1. To emphasize the importance of our Lord's cause and that we must be united to be most effective. Vs. 2.

3. To teach that as Christians (God's people) we can never get away from God or put away our thoughts of Him.        Vs. 7-10.

6. To emphasize that all of God's enemies will one day be defeated and humiliated. Sinners are the children of Satan. John 8:44. Esther 9:13-15.

8. To show through Mordecai's life that obedient, sacrificial service for the Lord will be rewarded in due season.         Ch. 10:1-3. Galatians 6:9.

Vs. 1 -- The dreadful day was the 13^th day of the 12^th month or the month of Adar which corresponds closely with our month of March.

Vs. 2 -- Notice they gathered themselves together. God's people should be united and together in their efforts to fight for our Lord's cause. United as they were -- "No man could withstand them." A united church is and will be a victorious church.

Vs. 3-4 -- Government was now on the Jews' side. It's a terrible thing for any people when their government is against them.

Vs. 5 -- The Jews' enemies probably included many Amalekites and God had promised to one day destroy them all. Exodus 17:14. God had also said He would use the Jews to accomplish this. Deuteronomy 25:17-19. Let us be careful that we never come to the place where we hate the Jew or desire to mistreat them. God promised to bless those that bless the Jew and to curse those that curse them. Genesis 12:3.

Vs. 6 -- In the Persians capital of Shushan most of the opposition to the Jews occurred.

Vs. 7-10 -- These are the names of the 10 sons of Haman who no doubt aided their father in his evil intent toward the Jews. Galatians 6:7-8. God does not waste space in the Holy Scriptures and the fact that these boys are named emphasizes that God knows every person and just judgement shall be his lot. Note that the Jews didn't take any of the spoil from those they had slain even though their enemies had the power to take from them (3:11) and they (the Jews) had the authority from the king to take the spoil.(8:11) The Jews, no doubt, remembered that King Saul ( I Samuel 15) had taken the spoil of the Amalekites in direct disobedience to God and now they would not take anything from these Amalekites. Although God's name is not once mentioned in the book, we can see in this that their thoughts were upon God. When Christians are out of fellowship with God their thoughts quite often are upon Him. Ps. 139.

Vs. 11 & 12 -- The King shows his sympathy and concern over the well being of Esther's people.

Vs. 13-15 -- The fighting was not over in Shushan by the end of the thirteenth day and there were still some enemies of the Jews who needed to be slain, so the king was asked for another day to let the Jews finish the job, it was granted and another 300 were killed.

The sons of Haman were hung the day following their death so that the humiliation of Haman, the Jews' adversary and enemy, would be emphasized and exhibited for all to see. This reminds us that one day, though we as Christians are persecuted often and are in the minority now, there will come a day when our enemies (Satan and his followers) will be humiliated and cast into Hell. Revelation 20:10-15.

Vs. 16-19 -- The Jews elsewhere in the kingdom rid themselves of their enemies in one day and on the 14^th day they rested, feasted and celebrated.

Vs. 20-32 -- The Feast of Purim was instituted celebrating the Jews' deliverance from their enemies. Even today this feast is celebrated by the Jews on the 14^th and 15^th day of the month Adar. Every year during the Feast of Purim (which means "lots") the story of Esther is read with glee in the synagogues. Mordecai's name is cheered and Haman's name is greeted with stamping of feet, with derisive booing and the grinding sound of special noisemakers. Often they say, "Cursed be Haman, may his name perish." Gifts are sent to friends and the poor in a joyful re-enactment of the first Purim.

Notice this is done in the month "which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy and mourning unto a good day." We in a similar fashion celebrate Christmas as the day in the month that commemorates Christ's entrance into the world as our deliverer and Saviour. We should keep Christ in Christmas and not allow this season, with all its commercialism to keep us from all the services of the church.

Chap. 10:1-3 -- The greatness of the King is here shown and shows how great Mordecai became, for he was next unto the King. Mordecai had risen from a place of menial position in the palace to the highest position in the land next to the King. He was great among the Jews. He was accepted by the multitude of his brethren. He sought the wealth of his people. He spoke and desired peace to all his people.

We saw him in the beginning of the book living in disobedience to God. He had not gone back to Jerusalem with Zerrubabel. Ezra Ch. 1. He did, however, one day take his stand for God, and although it brought the condemnation of the King's power upon all the Jews, he still would not bow down before a man but trusted in God for deliverance. He honored his stand, his trust and his efforts. Now he was greatly exalted. James. 4:6-10.