Lesson 8: The Book of Esther - Rewards and Redemption

Hello Everyone,

Did you bask in the glory of God's favor this week?  I did!  I spent the week focusing on how God favors me.  Despite all of my short comings and my inability to consistently live holy, He still favors me.  God is so faithful.  His faithfulness is His favor.

Again, I am so excited about the growth of our international readers.  It is truly a blessing for God to use this blog to encourage people to grow in Him all over the world (Galatians 3:28).  To God be the glory!

Last week we talked about God's favor.  This week we will discuss God's rewards and redemptions. God blesses us through His love, faithfulness and grace (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Resources

Chapter 8: Esther Saves the Jews

1 On that day King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews.  And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. 2 So the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai; and Esther appointed Mordecai over the house of Haman. 3 Now Esther spoke again to the king, fell down at his feet, and implored him with tears to counteract the evil of Haman the Agagite, and the scheme which he had devised against the Jews. 4 And the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther.  So Esther arose and stood before the king, 5 and said, "If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight and the thing seems right to the king and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to annihilate the Jews who are in all the king's provinces. 6 For how can I endure to see the evil that will come to my people?  Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my countrymen?" 7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, "Indeed, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because her tried to lay his hand on the Jews. 8 You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's name and sealed with the king's signet ring no one can revoke." 9 So the king's scribes were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day; and it was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded, to the Jews, the satraps, the governors, and the princes of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, one hundred and twenty-seven provinces in all, to every province in its own script, to every people in their own language. 10 And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, sealed it with the king's signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback, riding on royal horses bred from swift steeds.  11 By these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together and protect their lives-to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both little children and women, and to plunder their possessions, 12 on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. 13 A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province and published for all people, so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. 14 The couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king's command. And the decree was issued in Shushan the citadel.  15 So Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, with a great crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple; and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. 16 The Jews had light and gladness, joy and honor.  And in every province and city, wherever the king's command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday.  Then many of the people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews fell upon them.

Reward - a recompense for worthy acts; a return service; reinforcement

Redemption - the act of deliverance or saving from harm

Lesson 7

It is so hard for me to understand when people question the existence or the abilities of God.  There is a song by the artist, India Arie, called "God is Real".  The lyrics express the evidence that God is real and how the artist cannot understand why people do not believe that God is real.  As I read this chapter of Esther, I am reminded of those lyrics.  How do we still question if God is real?

At this point Esther's journey has come full circle and the evidence of God is so prevalent in every aspect of the journey.  From the beginning when God caused Queen Vashti to be removed from her thrown to make room for Queen Esther (Proverbs 18:16).  Even Haman's treachery was all a part of God's plan.  We cannot confess that God is control of everything and then only give credence to the good in our lives.  God allows all things to happen for His glory, not for our pleasure (Colossians 1:16).  Therefore, whether it is the death of a loved one or the birth of a baby, it is all for the glory of God.

God's glory is everlasting and we see it here in the redemption and reward for the Jews through Esther and Mordecai.  The Lord our God redeemed the Jews by showing favor on Esther that she may submit to the authority that God placed over her, King Ahasuerus, and save them.  God honored Esther's obedience, endurance, and submissiveness.  God even handled Esther's enemy, Haman (Luke 20:40-43).  What Haman would have done mischief with, Esther will do good with (Nelson 1997).  Even the evil is a pertinent part of magnifying God's glory (Genesis 50:20).

The evidence of God is in every time that He redeems or rewards us.  He has kept us through so many things.  I personally cannot recall a time where the Lord did not redeem or reward me.  We cannot fathom the true rewards of the Lord in our finite minds.  He rewards us every day that we are allowed to have true relationship with Him.  God can receive or deny whomever He pleases.  It is God's prerogative (Nelson 1997). 

God's redemption and rewards is so much more grand than anything we could have planned for ourselves.  God is our father and He has our best interest at heart. 

