FIGHT!
Question of the day: Have you ever been in a fight? Why or what were you fighting for?
Good morning. Believe it or not we are almost to the end of Esther. The story is about to come to a close. After this morning we will have two more lessons.
Today we will study chapter nine verses 1-17.
READ:
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.
First let's take a look at the over arching themes.
1. God is working through ordinary even seemingly Godless circumstances.
2. The reversal of fortune.
Are there any others?
This is one of those passages that I'm afraid all too often we just quickly pass over. First, I hate the image of huge numbers of people being killed. I don't like war scenes in movies or just playing in my head. I don't like the idea of Esther asking for Hamans sons to be impaled like their father. That seems just hateful. They were his sons, not him!
So is there anything for us to take away from this passage?
To dive into this passage and for it to be something that we can understand I want us to look at it from a different perspective.
I want you to be the Jews. So where we hear about the Jews I want you to think of it being you.
Then those who are wanting to attack you, all those who despise you.... those are all the things that Satan is using to try to get to you!
I was recently having a conversation with someone who is fighting for her marriage. There has been infidelity. So Infidelity could be one of the cities here. Or maybe for you it is something less obvious.
Anger
Self hate
Self destructive behaviors
busyness
disorder
dissatisfaction with your work
loneliness
depression
anxiety
laziness
What are some other things that Satan is using to try to destroy us?
What are some things he uses in the church?
Now let's go back and reread this passage.
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 (we) assembled in their (our) cities in all the provinces of King Xerxes to attack those determined to destroy them. No one could stand against (us) them, because the (junk that is trying to destroy us) people of all the other nationalities were afraid of (us) 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 (you) struck down all their enemies with the sword(the bible), killing and destroying them, and they did what they pleased to those who hated them. 6 In the citadel of (anxiety) Susa, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. 7 They also killed (hate)Parshandatha, (infidelity)Dalphon, (lust)Aspatha, (busyness) Poratha, (self hate) Adalia, (discontentment) Aridatha, (loneliness) Parmashta, (depression) Arisai, (stress) Aridai and (financial difficulties) Vaizatha,10 the ten sons of (racism) Haman son of (greed) Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. But they did not lay their hands on the plunder.
That sounds better doesn't it? The other day I saw a preview for a movie where a woman's family was murdered in front of her. Everyone, from cops, to the judge were in the pockets of those who had committed the crime, so she took things into her own hands. There was nothing appealing about what proceeded and the fighting she did, except that you believed in what she was fighting for.
I can't imagine us going and trying to kill everyone in Mount Pleasant. Even Afghanistan, I couldn't justify that! When I think about destroying what Satan is trying to use to destroy me and my family and my church...well that is a different story. When I see the above passage with the other things that friends, family and I have fought with, the idea that those could be destroyed, is fantastic!!!! I can get behind that kind of fighting!
I think this is a good time to point out that God didn't just miraculously deliver them from their enemies. It made it possible for them to fight! He gave them the tools to fight! In our peace loving state I think sometimes we forget that we are called to fight! He has given us the tools but we have to fight!
Sure there are times that God gave his children victory while they just marched around in a circle singing..... but they still marched as they had been asked. There is no question that victory required no fighting! However the old testament is full of battles.
How can we fight?
Is fighting just praying?
Are you willing to go to battle?
We can't study this passage and not make note of the plunder.
Why does the author keep talking about plunder?
In our analogy what would the plunder be?
Plunder is the wealth that was owned by the evil one.
Does that help?
What could be the wealth that Satan has? Or what could be the wealth that "self loathing" has? Maybe pride or self loving?
What is the wealth that "busyness" has? Maybe idleness or laziness?
Satan wants us to partake in the plunder. In his wealth and it is tempting. It is so tempting. Even seemingly justified. After all here in this story the Jews had been told they could take it, but they didn't and it is obvious that the author wants to make that clear.
This is also about doing what their ancestors had been told to do and failed at.
It is my hope that you leave today wanting to fight! Fight all the armies of Satan. Be willing to pick up your bible, memorize the verses, pray, go to counseling, be willing to go through the suffering that is required. FIGHT!
Fight with the tools given you and know that God has been working to give you this opportunity to fight!
Make the phrase, "get the behind me Satan." something that falls off your lips!
The past several months I have been in quite the battle. It isn't over, and sometimes I get moments to sit behind a bunker and just listen to the battle going on around me, and I'm tired, but I think about being a woman like I saw in that movie preview except in this battle and I read this passage and think about being fierce and I am ready to get up and fight! I want to be a warrior. I want to defeat the list in my life and NOT take any of the plunder, but just celebrate God! Are you ready to fight?
Fight so you can...... "GO and LOVE WELL!
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