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.