I hope you enjoyed this week's lesson.  The power of God is so awesome that it is achingly painful to curtail these lessons for online reading.  There is always so much I would like to discuss.  I hope that you all have been blessed by the study of Esther and the importance of its subtleness.

Application

This week we will make a list of all the times God has redeemed and rewarded us.  Sometimes we take Him for granted.  This exercise will allow us to grow a greater appreciation for the goodness of our Lord and Savior.  God is so awesome and He is worthy of all His accolades.

I pray that you all will have a blessed week!

Be blessed,

T. Carter

References

All scriptures are extracted from The Bible - New King James Version.  YouVersion (2013).

M-W.com (2013). Merriam-Webster Dictionary Web Version. Retrieved from: App Store

Nelson, Thomas (1997). Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishing.  Nashville, Tennessee

Lesson 7 : The Book of Esther - God's Favor

Hello Everyone,

I pray that everyone has had a blessed week.  Sometimes just getting to the next day is difficult. So, it is so awesome that God has given us one more week to serve Him and draw men and women to His kingdom.

I am so excited to welcome more international readers.  God is truly stretching this ministry to spread His word for His glory and that is so awesome!!  We welcome Russia, the United Kingdom, and Poland.  We now have readers in over 9 countries.  God is at work everywhere!!!

Last week we discussed God's plan and this week we will discuss God's favor.  I love God's perfect timing.  What a blessing it is for Him to deliver the message of His Favor on Lesson 7, His perfect number.  He is so awesome!!!

Resources

Chapter 7: Haman Hanged Instead of Mordecai

So the king and Haman went to dine with Queen Esther. 2 And on the second day, at the banquet of wine, the king again said to Esther, "What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you.  And what is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done! 3 Then Queen Esther answered and said, "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request. 4 For we have been sold, my people and I, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated.   Had we been sold as male and female slaves, I would have held my tongue, although the enemy could never compensate for the king's loss. 5 So King Aharuerus answered and said to Queen Esther, "Who is he, and where is her, who would dare presume in his heart to do such a thing?" 6 And Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!" So Haman was terrified before the king and queen. 7 Then the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden; but Haman stood before Queen Esther, pleading for his life, for he saw that evil was determined against him by the king. 8 When the king returned from the palace garden to the place of the banquet of wine, Haman had fallen across the couch where Esther was.  Then the king said, "Will he also assault the queen while I am in the house?"  As the word left the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. 9 Now Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, said to the king, "Look! The gallows, fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good on the king's behalf, is standing at the house of Haman."  Then the king said, "Hang him on it!" 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai.  Then the king's wrath subsided.

Favor - to promote over another; consider as favorite; treat gently and/or carefully; bestow privilege

Lesson 7

I am so excited about this portion of Esther.  We experience God's favor everyday considering our lifestyles in regards to the horrific conditions that are occurring all over the world.  We take it for granted.  We live in expectation of safety, comfort, shelter, food, clothing and even luxuries, for some of us.  Esther and all God's people were in jeopardy of losing their lives, BUT GOD'S FAVOR was upon them.  Specifically Esther.

If we look at verse 3 of Esther 7, God uses the writer of this book to express that emanate favor administered by King Ahasuerus.  Because Esther honored the authority that God had placed over her, she ignited God's favor (Romans 13:1).  Esther gained favor for herself and all of the Jews. Here we see the importance of obedience (Deuteronomy 28:1).

We are so excited when we gain the favor of our teachers in school, our husbands, families, supervisors, pastors and other leaders in the church.  We feel incredibly special to be honored, receive awards, and just to be acknowledged.  But oh to obtain the true favor of GOD!!!!!

I cannot even fathom what my life would be like if I truly surrender to God's will, deny my flesh, come under the authority He places over me, and practice diligent obedience!!!  It makes my head spin just thinking about the possibility.

God has already given us so much, so to multiply the existing privileges to a place of unfathomable numerical proportion is beyond my finite understanding.

Furthermore, to think that Esther was just a young girl with no parents who God elevated to the position of Queen to save His people. Since God can do that, we must believe that He can do all things in our lives (Philippians 4:13).

