How does Esther 9:10 connect with Romans 12:19 about vengeance? Setting the Stage • Esther 9 records Israel’s deliverance from annihilation plotted by Haman. • Romans 12 instructs believers in Christ-like responses to evil. • Both passages spotlight the boundary between personal vengeance and God-sanctioned justice. Reading the Two Verses • Esther 9:10: “the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. But they did not lay their hands on the plunder.” • Romans 12:19: “Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.’” Observations from Esther 9:10 • The Jews lawfully defend themselves; they do not initiate violence. • They kill only those identified with the genocidal threat—Haman’s sons. • They refuse the plunder, signaling they are not driven by greed or personal vendetta. Key Principles Paralleling Romans 12:19 1. God’s prerogative to repay – Romans 12:19 quotes Deuteronomy 32:35: “Vengeance is Mine.” – Esther 9 shows God’s repayment through providential circumstances arranged long before (Esther 4:14). 2. Restraint in victory – The Jews’ refusal to loot mirrors the call to lay aside fleshly motives (cf. Proverbs 24:17-18). 3. Justice, not revenge – Romans 13:4 affirms God ordains civil instruments “to execute wrath on the wrongdoer.” – In Esther, the royal decree (Esther 8:11-12) provides legal authority, distinguishing it from personal retaliation. Lessons for Today • Personal retaliation is off limits; trust the Lord to settle accounts in His time. • When justice legitimately falls, refrain from self-serving gain; give God the glory. • Celebrate deliverance with humility, remembering David’s example of sparing Saul (1 Samuel 24:12). • Pray for enemies (Matthew 5:44) while depending on the righteous Judge (2 Thessalonians 1:6-7) to act as He wills. Final Connection Esther 9:10 illustrates a moment when God’s measured justice is carried out under His sovereign setup, free of personal vengeance. Romans 12:19 then codifies that principle for every believer: relinquish the desire to “even the score,” and trust the Lord who promises, “I will repay.” |
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