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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Esther Chapter 3

Study notes from Esther Chapter 3 (theme verse Malachi 3:16)

Quote--“Everything that is not God serves a purpose higher than itself. Nothing is to be justified as “an end in itself” or “for its own sake.” John Piper

Esther parallels many Proverbs and this one fits Xerxes and Haman, “If a ruler pays attention to lies, all his servants become wicked” Proverbs 29:12.

3:1-2, Xerxes promotes Haman, an Agagite,(1 Samuel 15:1-9), to Prime Minister. Chapter 2 concluded with Mordechai the Jew unrecognized for saving the king’s life, yet chapter 3 opens with the promotion of an enemy of the Jews. *Bible commentators agree Haman’s plan to annihilate the Jews was maybe a plot of Satan’s to stop the birth of Jesus.

(2:21-23) Mordecai never demanded recognition. Sometimes a good work will go unnoticed.

3:2, Xerxes again shows his lackadaisical governing by giving special treatment to Haman, whom he has not properly vetted. Everyone must to bow when Haman walks by, not because he is royalty, but by law. It sounds like a lobbyist’s addition to a government bill. A last minute tacked on codicil, “I promote Haman, the Agagite to Prime Minister, um, oh yeah, and everyone must bow to him.

3:2, Mordechai is a part of Xerxes court (2:21), a good social position. Compliance to the order was the easy way to go. The small compromise was the simple route, but he chose to expose his Jewishness by not bowing to Haman. Christians may find they easily compromise the simpler things but that should never be.

(2:10) Esther hid her heritage, yet changed the atmosphere around her. Mordecai was open of his faith, and changed the atmosphere around him. Each made a beautiful statement for God. Witnessing has no pattern. God designed many members in the church body preforming differently and each empowered by the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 4:1-15)

When rules are enacted against Christian values, people watch to see if Christians will stand on their faith or compromise under their threats. (1 Peter 3:15-17) The simple act of Christian public prayer is often attacked. 3:3-7,

The palace social order watched Mordecai’s rebellion with interest. When Haman failed to notice, they told him to see his reaction. (Proverbs 27:4) By his uncompromised stand, Mordecai exposed Haman’s darkness. (Ephesians 5:26)

Jesus said(to us) “You are the  light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” Matthew 5:16.

#Haman’s problem was his own character and Mordecai was exposing it by not saying a word.

Mordecai and Haman bookend this Proverb, “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.” Proverbs 28:6. Haman held a precarious social position in a weak kingdom destined to fall in a few years. Mordecai had power from Almighty God’s eternal kingdom.

Jesus tells us, “He who does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it” Matthew 10:38,39. This was Mordecai’s witness. Mordecai’s love for God was stronger than life on earth. Mordecai’s faith in eternal life through God was greater than the threat of death by an Agagite at the order of a Persian king. (1 Peter 5:8)

3:6-11. Haman has no respect for his king. By planning to commit genocide before addressing the king, he has elevated himself to the level of the king. Haman doesn’t sit on the throne of Persia. The Jews are not in his power to exalt or destroy, yet he has everything in place before he approaches the king with a half-truth. A half-truth is still a lie. And he used flattery of promised wealth and power to persuade Xerxes, thus proving Proverbs 26:23)

Satan also attempted to exalt himself above his King? Isaiah 14:12-15

3:9,10, Haman’s proposal is similar to what many societies are doing to Christians around the world by enacting laws to annihilate us. Like King Xerxes, many Governing officials do not understand the horrible wrong those laws do to their own positions. If groups or cultures could erase Christianity, nations would lapse into complete chaos. (2 Thessalonians 2)

3:12, In the approved document, it seems Hebrew is the only excluded language. For the Jews scattered throughout the Persian Empire, this must have been a frightening thing to read. They have no clue why Xerxes has ordered them killed. They have months of oppression, waiting to be attacked in their own homes. Maybe some lost their jobs, others might have fled their cities, hoping to escape.

3:14,15. When the document was posted in the capital, the ordinary person was astonished. Because Mordecai’s action took place in the palace, (3:2), Haman’s hatred maybe hadn’t been generally publicized. So seeing the decree without cause would be very unsettling not only for the Jews but for everyone.

*"The edict bewildered the people in the city of Susa (Shushan) Apparently such a decree had never before come from the royal court. Haman’s bloodthirstiness, along with Xerxes seeming indifference to such atrocities was incredible even to a sophisticated society which was used to cruel behavior. Perhaps other minority populations wondered if they would be next to be annihilated". (Bible Knowledge Commentary, pg 706)

3:8, & 15, Haman lied to the king about why the Jews should be killed. (again Prov. 26:23). For Haman the less the king knew the better. For if such a paltry matter were revealed, the death penalty might be more an embarrassment to Xerxes. As it was, the city couldn’t figure out the king’s unreasonable order.

3:15 Ch 1 the king made a law while drunk. Now with the decree in place, Haman and Xerxes sat down to drink. What a shame to the kingdom. (Prov. 31:4,5) “Like a roaring lion and a charging bear is a wicked ruler over poor people” Proverbs 28:15. Xerxes and Haman, Weak and wicked.

Lesson points:

1. Your good works may never be rewarded in your life on earth

2. Sometimes we need to be a silent witness for God like Esther, sometimes we need to be an open witness for God like Mordecai. (Matthew 10:38,39)

3. Know the enemy; take special interest in how he works. (1 Peter5:8)

4. It takes knowledge and faith to hold on when everything seems lost.

Extra reading: Mordechai’s faith and witness examples for us found throughout the Scriptures. Holiness to God amidst unholy unbelief needs faith that God will keep His promises. Mordecai showed what a man ‘standing in the gap’ can do for his family and his nation. Ezekiel 22:30., Hebrews 11:25,26., Daniel1:8, 6:10., Psalm 18:39., Joshua 1:9., Jeremiah 1:18,19., John 17:16., Matthew 28:18-20., Acts 1:8., Romans 12:21., 2 Corinthians 5:7., Ephesians 6:10-18., Philippians 1:6, 3:20., 4:4-9,. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24.

*Historical information from Bible Knowledge Commentary & Commentary, study notes of J. Vernon McGee

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When the Majority Was Wrong (Numbers 13)

"Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said 'Let us go up at once and take possession for we are well able to overcome it.' But the men who had gone up with him said, 'We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we" Numbers 13:30 & 31.

Two men believed God when He said He would bring them into the promised land.

A million others saw giants and believed they were bigger than God.

Because the greater number failed to trust God, the entire group was denied access to the best blessings of God.

What a terrible thing when Caleb and Joshua were forced to go along with the majority when the majority was wrong.

Happens today doesn't it. Christians are forced into social corners when the majority of unbelievers create laws with the purpose of disobeying God.

Even worse, in the church,when one or two people propose an exciting evangelistic ministry and the majority of a congregation fail to believe God can do a mighty work among them to bring the lost to salvation.

The promised of salvation is there, yet many see the worldly obstacles instead of Almighty God's desire to save the lost.

"And when those who heard it said, "Who then can be saved?" But He (Jesus) said, 'The things which are impossible with man are possible with God" Luke 18:27.

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