SPIRITUAL GEMS: Week September 25 to October 1, 2023, Esther 9 to 10, Answers.

SPIRITUAL GEMS: September 25-October 1-2023, Esther 9 to 10, Answers.

Spiritual Gems (10 min.)

Est 9:15, 16. Why didn't the Jews keep the loot? (w06 3/1 11 para. 4).

Well, first of all, it must be clarified that they had the approval of the king and a decree that gave them authorization to take loot. However, by refusing to do so, they made it clear that their purpose was to protect themselves and not enrich themselves.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The Jews gathered in Susa and other provinces to defend themselves against their enemies. Although they killed a significant number of men who represented a threat to them, as there were 300 in Susa and 75,000 in the provinces, however, as already mentioned, they decided not to take their property.

The Jews' refusal to keep the loot, even though the decree authorized looting, reflects a primary objective at the time. Since it was a priority for them to protect themselves and their community, and the least that mattered to them was getting rich.

This way of acting is a clear example of how priorities can change in threatening situations. And how the well-being and protection of people is always more important than any material gain that this world offers, that is why we must act wisely and not try to obtain what would be the gain of this world, because in the future it will not be useful this.

The Jews refused to stop with the botín, despite the decree authorizing looting, which reflected a main objective at that moment. Without a doubt, for them it was a priority to protect themselves and their community, and the least important thing was to enrich themselves. This also teaches us that for Jehovah the most important and valuable is the physical and spiritual intergrid of his village, in comparison with its riches. For this reason, true Christians have a balanced point of view on riches.

What spiritual pearls have you found about Jehovah, ministry, and other topics in this week's Bible reading?

Esther 9:22. We read that in those days the Jews rested from their enemies, it also mentions that the month of pain was transformed into joy. This teaches us that life is full of ups and downs, and that even in the darkest of times, there can be a ray of Hope that eventually turns into joy. This story is not much praise, since we can fully trust that Jehovah will soon turn the earth into a paradise and that everything that he makes us suffer and afflicts us will be turned into happy moments.

Esther 9:18. It emphasizes the idea that, just as the Jews joyfully celebrated being part of Jehovah's people, we will also be filled with joy in being part of God's people when we come under His Kingdom. Since the arrival of the Kingdom of God will bring happiness and blessings to those who are considered part of that people, because these problems that do not afflict us now will not exist in the future under his Kingdom and we will be able to serve Jehovah fully.

Esther 9:5. It is emphasized that Jehovah granted a great victory to his people and that this victory was necessary to protect them from retaliation. The lesson we learn from this is that, in times of threat or persecution, it is about protecting ourselves, although we are not going to fight, but we can act with wisdom and caution to protect ourselves and the congregation.

Esther 9:4. We learn that Jehovah's hand is behind events, and that people can be instruments of his will to achieve his purposes. In this case, Mordecai is like an instrument of God to help the Jews at a crucial moment in their history. The spiritual lesson that can be drawn is that, like Mordecai, we are encouraged to be willing to put our abilities and resources at the service of Jehovah, to be a part of Jehovah's purposes in his organization. 

Esther 9:3. Fear can influence decisions. For this reason, the fear that the princes, satraps and rulers had towards Mordecai led them to take measures in favor of the Jews. This highlights how fear of consequences can influence the actions of people in positions of power. What we learn is that we must not let the fear of man paralyze us from carrying out our service to Jehovah, since Jehovah is much more than any human being.

Esther 9:1. In this verse, reference is made to a situation that resembles the time of the end. Just as in the time of Esther, the enemies of God's people will try to destroy their organization. But Jehovah will act as Savior of his people, there will be no way to the war of the Great Tribulation. The results mentioned in Esther fill us with great confidence to continue waiting for Jehovah's protection in difficult times.

Esther 9:22. This text gives us great encouragement, knowing that the pain of the Jews turned into joy, and their mourning into a day of celebration. It gives us a lot of encouragement and strength, as today we are also going through difficult situations, which cause us a lot of suffering, but soon we will be able to enjoy many blessings, which is why it is important to continue trusting in Jehovah.

Esther 9:27. As we saw in the text, they made a commitment and established a celebration date. In the same way, every year, millions of people around the world, we gather on the occasion of the anniversary of the death of someone very dear to us, Jesus Christ. And we do it to remember to whom he gave his life as a ransom to save us from sin and death.

Esther 9:2. This text teaches us that Jehovah gives us the endurance and strength necessary to endure any difficult situation, just as he did with the Jews, we should not be afraid because even if our lives were taken away in the present, Jehovah has the power to restore life. through the resurrection.

Esther 9:22. He highlights the spiritual lesson of perseverance and trust in divine protection. The Jews faced threats and challenges, but ultimately experienced God's protection. This lesson inspires all of us as servants of Jehovah to maintain our trust in God even in difficult times and to continue fighting until we see how Jehovah acts in favor of his servants, giving them strength and courage and a way out of problems and challenges.

