Scripture Read: Esther 8 - 10
Title: Queen Esther Saves the Jews H.E.A.R. (H) Highlight verse: "Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews." Esther 8:3 (E) Explain: With Haman gone the king promoted Mordecai over the house of Haman. However, the edict that Hamn made to destroy all the Jews was still in effect. Knowing this Queen Esther went before the king once again and interceded for her people, the Jews. She found favor in his sight, but the king could not revoke his original edict. So the king made a second edict that allowed the Jews to arm and defend themselves against any who sought to harm them. Two days of violence ensued and the Jews overcame their enemies. The end result was the establishing of the Jewish festival Purim. This was a day of celebration and giving gifts of food to one another. (A) Application: The story of Esther is one of many Old Testament stories that gives a forshadow or a picture of the plan and purpose of Jesus Christ. It is a story of intercession and celebration. Humanity had a death sentence placed on them because of sin. All seemed lost and hopeless until Jesus, like Esther, goes before the king and intercedes for us. Unfortunately, the heavenly king cannot revoke his edict of punishment for sins, but he did make a way for sins to be forgiven through the son Jesus Christ. Jesus faced intense violence, yet emerged victoriously over sin and death. The end result??? Salvation for all who believe. Our salvation is also a cause for great rejoicing and celebrating because what was once hopeless and lost because of sin is now redeemed because of what Jesus has done for us. (R) Respond: Lord, thank you for Jesus. Thank you that he withstood the punishment that humanity deserved, so that he could redeem and bring back what was once lost.
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Scripture Read: Esther 5 - 7
Title: Hamans Demise H.E.A.R. (H) Highlight verse: "Then king Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, 'Who is he, and where is he, who has dared to do this?' And Esther said, 'A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!' Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen." Esther 7: 5,6 (E) Explain: Esther agrees to help Mordecai by going to the king unannounced. This was an extremely brave and bold move on her part, since going into the presence of the king unannounced could get one killed on the spot. However, Esther found favor in the king's sight and he granted her anything she wanted up to half of his kingdom. She responds by throwing a party for the king and Haman on two occassions. Meanwhile Haman continues to stew in his anger against Mordecai. His wife and friends tell him to build a gallow and have him hanged the next evening. So Haman has the gallow built. One of the evenings the king can't sleep and he has the history chronicles read to him and realizes that a man named Mordecai was the one responsible for bringing the plot of Bigthana and Teresh to light. In the morning the king tells Haman that he wishes to honor a man and Haman in his pride assumes that the king wants to honor him. He tells the king to lavish this man with extravagant gifts, not knowing the man the king wants to honor is Mordecai. Shortly, thereafter, Haman and the king had a feast with the queen and she reveals Haman's plan to have Mordecai hanged. Haman was furious with Eshter and tried to attack her and the king witnessed this confrontation. This infuriated the king and he demanded that Haman be hanged from the gallow that he had build for Mordecai. (A) Application: As I read today's passage I am reminded of the dangers of pride. Haman was a man full of pride. He demanded people to bow and tremble before him. When they didn't he punished them, as in the case of Mordecai. When the king announces he wants to honor a man he quickly assumes that the king wants to honor him. His pride was the cause of his demise. We are told in James 4:6 that "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Proverbs 16:18, says, "Prides goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." As believers we are called to live lives of humility and not of ego-centric arrogance. We are called to humble ourselves before God, to not think of ourselves more highly than we ought. We called to deny ourselves and take up our crosses daily. Jesus displayed what it looks like to be a humble servant to people. Nearly everything that Jesus taught directly contradicted prideful arrogance. Let us learn a lesson from the demise of Haman (and the many people in the Bible) who was too prideful to fully understand that arrogance leads to destruction and humble living is how God has called us to live. (R) Respond: Lord, may I live my life in humility and when I allow arrogance to seep into my life, you will lovingly and gently bring me back to a life of humilty. Scripture Read: Esther 3 - 4
Title: Haman and Mordecai H.E.A.R. (H) Highlight verse: "Go gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish." Esther 4:16 (E) Explain: Enter Haman. Haman was appointed above all the officials, and the king's servants. People revered him and paid him homage. The king had commanded that all people bow to him, but Mordecai refused. We are not given a reason why he refused, but we know that his refusal infuriated Haman. In response Haman went to the king and told him about Mordecai's obstinance. So Mordecai asked the king if he would approve a plan that would eliminate all the Jews in the land. He offered to pay 10,000 talents to anyone who wuld oversee this and put the money in the king's treasury. Once word got out about this plan of destruction Mordecai tore his clothes and clothed himself in sackcloth and cried out in the city center. This deeply distressed queen Esther and she contacted Mordecai through one of her attendants. He told her about the decree and asked Esther to go and talk to the king on his and all the other Jews behalf. She told him to do so would be a death sentence to her because nobody could enter the king's court unannounced. Eventually she agrees to go to the king, even though she may be put to death for doing so. Her words "If I perish, I perish" is her way of saying, "I am willing to do this even though I may lose my life over it, but so be it." (A) Application: God is completely in control of all aspect of life. He is not surprised by anything, including the mess that Mordecai and the Jews were facing. It is here that the plot thickens and the outcome seems bleak. A call to completely obliterate all Jews in Persia is announced by an evil man and endorsed by the king. All hope seems lost, the Jews destruction is imminent, but Mordecai has one hope and that hope is in Queen Esther. The unfortunate problem is that the queen does not have access to or influence over the king. Although we don't specifically read that she put her future and life in the hands of God, we can certainly come to that conclusion. Esther knew her future and destiny was out of her hands and in the hands of one greater than her. I think it is safe to say that she put her trust in God's protection as she agrees go before the king. She was not afraid to die and she was hopeful that he would respond positively to her. We would all do well if we were able to take on the attitude of Queen Esther. Our lives, and future are in the hands of the true King. We may not know what our future looks like, we may not even know what the day may hold for us, but we do know that our lives are in the hands of our loving, merciful and gracious King. For me I trust God completely with my life and future. I don't take this to mean that God will give to me an easy stress free life without complication, pain or suffering. No, I know all of that is part of my future and even present. But I am good with that. I know God has me in his hands and whatever happens in my life, good or bad, He is still with me and guiding my way. He does the same for you as well. (R) Respond: Lord I do not know what today, tommorrow or next week hold in store for me, but I trust that you are with me and I will live my life completely submitted to your will. Scripture Read: Esther 1 - 2
