Bible Study Esther 5:1-8

Time to Reflect 1. Has God used you for “such a time as this” in someone’s life? 2. Is there someone in your life who needs your mercy (forgiveness)?

Last week we considered the epic story of Samson and reflected on his strengths and weaknesses, his success and failings, and how he, unknowingly, fell away from his relationship with God. We were ultimately challenged to be steadfast in our faithfulness and remain attentive to His calling on our lives.

This week our story is no less epic. It is set in the time of the Persian empire and the book is named aptly after the heroine and “star” of the story, a young Jewish girl named Hadassah who was taken from her guardian, , and forced to compete for the affection of the king. This unlikely contestant for a beauty pageant was crowned queen of Persia and renamed Esther, meaning “star.” Her character qualities and values would stand by her throughout: trust, obedience and loyalty, intelligence and courageousness, sweet spirit and charm, inward and outward beauty.

Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for the future only He can see. Corrie Ten Boom

• The story is set during the first half of the reign of King Xerxes when the first remnant of Jews, who had returned to Judah, were struggling to re-establish temple worship according to the Law of Moses. But Esther and Mordecai, along with many other Jews, had chosen not to make the trek back to Judah. They seemed content to stay in , the royal residence of the Persian empire, in which the story is set. • The story begins when King Xerxes gives a grand banquet at his capital, Susa, but his queen, , refuses to attend. On advice from his advisors, the king swiftly puts her aside and a search is made for a beautiful young woman to take Vashti’s place. • Young women from all over the country were brought to the king’s harem. Following 12 months of preparation and beauty treatments, the young women were paraded before the king and one was chosen to be the new queen. It’s a reminder that Christians also have an appointment with their King - so now is the time to prepare! • Esther, a young Jewish woman, wins the competition and becomes queen. Esther is an orphan, who was adopted and brought up by her cousin, Mordecai. She was always obedient to him and she did not reveal her Jewish nationality and family background as he told her not to do so. • Esther’s life changed beyond all recognition being queen, and was now very privileged, but that brought responsibility. But something didn’t change, the presence of Mordecai. He was always there, no matter what, just as God is always there no matter what. • Mordecai worked in an administrative position for the King. He learns of a plot against the king and tells Esther, who then tells the king what Mordecai had found out. Following an investigation, the king has the two plotters hanged and has it noted in the official records. • In the meantime, Mordecai makes an enemy of the king’s chancellor, , who conspires to eliminate all the Jews in the empire. He persuades the king to decree death to “a certain people” who keep their own laws. • The king’s proclamation to kill all Jews, young and old, men, women and children, is written and circulated to every province of the empire. The Jews were to be slaughtered without mercy and their belongings to be taken. • Mordecai learns of this conspiracy. He dresses in sackcloth and covered his head with ashes. Sackcloth and ashes were used as a public sign of repentance and humility before God. The Jews across the empire do the same and also fast. • Esther, through her servants, heard about Mordecai and she sent one of them to find out what was troubling Mordecai. The servant told Esther of Haman’ plan to kill all the Jews and that Mordecai had requested Esther’s help – for her to go before the king and beg for mercy and plead with him for her people. • Esther was in a predicament. No-one, even the queen, could not go before the king without being summoned, otherwise you would be put to death. The only exception for this is for the king to extend his gold sceptre to him and spare his life. And the king hadn’t asked for her presence in over 30 days!

• Her servant told this to Mordecai who sent a reply to Esther - “If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”. • Sarah Christmyer reminds us: That’s true of every one of us who belong to God. We are … born ‘for such a time as this.’ … From where we sit, ‘this’ might look like a palace or the inside of a harem or a drab place of exile. Born for ‘this’ doesn’t mean ‘this’ is our ultimate end. It means we’re uniquely positioned with our particular gifts, experiences, abilities, and limitations to do something further God’s kingdom here - in this place, at this time, and among these people.” • Mordecai’s words reflected his faith that God is the great Promise Keeper and that God would honour His eternal covenant with Abraham and David. And Mordecai believed that God had selected Esther for a particular purpose, at a particular time. • Accepting that she could die, Esther finds courage from within to stand up for what she believes is right and sends word to Mordecai that she will approach the king in 3 days’ time. Her deep-rooted faith in God shines through at this point as she asks for all the Jews in Susa to fast for her for the 3 days, as she and her servants would also do. • Esther approaches the king; she is hoping for more than justice. According to Persian law, to come into the presence of the king unbidden was a crime punishable by death. That was justice! What Esther sought, however, was mercy and fortunately the king had the right to grant it. Bestowing upon her the protection of his golden sceptre, King Xerxes granted her the privilege of standing in his presence without fear of execution. As Christians, we have received this same kind of mercy from God. • The king wishes to grant Esther whatever she wants. Esther invites the king and Haman to a banquet which they both attend. Haman is ecstatic but, on his way home, bumped into Mordecai (whom he hated) which quickly took away his elation. • Haman went home in bad form and although he boasted to his wife and his friends of the invitation to the queen’s banquet, he also told them of his dissatisfaction of seeing Mordecai. Their response was to encourage Haman to have enormous gallows built and to have Mordecai hanged on it. • That night the king could not sleep. He had his book of chronicles (his diaries) brought to him, and he read of the account of how Mordecai had saved his life. The king realises that he had not thanked Mordecai and the following day, the king instructs Haman to take one of his royal robes for Mordecai to wear and to lead him throughout the city riding one of the king’s own royal horses. Haman does as he is ordered but is completely devasted! • Haman is now running late for the 2nd banquet! And it is at this banquet that Esther reveals to the king that she, the queen, is under threat of death from the king’s own decree, and that it is Haman’s doing. Horrified, the king orders Haman to be hanged on the very gallows he has set up for the Mordecai. • King Xerces gives Queen Esther Haman’s estate and Mordecai is brought to the king. Esther begs with the king to put an end to Haman’s plan to kill all the Jews, but King Xerces reveals that he can’t revoke a royal proclamation with his seal on it. • He did, however, give Esther and Mordecai permission to write whatever they wanted to the Jews, in his name, through the 127 provinces of Persia. The letters were written, stamped with the royal seal and delivered. The letters explained that the king would allow the Jews in every city to organise for self- defence. In effect, they are given licence to take revenge on their enemies in the empire. • When the time came and the Jews were attacked throughout the empire, the Jews acted in self-defence … and won. Esther and Mordecai saved their nation. Mordecai is promoted to second in rank to the King of Persia, working for the good and welfare of his people. • Queen Esther established the Feast of which is still celebrated by Jews today and commemorates the Jews deliverance from Haman’s plot. • It is often said that Esther is the only book in the not to mention the name of God. But the fact that God is not mentioned in the is not to say that God was absent. Although unseen, God’s sovereignty, faithfulness and presence permeates much of the story, and it is as though He were behind the scenes coordinating “coincidences” and circumstances to make His will happen.

Life Application • Life can be hard. Difficult times happen and pain cannot be avoided. But God’s promise is to empower us to live courageously as we look to Him. Our look at Esther hopefully will help strengthen our faith and help us stand firm when tough times come. • Be encouraged that God is always present even though we may not feel his presence. Jesus calls us “friends” (John 15:15), and the Spirit is our “Helper” (John 14:26) . • Trust and obey, as Esther did - and watch God silently weave all events for His glory . . . and for our good.