Five hundred men were slain
in the palace of Shushan. The ten sons of Haman were killed and hung
in the streets there. Another three hundred were eliminated in the
city of Shushan. All of this because on the thirteenth and fourteenth
days of Adar the Jews were allowed to defend themselves against an
edict inspired by Haman to destroy them. God was on the Jews side,
and in chapter nine and verse sixteen we see an even greater
demonstration of God's power poured out upon them. We read:
But the other Jews that
were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together,
and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew
of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their
hands on the prey,
The
verse begins, “But the other Jews that were in
the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for
their lives, and had rest from their enemies,...” Although this
verse begins with the word “but” which usually denotes
what is about to be said takes precedence over what was just stated,
in this case it means “in addition” or “added to what was just
spoken”. The preceding verse told us that three hundred enemies of
the Jews were slain in Shushan, and this one tells us that the Jews
all over the “king's provinces” “gathered themselves;
stood for their lives;
and had rest” from those who opposed them. Evidently there
were many who were the Jews' enemies, and when the decree was given
to dispose of them, these foes rose up against them. Little did their
enemies know that they were fighting against the very chosen people
of God.
The
verse goes on to say, “and slew of their foes seventy and five
thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,” We are
told to the extent that the Jews victory was forged, “seventy
and five thousand” enemies were slain. That's an average of
over five hundred and ninety per province. We have been told about
seventy-five thousand, eight hundred and ten men who were killed by
the Jews simply because they rose up against the Jews to destroy
them. These numbers are staggering, yet notice once again that
“they laid not their hands on the prey.” Victory over their
enemies was enough for the Jews, and although the Persians who were
against them would have taken the Jews' “prey”, the Jews
did not touch the belongings of those they destroyed. The Jews took
glory in their victory and defense, and worldly belongings paled in
comparison to the preservation of their lives.
Can we
imagine such a force of people being against us? What if we had
enemies in this large number who desired that we be destroyed? How
would we react, and would we have the confidence that we are the
people of God and know that “no weapon formed against us shall
prosper”? We might do well to be reminded of what Paul the
apostle said in the book of Romans in chapter eight and verse thirty
one,
The Jews
had God on their side. He wasn't mentioned or visible in their scene
of defense, but the evidence shows us that He was mightily on their
side. He is on our side too when we have given our lives to Him.
Though enemies may rise up against us, as with the Jews, He will come
to our aid as well. May we live our lives before Him in such a manner
that all weapons formed against us will not prosper, and all who rise
up against us shall fall.
Next
time we will see the Jews rest and establish a feast, so read ahead,
and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” and the new marriage book “So, You Want
to Be Married” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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