If you cannot tell by all the exclamation points, I am very excited by what God has in store if we just practice the principles of His word that Esther and Mordecai continuously exhibited throughout the book of Esther.  A massive change could occur in the societal structure of the world if we would only trust and believe in the word of God (Mark 9:23).
 
Application

This week we will do self-assessments.  Answer these questions about yourself:

1. Am I trusting God with whom He has placed in authority over my life?
2. Am I implementing His principles in my daily walk?
3. Am I practicing obedience?

Once you have answered these questions take them into your quiet time with the Lord. Seek His assistance in these specific areas.

While you are doing this exercise, think of some God's favorites:

David (Acts 13:22)
Job (Job 1:8)
Martha, Mary and Lazarus (John 11:5)

Consider what they endured, how they were obedient, how they respected the authority God placed over them.

We must trust God in everything! (Proverbs 3:5)

Have a blessed week!!

Be blessed,

T. Carter

References

All scriptures are extracted from The Bible - New King James Version.  YouVersion (2013).

M-W.com (2013). Merriam-Webster Dictionary Web Version. Retrieved from: App Store

Lesson 6 : The Book of Esther - God's Plan

Hello Everyone,

I pray that everyone had a blessed week.  I have exciting news!!  I would like to welcome all our Brothers in Christ who have joined us in this journey of studying Esther.  Additionally, I would like to welcome our readers in France, Jamaica, Singapore, Germany, and Japan.  It is so awesome that no matter where we are, we are all striving to walk closer with Christ.

Last week we discussed sacrifice.  I pray that you all received an awesome blessing through your spiritual sacrifices.  If you have not, don't worry, it's on the way.  God is the blessing business and He honors the ones who honor Him (Proverbs 22:4)

This week's lesson is a perfect display of God honoring those who honor Him.  We will discuss Mordecai’s faithfulness to God’s plan and how it placed him in a position of honor.

Resources

Chapter 6: The King Honors Mordecai
1 That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 3 Then the king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” And the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” 4 So the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 5 The king’s servants said to him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” 6 So Haman came in, and the king asked him, “What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?” Now Haman thought in his heart, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” 7 And Haman answered the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8 let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!’ 10 Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king’s gate! Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken.” 11 So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!” 12 Afterward Mordecai went back to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered. 13 When Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him, his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him. 14 While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs came, and hastened to bring Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared.

Lesson 6

Let us begin with the King, who is unable to sleep. 

The providence of God rules over the smallest concerns of men.  A sparrow does not fall to the ground without Him.  The king could not sleep when Providence had a design to serve, keeping the king awake.  There is no evidence of illness that broke the king’s sleep, but God, whose gift sleep is, withheld it from the king (Nelson 1997).

I can recall many nights when God has spoken to me through my restlessness.  I know that when I unable to obtain rest, God is calling me to spend more time with Him.  He is preparing me, through increasing time in His word, for His divine plan.  I need to be ready, dressed in my whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).

We must stay open to God’s omniscient power. We must trust in His divine plan for us (Jeremiah 29:11).  While there is no evidence that King Ahasuerus had relationship with God, God still has relationship with all of us.  He is our creator, thereby ruler of our rest.  King Ahasuerus had no idea that his restlessness was determined by our all mighty God, but he still chose to rise up and do some reading.  How are we, servants to the Kingdom, and we are unwilling to disturb our rest to read God’s word?  God’s plan does include your restlessness.  Besides ultimate rest is in Him anyway (Matthew 11:28-30).

Let us move on to Haman.

Haman was so consumed with his own glorification that he was unable to see anything us.  I love when God works things out for His good (Romans 8:28).  Therefore, even in Haman’s behavior, God is communicating to us.  He is requiring us not to become consumed with our own pride. He wants us to focus on Him and not ourselves.  The deceitfulness of our own hearts appears in nothing more than in the conceit we have of ourselves and our own performances: against which we should constantly pray (Nelson 1997).

This brings us to Mordecai.