Esther 9:1. This text shows us that sometimes we go through difficult situations, but Jehovah helps us endure difficulties by giving us a way out. We are certain that our heavenly father takes care of us in difficult times, just like a father who loves his children does. Jehovah uses his holy spirit so that we do not suffer spiritual harm.

Esther 10:3. The example of Mordecai motivates us and teaches us that if we receive a privilege of service, our objective should be to help and seek the well-being of our brothers. Unlike him, Haman, sought to serve others and harm others. without a doubt we want to be like Mordecai and not like Haman. 

Esther 9:31. At the end he mentions that everyone should fast and beg God for help. This encourages us not to neglect ourselves, perhaps we have had certain triumphs. However, we must always attribute all our achievements or triumphs to Jehovah, since without him we could not achieve anything.

Esther 9:22. This text teaches us that we should not forget the poor among us and share with them our blessings, our food, or economic resources. Since this was done in biblical times, and Jehovah also commands us to do it now.

Esther 9:20. Mordecai left a record of what happened, this reminds us that before Jehovah according to Malachi 3:16, a book of records is being written about us and our actions, that is why we must strive to make a good record before Jehovah.

Esther 9:10. It teaches us that when we decide the wrong path, especially if we are heads of the family, this can impact or affect our family in some way, which is why it is important to think about our family and the consequences of our actions.

Esther 9:5. We as Christians know the intense hatred that the devil has for the people of God and that it will soon culminate in a supreme attempt to exterminate us. Exactly how Jehovah will protect us remains to be seen. However, just like Esther's day, we trust that Jehovah will not abandon us to his people. For in due time he will provide relief and deliverance.

Esther 9:10. Like the Jews of Esther's day, Jehovah's Witnesses rightly appeal to governments and courts when they require protection from their enemies. This was especially necessary during World War II, due to clergy-instigated attacks on God's people. However, with Jehovah's blessing, many important battles have been won in the courts.

Esther 9:4. It teaches us that having authority does not make us an absolute authority, although Mordecai had received a lot of authority from the king, this did not automatically make him the king. Similarly, although Jesus Christ has given some authority to Christian overseers, He remains the head of the congregation and is aware of everything that occurs.

Esther 9:1. It reminds us that although we have enemies who want to see us bad and finished, Jehovah will continue to help us, in one way or another, he will fight for his people like a powerful giant, and in the end our enemies are the ones who will be left out.

Esther 9:2 . It teaches us that when we see ourselves threatened it is important to lean on Jehovah and not allow fear to paralyze us, we must act with prudence, good judgment and face, or avoid, our fears, instead of allowing ourselves to be overcome by our fears.

Esther 9:22. This text teaches us the importance of being generous with all people, including our Christian brothers. Generosity is a quality that should characterize us. We must always be willing to do good, to help others in an honest way, without expecting anything in return. If we do so, we will demonstrate that we are true Christians.

Esther 9:3,4. Although Mordecai was feared and famous, he remained the same worshiper of Jehovah, he did not allow pride or position to go to his head, unlike Haman, this is a model for us to guard against pride when we achieve certain fame. or privileges.

Esther 10:2,3. These verses show that Mordecai worked for the benefit of his people. This teaches me that we must use our skills, resources, and the positions we have achieved to benefit others as well. By doing this we would leave a significant legacy for our children and an inspiring model to follow. And of course, we would also be a good example to others, just as Jehovah desires.

Esther 10:2. This verse shows how King Ahasuerus placed Mordecai in a position of authority. This teaches me that Jehovah rewards obedience and loyalty. It also shows me the importance of living a life of integrity and faithfulness, always trusting that Jehovah can open doors for us and elevate us to positions that would otherwise be impossible to achieve on our own.

Esther 9:25. This verse shows how King Ahasuerus orders that because of his evil plan against the Jews, Haman and his sons must be hanged on the tree. This teaches me that Jehovah does justice, even if to do so he has to use people who do not serve or worship him. Therefore, when we suffer injustice, we should not despair, but rather, be ready to see how Jehovah acts in our favor.

Esther 9:27. This verse highlights that the Jews pledged that they and their descendants would celebrate the days of Purim without fail and do what was written about those days every year on the established dates. This teaches me that today's servants of Jehovah must also be committed to obeying what is written in the Bible and we must also teach our children so that they also do the same.

Esther 9:13. This verse shows how Esther says, "If it pleases the king." This shows her respect and submission to Ahasuerus, both for being the king and for being her husband. Although she was queen, she acted within the limits of authority. This teaches me that we must submit to and respect authorities even if this authority is in the hands of close family members.

Esther 9:28. This verse highlights that all families of each generation had to remember and celebrate those days in all provinces and cities and that they and their descendants should not stop celebrating those days of Purim, nor remember them. This teaches me that in addition to remembering these powerful works of Jehovah, we have to teach them to other people. In this way, we not only strengthen our faith in Jehovah, but also their faith.

