Esther 3-4 Why is Haman upset with Mordecai? Haman plots to have not just Mordecai killed, but all his people. And so he basically bribes the king to put a law in place that on a certain day, anyone can kill Israelites and take their stuff with no consequence. Mordecai informs Esther of their plight. How does Mordecai convince her to help? o Why might Esther be willing to NOT help? o When has God used YOU in an unexpected way?
Psalm 70-71 Psalm 70 is a prayer for help. Pray Psalm 71
Esther 5-6 Esther plans to have a series of banquets to make the king Esther 9-10 more pliable and to keep Haman from discovering her plot. What was going to be to their destruction became a day of o How do we see Haman’s pride active in chapter 5? vindication as the Jews triumphed over their enemies. In chapter 6 we see another turning point in the story as a How do the Jewish people celebrate and remember this story? dream keeps the king awake, and because of that he wants to honor Mordecai. Psalm 74 o The book of Esther is the only book of the Bible to not Why is the Psalmist frustrated in this Psalm? (What’s mention God… and yet, how do we see God at work in happened?) this story thus far? It’s interesting that the Psalmist teaches us to bring our frustration TO the Lord in prayer. In other words, it’s ok to tell Psalm 72 the Lord that you don’t understand, that you’re angry with Psalm 72 begins by praying for the king. How might we do a what’s happening, that you’re frustrated and confused? better job in praying FOR those who lead us? (Not just that o Can you think of a time in your life that this kind of they’ll do what we want, but that they will be wise and be prayer would be helpful? blessed?) What kinds of things does the Psalmist pray for the king?
Job 1-2 What do we learn about Job? What happens to Job? What does it say about good and evil that the devil has to ask Esther 7-8 permission from God to afflict Job? (Who is in charge of what Esther finally reveals herself to the King, and in so doing happens?) convicts Haman of trying to kill her. o This is a tough point, but this is in contrast to the view And then there’s a great reversal in the story that the Devil has almost equal power to God and o Haman is hanged we’re caught up in their cosmic battle. And it’s also in o Mordecai is promoted contrast to the view that God is the one doing the evil. o The Jews are saved o The Bible shows that God is good, and evil happens, and God can, and often does redeem that evil towards Psalm 73 good. What almost gets the Psalmist in trouble? What does this o Of course, this isn’t always as comforting when we’re psalm warn against? going through a hard time. o According to these first two chapters, how should we act when we go through trials? Psalm 75-76 What are you thankful for today? In Psalm 76, what does the Psalmist say about God?