Mordecai remained humble throughout this entire experience.  Regardless to the happenings in his surroundings, his one true consistent behavior was to God.  He trusted God’s plan; without knowing the plan. Even after he received the acknowledgement of the King, he maintained his original position until God said different.  Mordecai was not puffed up with his honors, he returned to his place and duty (Nelson 1997).

We must stay focused on the Lord our God and keep His statutes (Psalm 119).  We must trust His plan for us.  We work every day and trust our bosses’ vision for the company, we engage in extracurricular activities and trust the leaders of those events, and we even follow the visions of our pastors and other leaders of the church.  This is all admirable because God calls us to come under the authority that He has placed over us (Romans 13:1). However, should we not submit to the ultimate authority, Christ Jesus, and trust His plan through that same submission?

God honors those who are faithful to His divine plan.  Honor is well bestowed on those that do not think themselves above their business (Nelson 1997). Besides, God’s outcome is always so much more glorious than we could ever orchestrate.

Application

This week we will carve out time with the Lord to seek His face concerning His plan for us.  In order to be sensitive to God’s plan for our lives, we must seek after Him.  We cannot aimlessly roam, driving our own ship with plans that we have devised through worldly exposure.  We need to seek God’s plan for us through Godly exposure.

We will focus on Acts 17:26-28, Lamentations 3:25-26, and Psalms 107:9.  I pray that in reading and studying these scriptures daily, God will reveal in us a spirit of trusting His divine plan.

Closing

Again, welcome to all our new readers and I pray that we all will have a blessed week!

Be blessed,

T. Carter

 

References

 

All scripture references were extracted from The Bible - New King James Version. BibleGateway.com (2013).

Nelson, Thomas (1997).  Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible.  Thomas Nelson Publishing.  Nashville, Tennessee

Lesson 5 : The Book of Esther - Sacrifice

Hello Ladies,

I hope that you have been enjoying the book of Esther and that you have gained biblical knowledge that is aiding you in your walk with Christ.  It is always my prayer that this blog is urging you to spend more time in the word of God and more time seeking relationship with God.  I have personally grown tremendously through studying, preparing, and seeking God in order to write lessons that will inspire and motivate us all to seek the Lord more (Jeremiah 29:13, Deuteronomy 4:29).

Last week we discussed endurance and what it takes to endure.  I find that enduring to the end is one of the most difficult requirements of the Christian walk.  I use to think that the difficulty was relative to the time period in which we live.  However, there are so many scriptures in the bible expressing the same struggles for others.  The extensive description of the Israelites and their lengthy journey to the Promise Land, both physically and spiritually, is a prime example of how necessary it is to endure.  Not to mention, poor Hosea who endured the antics of his wife, but stayed faithful in order to honor God.  We can all learn from these examples.

Enduring through the wilderness, like the Israelites, requires God.  Enduring through marital turmoil, like Hosea, requires God.  Enduring through possible genocide, like Esther and Mordecai, requires God.  We are incapable of surviving without the Glory of God (Matthew 19:26).   We need God!

This week we will discuss the importance of sacrifice.  To endure, we must sacrifice.  Sacrificial presence is dominant throughout the Christian walk.  God sacrificed His own son for our redemption.  We must be willing to sacrifice our comfort, ego, pride, wants, and even ourselves to honor the glory of God.

Resources

Chapter 5

1Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house. 2So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter. 3And the king said to her, “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!” 4So Esther answered, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.” 5Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, that he may do as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared. 6At the banquet of wine the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!” 7 Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and request is this:  8If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.” 9 So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai. 10Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king. 12Moreover Haman said, “Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king. 13Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” 14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet.” And the thing pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made.

SACRIFICE – endure the loss; the act of losing or surrendering something   

Lesson

In this portion of scripture, we find Esther using her position to acquire the attention of the King.  This is a dangerous act.  During this time period and specifically to King Ahasuerus, you were only to communicate with the King when he called for you.  You were not to initiate any interaction with the King without his request (Esther 4:11).

