The Victory of the Jews

INTRODUCTION: This lesson tells of the completion of the divine protection given to the Jews. The day Haman chose for the destruction of the Jews became a day of victory for them. In Shushan, a second day was given to finish the work. This became a new feast for the Jews—the feast of Purim. Pur means lot and refers to the casting of lots by Haman when choosing the day for the Jews’ destruction. But God turned the lot that had been against the Jews to their favour. He is in charge of the lot. There is much that can encourage and comfort us in this story.

1. THE EXECUTION OF THE DECREE (Esther 9:1-11)
1. The Day of the Decree (Esther 9:1-5)
1. The thirteenth day of the twelfth month (Esther 9:1; Genesis 50:20; Psalm 76:10; Romans 8:28)
1. The day of the kings commandment
2. The day desired by the enemies of the Jews (Acts 12:11)
3. The day turned to the contrary (Psalm 30:11; Isaiah 60:14-15)
2. The gathering of the Jews (Esther 9:2)
1. Their gathering together (Matthew 18:20; Acts 14:27; Acts 4:31-33)
2. Their readiness to fight
3. The fear of them (Exodus 23:27; Joshua 2:9-11)
3. The assistance of the officers (Esther 9:3; compare Ezra 1:1)
1. They helped the Jews.
2. They felt the fear of Mordecai.
4. The house of Mordecai (Esther 9:4; Esther 10:2)
1. Great in the kings house
2. Famous throughout the provinces
3. Waxing greater and greater (1 Chronicles 11:9)
5. The destruction of their enemies (Esther 9:5; Psalm 18:34-40, 47)
1. With the stroke of the sword
2. Doing what they would unto those that hated them
2. The Victory in Shushan (Esther 9:6-11)
1. The death of the five hundred men within the palace (Esther 9:6)
2. The sons of Haman (Esther 9:7-10; compare Esther 9:15-16; Esther 8:11)
3. Their presentation before the king (Esther 9:11)
2. THE EXTENSION OF THE DECREE (Esther 9:12-19)
1. Made by the King (Esther 9:12-14)
1. The kings offer (Esther 9:12)
1. The recognition of success in Shushan
2. The offer for additional support
2. Esthers request (Esther 9:13; see Deuteronomy 21:22-23; Galatians 3:13)
1. Another day for the Jews to destroy their enemies
2. The hanging of the ten sons of Haman
3. The kings command (Esther 9:14)
2. Carried Out by the Jews (Esther 9:15-16)
1. 300 more killed in Shushan (Esther 9:15)
2. 75,000 in the entire kingdom (Esther 9:16)
3. Followed by a Time of Rejoicing (Esther 9:17-19)
1. The fourteenth day in the provinces (Esther 9:17)
1. A day of rest
2. A day of feasting and gladness
2. The fifteenth day in Shushan (Esther 9:18; Psalm 30:5, 11)
1. A day of rest
2. A day of feasting and gladness
3. The fourteenth day elsewhere (Esther 9:19)
1. A day of gladness and feasting
2. A good day (Psalm 118:14-16)
3. A day of sending portions (contrast Revelation 11:10)
3. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PURIM (Esther 9:20-32)
1. The Letters of Mordecai (Esther 9:20-22)
1. The letters sent (Esther 9:20)
1. To all the Jews
2. In all the provinces
3. Both nigh and far
2. The days established (Esther 9:21-22)
1. The fourteenth and fifteenth of Adar (Esther 9:21)
2. Every year (Esther 9:21)
3. The days the Jews rested from their enemies (Esther 9:22)
4. The days when sorrow was turned to joy (Esther 9:22)
5. To be a day of feasting and joy
6. A day of sending portions to one another and gifts to the poor
2. The Agreement of the Jews (Esther 9:23-28)
1. The casting of Pur (Esther 9:23-24; Esther 3:7)
1. The Jews finished what was begun (Esther 9:23).
2. The devices of Haman were destroyed (Esther 9:24).
2. The naming of Purim (Esther 9:25-26)
1. The device Haman used against the Jews Pur (Esther 9:25)
2. The name of the feast of victory Purim (Esther 9:26)
3. The appointing of the memorial (Esther 9:27-28)
1. The feast ordained for every year (Esther 9:27)
2. The days remembered in every generation (Esther 9:28)
3. The Letters of Esther (Esther 9:29-32)
1. The second letter of Purim (Esther 9:29-30)
1. Jointly written by Esther and Mordecai (Esther 9:29)
2. Written with all authority (Esther 9:29)
3. Sent to all the Jews of the provinces (Esther 9:30)
4. Written with words of peace and truth (Esther 9:30; Zechariah 8:19)
2. The confirmation of the feast (Esther 9:31-32)
1. The days of Purim confirmed (Esther 9:31)
2. As decreed by Esther and Mordecai (Esther 9:31)
3. In the matters of their fasting and crying (Esther 9:31; Esther 4:3, 16)
4. The confirmation written in the book (Esther 9:32)
4. THE ELEVATION OF MORDECAI (Esther 10:1-3)
1. The Rule of Ahasuerus (Esther 10:1; Esther 1:1)
2. The Greatness of Mordecai (Esther 10:2; Psalm 75:6-7)
1. Advanced by the king (Proverbs 21:1)
2. Written in the chronicles (Esther 6:1)
3. The Acceptance of Mordecai (Esther 10:3; Proverbs 16:7)
1. Next unto the king
2. Great among the Jews
3. Accepted of the brethren (Romans 14:18)
4. Seeking the wealth of his people (Nehemiah 2:10)
5. Speaking peace to all his seed (Psalm 85:8)

CONCLUSION: We must remember that God is the ruler even of the circumstances of our lives. We may not see any purpose to them, but God always has a plan. Even those things that we would count as evil are usable in the hands of the Almighty God (Psalm 76:10). We must learn to trust in His providence. We must learn to give Him the reins of our lives with confidence. Truly, we can trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6).