Study Notes From Esther Chapter 5

Once a week, women from my home church gather for a Bible study. At this time, we are going through the book of Esther. These are the notes for the lesson in Chapter 5. Susan Estes

Esther Chapter 5

5:1, The Jews, at Esther’s request, have been fasting 3 days. (Daniel 10:3). Jesus said that when we fast we do not make it visible and He will see our faith and reward us, (Matthew 6:16-18.) Conceivably, Esther is still fasting, yet she is bathed and dressed in the royal apparel of Queen of the Medes and the Persians. More importantly, through fasting, she ‘washed’ and dressed herself in her faith in Almighty God.

Esther’s entrance is beautiful example of our cleansing by Jesus’ blood and our entrance into God’s Holy Throne room dressed in Jesus’ righteousness? Esther obtained her apparel when she became the bride to the king. All believers obtain glorious apparel when we become the Bride of Christ. (Isaiah 61:10)

5:2, Esther can’t see the future but her faith in action is entering Xerxes court knowing she could die. Trusting God is answering her prayers, she presents herself to Xerxes. Earlier Vashti refused to come wearing the Queenly raiment. Today Esther prepares herself in her royal clothing and presents herself for his inspection. Her care honors his throne, and for whatever reason, he approves.

We dress in royal robes of holiness and daily present ourselves to our King. But unlike Esther’s danger, our King’s throne room is always open to enter with boldness, joy, gladness and praise. (Psalm 100, Hebrews 4:16, 10:19,13:6, Ephesians 3:12). And God approves. He has betrothed us to Himself through our faith. (Ephesians 2:9-10) Hosea 2:19)

5:3, This verse shows God’s sovereignty at work in the faith of His people. Evil is visibly amassing against the Jews while God is moving unseen on their behalf. (Proverbs 21:1) It is conceivable for Xerxes to sign half the kingdom to her control. Historical documentation records women of Persian royalty owned and manage property.

5:4-8, (Proverbs 31:10-12) Knowing the king has the power to kill her even now, her approach is calculated to appeal to his pleasures. (Xerxes is known for his drinking parties. J. Vernon McGee). She does not know what will happen, yet she prepares for God’s future answer. The banquet is not to deceive, but Esther utilizes it to appeal to Xerxes baser nature, which appears to rule much of his decisions.

Inviting Haman is strategic, her invitation deadens any suspicions he could have, plus Xerxes will have the one person who flatters him as his Queen serves him. Esther utilizes the weakness of her king and Haman’s megalomania to facilitate male bonding around food.

5:9-11, Haman thrives on his own self-esteem. When Mordecai still doesn’t bow, Haman cannot even take pleasure knowing he has ordered Mordecai and the Jews killed. Maybe he thought Mordecai would be begging for his life. Haman has no concept of faith in the true and living God.

“For pride is spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense.” C.S. Lewis , Mere Christianity

God, the Holy Spirit, gives the extraordinary supernatural gift of faith to those who are facing serious consequences, (1 Corinthians 12:9). Those tortured and murdered for being Christian in the past, and present, are supplied this amazing gift to endure horrendous physical acts against them. Mordecai is sure of his God. (2 Corinthians 5:1)

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego are three men who stood in the power of God without bowing to idolatry, Daniel 3:12.

“Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection” Hebrews 11:35b

God says to ask for His supernatural grace and He promises to supply all we need, when we need it. For all that He does in and through us, His body, the church, will bring beautiful glory to Him, (1 Corinthians 12:31, 14:1).

5:12-14, Haman’s hatred is driven by pride and it’s lethal. Xerxes is a fool and Haman is a servant in power.

“For three things the earth is perturbed, Yes, for four it cannot bear up: For a servant when he reigns, A fool when he is filled with food” Proverbs 30:22a.

“A quick tempered man acts foolishly, and a man of wicked intentions is hated” Proverbs 14:17.

5:14, And the thing pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made. Haman has no idea that there is a real, powerful, and living God, who does move on behalf of His people.

The very essence of secularism is the thesis that the here and now is all there is. There is no realm of the eternal. But as Christians, we are called to consider the present in light of the eternal. This is what Jesus preached again and again. What does it profit a man if in this time and in this place he gains the whole world, but he loses his own soul (Luke 9:25)? —Dr. R.C. Sproul, Founder & Chairman of Ligonier Ministries, and author of Crucial Questions

The world is full of false gods, and those who believe in them suffer blindness to the fact their gods never answer or move one way or the other. They base their ‘faith’ on favorable or unfavorable circumstantial acts that happen to them. (Horoscope, Karma, Luck, The stars, Chance, The lottery)

We have the Almighty GOD as our GOD. He really is HOLY GOD. Let us get to know Him in a truly personal way that transcends this earth. For this earth is passing away. Our GOD is Everlasting.

Lesson points:

1. Prayer is a real connection between us and Almighty God

2. Believe God at His Word. (Hebrews 4:12) Read it to know it

3. Daily ask God to empower you for His service. (2 Corinthians 4:6,7)

4. Get to know your God.

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A Good Commentary or The Bible?

Do you need to read commentaries when you read the Bible? Do you spend your devotional and study time reading other people's writings more than the Bible?

While there are many great books written by godly men and women, those writings are not God inspired nor are they alive with Godly power the way the Bible is. (2 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 4:12)

If you enjoy books about the Bible more than enjoying reading the Bible for yourself, you're missing out on the voice of God speaking to you. You're missing out on God directly teaching you.

God has placed His power in His word. Knowledge and understanding are found in the Bible. Knowledge and understanding of war and peace, of life and death, of honesty and deceitfulness, of working and laziness, of money and spending, of having and giving, of marriage and parenting, of learning and practical wisdom, of God's miracles and false testimonies, of truth and heresy, of love and blasphemy.

And the Bible instructs us of Jesus' grace, love, compassion and mercy. Of Jesus' justice and wrath.

It teaches to see where Satan works his evil and where he is delivering murder and destruction to the world he hates.

All this wisdom is found between Genesis 1:1 and Revelation 22:21.

Brothers and sisters, read the Bible more today than ever before.

"But Jesus answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God' Matthew 4:4.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" John 1:1-4.

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" John 1:14.

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The Continuity of The Bible

The theme in Psalm 136, 137 & 138 is God's enduring Mercy and it repeats through these three songs.

I am so amazed at how God designed the Bible, (For I believe the Bible is all God's doing from cover to cover in any language) and I am constantly amazed how certain books and passages line up.

Psalm 136 seems boring with its repetition but when reading it as listening to a leader speaking and then a crowd giving the echo, I imagine God smiling. It is a great song of praise and worship.

Then psalm 137 follows and leaves the wonderment of why so sad a follow-up? It recounts the horror of Israel's captivity in Babylon. The atrocious treatment at the hands of their captors.

But because the sadness of 137 follows immediately after 136, I return to the refrain "For His mercy endures forever" (or as it actually reads "For His mercy forever!) You can't help but recall the mercy of God. People are seldom merciful, but God never changes. His mercy endures forever.

The life of a person on earth is so short as to never even cause a blip on the eternal. Yes, the captivity was horrible, but God's people have the remembrance of God's everlasting mercy. The Rock of Salvation, A Mighty Fortress.

And Psalm 138, a song of David placed seemingly out of context, for David wrote it long before the Babylonian captivity. Yet reading 136, 137. & 138 altogether, the song continues and completes.

For David is the author of the chorus of 136 as he writes 138:8b: "Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever"

How awesome to have thee three Psalms lined up to be read as one song, with a common chorus.

"Your mercy, O LORD, forever"

Amen

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