Millennial reign of Christ where the Jews who survive the Tribulation as the remnant, will celebrate Him as the Messiah and Deliverer. .
Is God’s name found in Esther?
Yes as an acronym; anagram or acrostic. An acrostic can be a way to include a hidden message in writings that cannot be openly stated. In the Book of Esther the name of God is hidden at least eight times in acrostics in the text. Four times it is found as the Tetragam, “YHWH” or “Yahweh” or “YeHoVaH”; once as “EHYH” or “I AM” as at the Burning Bush. Additionally, Meshiach (“Messiah”), Yeshua (“Jesus”), and El Shaddai (“The Almighty”), appear as equidistant letter sequences within the text.
Lessons from Esther
- God is ABLE. He choreographs the steps of our circumstances to bring about His purposes for His glory.
- Greater is HE that is in us than he who is in the world. Satan will not prevail!
- Pride always leads to a fall and ultimate destruction. When we set traps for others, we will fall into them.
- God’s mighty hand is at work even when we don’t see it. He is involved in every aspect of our lives. Most often he uses natural, Providential realm, not Super Natural Miraculous realm to accomplish His plans.
- No circumstance is beyond God’s help or rescue, at HIS perfect time.
- God cares about the small details of our lives. Don’t believe the lie that you are bothering Him with the small stuff. God is a big God, but He delights in answering our small prayers too!
