Overview
By Brittenne Boykin
Scripture Lesson Text: Esther 3:2-3, 5-6a, 4:7-16
This week’s lesson opens with one of the most epic accounts in scripture! We see an interaction between Esther’s uncle Mordecai and Haman, the king’s official. Mordecai failed to acknowledge or reverence Haman as was decreed by the king. (3:2), which proved to be the catalyst for Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews. He approached the King advising him that Mordecai had blatantly disobeyed his decree, making Haman incensed he thought to hurt Mordecai.(Vs.6).
Mordecai, knowing of the threat, sent the decree that was given to show to Esther. Mordecai charged Esther to go in to the king in order that she might earnestly petition on behalf of her people. (4:8). Esther reminded Mordecai’s servant that no one can just go in to see the king unless he specifically calls for you. To come before the king without an invitation would surely mean death. (Vs.4:11). When this was told Mordecai sent word to Esther that God would indeed deliver the Jews but her and her father’s house would be destroyed. (Vs:4:14) Esther responds with a call to action. She instructs the Jews to fast, neither eat nor drink for 3 days and nights for her along with her maids. She would indeed go before the king. Esther declared that if she would perish she would perish! (4:16).
Related Scriptures
By Deborah Hillman
Related Scriptures: Esther 1: 1 – 3:1; 3:7- 4:6; Genesis 12: 1-3; Daniel 3: 14 – 28
Esther 1:1 – 3:1; 3:7 – 4:6 tells us of the story of Esther , the beautiful Jewish wife of the Persian king Ahasuerus ( Xerxes I), and her cousin Mordecai. They were to try to persuade the king to retract an order for the general annihilation of Jews throughout the empire. Esther was prepared to die to save her people from Haman’s plot of destruction. These beginning chapters in the book of Esther show two determined people who made right decisions.
Genesis 12: 1-3 speaks of the first fathers of the Bible, one in particular is Abram who was later called Abraham. The Lord God told Abram to leave his country with his family, relatives and his father’s family to go to a land that God had specifically told him to go. God would make Abram the father of a great nation, and that he would be blessed, and made a blessing to the descendants . Abram was being called to leave his pagan culture in order to commit himself to the Lord.
Daniel 3: 14-28 shows us the faith that believers in Christ Jesus must have in order to stand in the face of adversity. There were three men Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego that refused to worship or bow down to false gods or images as ordered by King Nebuchadnezzar. They were thrown in a den of fire and when the King asked his counselors the status of the men, they were found walking around with not one inch of anything on their bodies burned, and they were amazed. Also another image that they recognized was also walking; “and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” (vs. 25). The King acknowledged their faith and their God,
Practical Application
By Raufu Spagnoletta
1) Even for someone in a position of great favor and influence, it can be risky to step out on the behalf of others.
We put on the mind of Christ when we are willing to sacrifice position and privilege for the sake of others: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” ( Philippians 2:5-8).
2) Seeking the less dangerous course of action often provides no safety; God sometimes puts us in the place of risk.
It has been said, “A faith that can’t be tested, can’t be trusted.” God will put us in the place of risk to test and strengthen our faith, to perfect our love, to develop our trust, to receive His sufficient grace, to experience His mighty power and to give us a personal testimony of His faithfulness. Therefore, let us declare as Job, “But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (NKJV/Job 23:10-12).
