Follow Up with Clay - 12.11.24

ESTHER: 

Interesting facts about Esther: second book named after a woman and only book not mentioning God

But God is clearly seen throughout the events—God protects His people and God is in control.

Esther is often seen as a story of love and romance, but not really. This story is filled with grit, rape, racism, spilled blood, and the harsh realities of their world.

Persian Empire: Immediately followed the Babylonian Empire (Daniel). Led by the king, Xerxes (called by different name, but most agree this is who he is. He invaded Greece before he was finally stopped in 480 B.C. after defeat. He returned home to focus on domestic affairs.

1. King throws a fest for big shots (180 days) Then the rest (7 days)

• It was all about showing off and making much of himself. Rule: No compulsion.
• Queen also threw a banquet for the women and after 7 days of drinking, the king ordered the queen to come and entertain (Think really bad)
• She refused making him furious

• Experts gave legal counsel: This emboldens all the women against their husbands.
• She is to be banished and a decree is sent out from India to Ethiopia. The king sets out to choose another queen.

1. Gather all the beautiful young virgins for what amounted to a beauty pageant).

• These young ladies had no choice. Among them was Esther
• Her parents had died and thus, she was raised by her older cousin, Mordecai
• Esther and many others were taken away from home and to the palace.
• 12 months of beauty class followed before they were presented to the king.

Not exactly Cinderella and Prince Charming.

Each young lady would spend a night with the king (Sex without consent)

Then sent to harem as a slave to wait to be called and to never to return home or ave family.

Esther 2:17, …the king loved Esther more than all the 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.

Mordecai had advised Esther to keep her Jewish heritage a secret (due to rampant racism). And as a loving “father” he came into the court to check on her.

One day he was in the right place and  time to overhear a plot to kill the king. He told Esther and she reported to the king in Mordecai’s name….

The plot was stopped and the perpetrators were hanged. These events were recorded in their book of history.

1. Haman promoted to second in charge.

Everyone would bow and salute as he walked by (he loved that). But one man refused to bow, Mordecai (he hated that).

He asked around and found out that Mordecai was a Jew (he hated Jews). From there, Haman devises a plan to exterminate the Jews.

• Talks to king about “enemies of the state”
• On one day, everyone will be permitted to attack , kill, take land of Jews.
• King agrees with and writes order. Afterward, the letter was sent throughout all provinces.

1. Jews enter a time of fasting, mourning, weeping, and lamenting.

This including Mordecai. He dressed in sackcloth and ashes and at by the king’s gate.

• Esther hears about Mordecai and finds out why he is mourning.
• Mordecai asks her to go to the king and plead for her people.
• The catch: no one is allowed to approach the king without being summoned. If one does the king will either raise his scepter to permit the person approach him or have the person killed.

Remember this isn’t Prince Charming) He is a ruthless ego-maniac.

Esther 4:14, For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Esther agreed to risk her life and go to the king. She asked Mordecai to get the Jews to fast for three days and then she will approach. Her mindset was “if I perish, I perish.”

1. She approached the king and he welcomed her

Esther requested to host a banquet for the king and Haman.

• Haman was excited to be invited because he feels like he is kind of a big deal.
• After the feast, the king asked what Esther would request from him.
• She asked for another banquet the next night and she would make it known.
• On his way home, Haman sees Mordecai and his anger boils.
• Emboldened by his new position, even favor with the queen, he orders gallows to be built in his front yard that reached 75 feet high.
• He will ask the king to have Mordecai hanged there and then go to the banquet.

1. That night the king couldn’t sleep

Must have not be anything good on Netflix. So he has the Book of memorable deeds brought in and read to him.

In the reading is the story of Mordecai warning about the plot and saving the king’s life. The king decides to do something big to honor Mordecai.

1. Haman brought before the king….

• He’s about to make the request to hang Mordecai.
• The king asks: What should be done for a man the king wishes to honor? Haman (full of himself) assumes the king is talking about him.
• So he answers: “Dress him in royal robes that the king has worn, place him on a royal horse that the king has ridden, and march him through the town square, announcing the king’s honor.

King says, “That’s great. Go do that for Mordecai.” Haman has to do all those things and then get to the banquet.

1. The final banquet

They eat, drink, and the king asks Esther what her wish is. 

• She begins pleading for her life and the lives of her people.
• There is an evil plan to kill them all. The king asks who would do such thing.

Remember: at this point, nobody knows her Jewish heritage.

She answers…. A foe / enemy…. The wicked Haman. (Haman needs clean shorts)

9. The king was furious…. (He had been played)

King stomped off into the garden….

Haman stayed to beg for his life with the queen….

Just when the king walked back in….

Haman fell onto the couch where Esther was sitting…. (Tripped on a Persian rug)

King said…. Will he even assault the queen in my presence….

They hanged Haman on the gallows he built for Mordecai.

Esther given Haman’s home / Mordecai given Haman’s position….

But the slaughter of the Jews is still about to happen…. (Law can’t be taken back)

So the king writes an addition to that law…. Jews can protect themselves.

The day came…. Attacks came….

All of the enemies of the Jews were beaten…. 75,000 killed in one day.

Feast of Purim put in place to remember this deliverance….

10. Mordecai honored / respected / loved….

Esther 10:3, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.

Lesson: Your decisions must reflect your belief that God is in control.

Proverbs 21:1, The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He will.

Esther was torn from home / trafficked to satisfy the lust of an evil king….

She / her people were threatened with genocide….

At the encouragement of the man who raised her….

Her efforts saved many lives….

But don’t lose sight that it came at great personal cost.

Questions:

Who is the Esther in your life?

(Encourage them that God has them at the right place / time “for such a time as this”.)

How can we pray for you?

Who do you know that needs this group?

Next Week: Nehemiah