1. The special principle revealed in Romans 8:28 is illustrated in the book of Esther. 2. Review of ch.1-8: a. (ch.1) Ahasuerus, king of Persia, removed Vashti as queen. b. (ch.2) Esther, a beautiful young Jewish woman, was chosen to be the new queen. c. (ch.3) Haman devised a plot to destroy the Jews, and he manipulated the king into making an official law that would accomplish his desire. d. (ch.4) Mordecai involved Esther in the situation that had developed. e. (ch.5) Esther asked the king and Haman to attend a banquet she had prepared, and, at the banquet she asked them to attend another one the following day. f. (ch.6) Between the two banquets, the king honored Mordecai, and Haman was humiliated. g. (ch.7) Esther exposed Haman's wickedness, and he was put to death. h. (ch.8) Since Persian law could not be altered or reversed, another law was enacted that would allow the Jews to defend themselves against their enemies. 3. In 9:1-19, the Jews destroyed their enemies with assistance from the Persian officials. Discussion: I. (vs.1-4) WHEN THE DAY ARRIVED FOR THE JEWS TO BE DESTROYED, THEY WERE PREPARED TO DEFEND THEMSELVES
A. We must keep in mind that: 1. a law had been made which stated that the Jews were to be destroyed on the 13th day of the 12th month (3:12-13) a. Haman, the man responsible for this law, had been killed. b. However, this law was still in effect because Persian laws could not be altered. 2. the king authorized a law that allowed the Jews to stand against their enemies (8:9-13). B. (vs.1-2) The Jews gathered together in the various places where they lived so they could stand against their enemies. C. (vs.3-4) The Persian rulers assisted the Jews. 1. These rulers offered their assistance because of Mordecai. 2. Mordecai had been promoted to a high position (8:2, 15). II. (vs.5-19) THE JEWS DESTROYED THEIR ENEMIES
A. (vs.5) The Jews took vengeance on their enemies. B. More specifically,: 1. the Jews destroyed their enemies in Shushan (vs.6-15) a. (vs.6) The Jews killed 500 men in Shushan. b. (vs.7-10) They killed Haman's 10 sons. c. (vs.11-15) The Jews were given another day to destroy their enemies in Shushan. 1) Haman's sons were hanged (Deuteronomy 21:22-23). 2) The Jews killed 300 more men in Shushan. 2. the Jews destroyed 75,000 of their enemies in other areas (vs.16). C. After destroying their enemies,: 1. the Jews did not take the spoils a. The law stated that they could take the spoils of their enemies (8:11). b. However, they refused to do so (vs.10b, 15b, 16b). 2. the Jews in Shushan celebrated on the 15th day because they had been given an extra day to destroy their enemies (vs.18) 3. the Jews in other areas celebrated on the 14th day (vs.17, 19).