Title: Esther is Chosen as Queen H.E.A.R. (H) Highlight verse: "The kingloved Esther more than all women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti." Esther 2:17 (E) Explain: The Book of Esther is a unique book of the Old Testament, primarily because in original Hebrew written account there is no mention of religious ceremony or even the mention of the name of God. The lesser known Jewish Festival, Purim is based on the reading of Esther. You can read more about Purim AT THIS LINK Esther reads more like a soap opera than a biblical account of God's providence. However, God's providence is believed to be the central theme of the book. It's a story about how God provides for and protects His chosen people in the face of a potential mass genocide. The key characters of this story are King Ahasuerus (aka Xerxes I), Queen Vashti, Esther, Mordecai and Haman. The story begins by describing the King as a pompous braggart who delights in showing off his fortunes. The king throws a party complete with excessive drinking, and debauchery. While the king is throwing his party his wife, Queen Vashti throws a party for the other women who belonged to the king. At a certain point the king calls for Vashti to come so that he may show off her beauty. He calls for her to come, according to Jewish tradition, with nothing on but her royal crown. The queen refused to be treated this way and put on display for all to see so she refused the kings order. Unfortunately for her, the king was infuriated and had her stripped of her crown and cast from his presence as his queen. Wanting to replace his wife the king decreed that all young virgins be brought to the king so he could pick one to become his new Queen. Enter Esther. Esther was a beautiful Jewish woman who was raised by Mordecai a Jewish exile living in Persia. Mordecai checks on Esther daily to make sure she was doing ok. One day Mordecai hears of a plot by two Eunichs to harm the king, so he told Queen Esther and they were investigated, found guilty and hung in the gallows. (A) Application: I am going to be honest and say that finding an application in these first two chapters is difficult. However, I think that these first two chapters are essential to setting up the main point of Esther and that is God's providence. The doctrine of God's providence is simply defined as God's intervention in His creation. God's providence is when God steps in and intervenes in the many areas of our lives i.e. creation, humanity, natural and unnatural events etc. His providence assures us that God is in control... There is nothing that has or will happen that He does not know about. God can and does intervene at times to make sure that his will is accomplished. God is not surprised. Now, I don't want to give any indication that providence is a doctrine that is easy to understand and/or even easy to accept. In God's providence we see that He is in control, but this includes being in control of the good and the bad. I cannot explain the "why's" of God's providence. Why do bad things happen? Why does God allow...? If God is so good then why did ...? I have no reasonable answer other than Romans 11:34 "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" And in in Isaiah 55:8 - 9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." In reading these verses I can truly say that I trust the sovereign God and His providence, He knows what's best and He does and allows things to happen because his plan, mind and thoughts are higher than mine. (R) Respond: Lord I may not always understand your providence and plans, but I trust that you are in control of all things. Scripture Read: Ezra 9 - 10
Title: Repentance in Judah H.E.A.R. (H) Highlight verse: "While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women and children gathered to him out of Israel; the people also wept bitterly." Ezra 10:1 (E) Explain: Ezra is informed by the officials that the people in Judah were not living as holy separated people as the LORD had commanded. The men and women had intermarried and this was prohibited by God. Upon hearing this Ezra wept bitterly for the people and repented to God on behalf of his people. His public sorrow and repentance led others to be convicted of their sins and this led to a mass revival. The people returned to God and renewed their covenant to become a people who are separated for God and live accorrding to his purposes. (A) Application: Ezra was grieved over the sins of his people and this led to a very public display of sorrow and grief on his part. His conviction of the sins of his people led him to fast and pray for them. The result of his fasting and prayer led to the people repenting from their sinful ways and turning back to God. We like to talk about revival, but we rarely take the necessary steps to ushering it in. Ultimately revival is a movement of the Holy Spirit among God's people, but this movement is usually (not always) preceded by a group of individuals who have prayed, fasted and repentend. This is not to say that God sent revival because of their righteous acts, but the revival was brought on because people are faithful to respond to God as He calls them to prayer, fasting and repentance. Do you want to see revival happen? Be attuned to God's Spirit, He may be calling you prayer, fasting and repentance so that you may experience revival in your life. (R) Respond: Lord I want revival in my life. Speak to me as to what you are calling me to do personally so that revival can happen in my life and in the lives of those around me. |
Jeff has been in full-time ministry for thirty years. He currently serves as Executive Director at Anchor House Ministry at SeaPort Manatee in Palmetto, FL and he is a part-time Campus Pastor at West Bradenton Southside in Bradenton, Florida.
Jeff Has authored A Lent Devotional (A Spiritual Journey to Lent) an Advent Devotional (The Advent of Jesus) and a devotional on the book of James (James: Where Faith and Life Meet). All three are available on Amazon. He is married to Carrie and they have four children, Micaiah, Gabe, Simon, and Berea. Preview or purchase Jeff's Books
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