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Questions for This Week's at Home Connect Groups Questions for this week’s at home Connect Groups September 2, 2020 “The Silence that Shouts: The Destruction of a Grudge”, Esther 5 First Lesson: Esther 5:9-14; 7:1-10 Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, 11 Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. 12 “And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. 13 But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.” 14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up. So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, 2 and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.” 3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. 4 For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.” 5 King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?” 6 Esther said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. 7 The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life. 1 8 Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?” As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9 Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.” The king said, “Impale him on it!” 10 So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided. Warm Up – What were some “aha!” moments (points or statements that really engaged your head or your heart) from Sunday’s sermon? 1. What are some of the ways people in our society—including ourselves—take revenge on those whom we feel have wronged us? Which ones are most common? Which are most damaging? Study the Scriptures – Esther 5 2. (5:9-14) In addition to a focus on grudges, one might also say there are a few lessons about dissatisfaction in these verses. What are they? In what way is dissatisfaction another form of bitterness or anger? 3. (5:9-14) Grudges can be toxic to the people around us. What are some of the catalysts that Satan uses to create divisive grudges in a congregation? What further destruction might result? 4. (6:1-4) In these verses, Esther desires justice for her people. We live in a very justice-obsessed world. Yet we also know that there is more to the story than justice alone. When should Christians join with the calls for justice, and when should Christians call for love and forgiveness? How can we strike a balance between them? 5. Why can Christians remain content even when so much injustice against them (and in the world in general) seems to continue unchecked? 2 6. (6:5-8) Was Esther within her right to remain silent and not come to Haman’s defense? What would you do if you were in her shoes? Why? 7. (6:9-10) Haman was ultimately destroyed through his own grudge. In Sunday’s sermon, we glanced at a few of the ways grudges can be destructive. What other damage have you witnessed in your life that resulted from anger and bitterness that went undealt with? Are there any types of “invisible” damage that you’ve never even considered before? 8. In addition to the three grudge lessons learned during Sundays’ sermon, what other lessons might we learn about holding grudges through the characters in these chapters? Or, perhaps, is there an element of those lessons which went unexplored? Bringing it Home 9. What were some instances in the life of Jesus in which people wronged him? How did Jesus handle each of those instances, and what can we learn from him? 10. A lot of times Christians want only to focus on God’s love. Meanwhile, non-Christians often focus on God’s justice and wrath. How do we show people that God is neither a pushover nor a monster? Why does a full understanding of his love and his justice actually make God so much more beautiful? 3 .
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