Esther 9 – A Journal of Triumph and Rest
What was meant for harm passed over—and peace remained.
Esther 9 captures a striking reversal in the Jewish story—what was intended as a day of their destruction becomes instead a day of deliverance. On the 13th of Adar, the enemies of the Jews had expected to overpower them. Instead, because of Mordecai’s elevated status and the favor of God, the Jews were empowered to defend themselves. Their enemies fell by the sword, and even Haman’s ten sons were executed. Esther, discerning the danger wasn’t fully gone, wisely requested a second day for the Jews in Susa to stand ready, which the king granted. This second day of defense ensured the security of the Jewish people within the capital.
The outcome was rest. The Jews outside the capital rested on the 14th, while those in Susa rested on the 15th. This rest wasn’t merely relief from battle—it was a rest that celebrated survival, vindication, and the favor of God. Mordecai and Esther then established the annual festival of Purim, a time to remember how what was meant for evil was overturned by God’s providence. The name “Purim” comes from the lots (pur) Haman had cast to determine the date of the Jews’ destruction. But those lots fell under a higher hand. God, though never named in the book, was clearly orchestrating every turn of this story. Purim became an enduring marker of that deliverance.
Personalized Journal Entry – In the Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture:
I turned what was meant to crush My people into a day of triumph. The day the adversary thought would mark their end became the very day their enemies were subdued. I placed favor upon Mordecai, and through him, I caused the rulers of the provinces to stand with the Jews. I gave them wisdom to act and courage to stand. Though ten sons of the enemy had risen in pride, they too fell, for no scheme devised against My people can prevail. Esther, moved with discernment, asked again—not for vengeance but for protection. I honored her boldness.
The result was rest. Not rest that comes from retreat, but rest that comes from victory. They rested because their security had been established. I turned mourning into joy and fear into celebration. From that day forward, I etched this memory into their calendar—not as a divine appointment from Sinai, but as a testimony they themselves chose to carry, because I had been faithful. And I honored it. For I dwell with those who remember My deliverance, who recount My faithfulness generation after generation.
You too have been delivered. The enemy had cast lots for your destruction. But I overruled the lot. I positioned you in Christ and declared your life hidden with Me. You now walk in the freedom of One who has already won the battle. So remember—rest is not retreat. It is the fruit of My victory. Keep the feast in your heart daily, for your deliverance is no less real than theirs.
(Esther 9:1–22; Colossians 3:3; Romans 8:37–39; 2 Corinthians 2:14)
Real-Life Analogy – Making It Tangible:
Imagine you’re preparing for a big storm. The forecast predicted devastation, and the neighborhood scrambled to prepare. You boarded the windows, filled up water jugs, and braced for the worst. But when the storm came, it weakened before reaching you. The next day, you step outside and see the sky cleared, your home untouched, and neighbors safe. That moment—when you realize the danger has passed and you’re still standing—brings a quiet kind of joy. That’s the kind of rest the Jews experienced. And that’s the rest believers enter when we see that in Christ, the worst that could have happened has already been overcome.
Prayer:
Father, You have authored my deliverance, and I trust Your hand in every unseen detail. Just like You overturned the enemy’s scheme in Esther’s day, You have overturned the enemy’s accusations against me through Christ. I no longer brace for doom—I walk in the rest You’ve given, secure in Your victory. Thank You for weaving Your purposes into my days, even when I can’t trace them. I remember. I rejoice. And I rest in Your finished work.