Esther 10:3. This verse shows that Mordecai was the most important man in the kingdom after King Ahasuerus, great among the Jews and highly respected by all the people. But instead of being filled with pride, he remained a humble man who worked for the good of his people and their descendants. This teaches me that the power and authority that one can receive must be used to do good for others and not only for one's own benefit and much less to abuse it or puff up with pride.

Esther 9:20-22. This verse highlights how a month of pain for the Jews turned into joy. And how their mourning turned into a day of celebration. So they had to be happy and celebrate with banquets and send food to each other. This teaches me that even in the worst circumstances we must maintain hope and trust in Jehovah, because he can reverse even the worst calamity if we ask him with faith and are faithful.

Esther 9:25. This verse also shows how King Ahasuerus had Haman and his sons hanged on the tree for his evil plan against the Jews. This teaches me that the person who acts badly sooner or later has to be held accountable for his actions. Therefore, instead of taking revenge or returning evil when we suffer injustice, we should leave the matter in Jehovah's hands, since no one escapes the consequences of his wrongdoing.

Esther 9:4. This verse shows that Mordecai's fame grew and spread throughout all the provinces, as his authority was increasing. This teaches me that Jehovah rewards the loyalty of his servant in unexpected ways. Mordecai went from being a Jewish servant about to die, to being the second man of power after King Ahasuerus.

Esther 9:20-22. These verses show that the Jews were to institute the festival of Purim to commemorate their deliverance and triumph over their enemies, and were to celebrate it annually as a reminder of Jehovah's faithfulness and power. This teaches me that it is important to remember Jehovah's victories over his enemies, because that strengthens our faith and trust in him and in the fulfillment of his promises.

Esther 9:1-11. These verses tell how the Jews defended themselves against those who tried to destroy them and how they managed to prevail over them. This teaches me that despite adverse circumstances, Jehovah is always in control of everything and with his power he can protect and deliver his faithful people.

Esther 9:1-6. These verses show that many Persian officials sided with the Jews, as the news that the new prime minister was Mordecai had spread throughout the Empire. This teaches me that it was Jehovah who gave victory to his people, and in order to protect them from terrible reprisals, he saw to it that Mordecai became the most important man after King Ahasuerus.

Esther 9:3. We see that despite his growing authority and fame, Mordecai did not become arrogant or conceited. He kept his humility and remained a respected figure. This teaches us the importance of humility even when achieving high levels of success and recognition.

Esther 9:4. Mordecai's fame continued to grow throughout the provinces. This shows how a positive influence can have a long-term impact on a community or society. Mordecai's reputation was excellent and continued to grow. This shows how valuable a good reputation is in a person's life. Since a solid reputation can open doors, earn respect and create opportunities. If we strive to do good deeds as Jehovah and Mordecai have taught us, we will leave a good impact as a servant of Jehovah, which in turn will help exalt Jehovah's name.

Esther 9:28. He says that all families of each generation had to remember and celebrate those days in all provinces and in all cities. The Jews would never stop celebrating those days of Purim, and their descendants would never stop remembering and celebrating them. This teaches us that it is essential to read these books like Esther's because they help us keep alive the memory of what happened today and learn lessons from the history of our ancestors that strengthened their faith, love and trust.

Esther 9:13. This recognizes the importance of obtaining the King's approval to carry out his request. Although she herself is the queen, she respects the authority of King Ahasuerus and acts within the limits of that authority. This lesson can be applied to the importance of following the laws and regulations set by authorities in our lives.

Esther 9:13. In this text we also see that revenge is not always the best option. Although they had the opportunity for revenge, Esther asked the king to allow the bodies of Haman's sons to be hanged rather than retaliate violently. This teaches us that we should not take revenge into our own hands, that is not the solution, since remembering that revenge belongs to Jehovah helps us leave everything in his hands.

Esther 9:25. We read that Haman, who planned to harm the Jews, finally faced the consequences of his actions and was hanged. This underlines the idea that in the long run, justice will prevail, if not now, this justice will come under the Kingdom of God, which gives us confidence in knowing that we will live in peaceful conditions.

Esther 9:27. We see that the Jews were committed to following what was written in the scriptures. This is good advice for everyone, as it highlights the importance we must give to the word of God and obedience to his commandments.

Esther 9:28. He mentions that all families of each generation had to remember and celebrate those days in all provinces and in all cities. The Jews would never stop celebrating those days of Purim, and their descendants would never stop remembering and celebrating them. The verse highlights the importance of persevering and passing on biblical truths throughout the generations. Just as the Jews committed to remembering and celebrating the days of Purim, this helps us by example to be willing to keep our faith alive through the years.

Esther 9:20-22. We can also apply this verse in another field. For example here we see that the Jews had to celebrate with banquets and send meals to each other. This teaches me that when we have reasons to celebrate, one way to share that happiness with other people is by sharing part of what we have with them. In that way, we would also be thanking Jehovah for his gifts.