Chapter 5 immediately opens with Esther’s sacrifice. Queen Esther answers the challenge of Mordecai and chooses a course at terrible danger to herself for the sake of her oppressed people, the Jews (Mears 1999).  While most commentaries agree with Mears depiction of the events occurring in Chapter 5 of the Book f Esther, it would seem by the nature of the situation; Esther’s sacrificing began when she positioned herself to acquire the throne.  Every act after that was enduring the initial sacrifice.  This conclusion is deemed by the accounts of Esther not disclosing the knowledge of being a Jew through the selection process of becoming Queen.  It is assumed that this silence would have resolved in death just as engaging the King unwarranted. Nevertheless, the prominent point is the sacrifice, where it began is most pertinent with regards to endurance.

Consequently, sacrifice requires endurance.  Therefore, Esther was practicing sacrifice from the moment she began this journey. She surrendered her only known identity to save a nation of people, her people, God’s people, the Jews.  In addition to surrendering her identity, she could have lost her life. In more ways than one, Esther had placed herself in a situation that could result in death.  Not only was she attempting to acquire the King’s attention without his request, she was plotting against his most beloved officer.

Could you imagine?  We read these bible “stories” as if they are just that “stories”.  These are real accounts of how God requires us to operate.  I find it most intriguing that God orchestrated such extreme measures to communicate His expectations.  It is almost shameful that we are unwilling to sacrifice our comfort to minister to others when Esther is sacrificing her life!  How can we assist God in raising a nation of believers if we cannot make a simple sacrifice?  Esther was sacrificing her life!  He that will lose his life for God, shall save it, or find it in a better life (Nelson 1997).

We must sacrifice our old lives to acquire life in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:8, Philippians 1:21).  God is requiring our lives.  We must put away our earthly desires and acquire heavenly ones. 

I commonly consider my unwilling attitude towards surrendering my own wants.  It is so trivial to hold on to a slice of pie when you can have the whole pie in Christ Jesus.  We become so comfortable and enthralled in the one piece, that we lose sight of the possibilities of acquiring the whole pie.  God is able! Able to gift us with the whole pie and not just a slice. 

Let us from this be encouraged to pray always to our God, and not to faint (Nelson 1997).  We must endure through the sacrifice (Matthew 24:13).  

Application

We are called by God to be a living sacrifice, just as Esther (Romans 12:1)  God is requiring us to sacrifice every part of ourselves that does not align with His word and is not beneficial to His glory and His kingdom (Romans 12:2-5).  God is requiring more of us every day.  Therefore, we must sacrifice extra sleep time in the morning in order to have time with God.  We must sacrifice time to watch television, browse the internet, or talk on the phone.  We must make time to speak into our children, bless a fellow sister in Christ through ministry, spread the gospel to a co-worker, support a fatherless/motherless child, etc.  We are exposed and have privilege to many avenues of mass media.  We can use these mediums to amplify the word of God and not for our own pleasures and desires.  God is calling us to a higher level in Him (James 4:8).

This week, ask God to show you an area in your life where you feel you need to increase your level of sacrifice. Ask God to help you set at least five physical task that you can complete in regards to increasing your level of sacrifice in that area.  Find time to implement and execute those tasks.  Try to acquire inner peace in your sacrifice.  Seek the Lord for peace in your sacrifice. Focus on exhibiting a positive disposition while sacrificing (Philippians 2:5-8).  We must require more of ourselves in the area of serving Christ Jesus through sacrifice (Philippians 3:14).

I pray that you all will have a blessed week!

 

Be blessed,

T.Carter

References

All scripture references were extracted from The Bible - New King James Version. BibleGateway.com (2013).

Mears, Henrietta (1999).  What the Bible is All About. Regal Books Publishing.  Ventura, California

Nelson, Thomas (1997).  Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible.  Thomas Nelson Publishing.  Nashville, Tennessee.

Nelson, Thomas (1997).  The New Strong's Concise Concordance.  Thomas Nelson Publishing.  Nashville, Tennessee.