A Morning Cup of Tea: A Study of Esther, Part 6

Purim

  Please read Esther chapters 8-10. If you missed the other parts of this study, part one is here.

Part 2 is here 

Part 3 

part 4 

and Part 5 

  After Esther reveals that she is a Jew, and that Haman has sought to kill Mordecai her uncle and adopted father and also to destroy all Jews, which would include herself, Haman is hanged on the very gallows he had built for Mordecai.

   Esther is given rule over the house of Haman, and Mordecai is promoted. Esther reminds the king that even though Haman is now dead, the Jews are still in danger. Ahasuerus tells them that the word coming from the king cannot be broken by anyone, not even himself. But in his name, they could write another command. The king gave Mordecai his ring and sent for the scribes. They wrote out a message to the Jews in all 127 provinces, telling them to fight against those who would try to take their lives.

   On the appointed day, the Jews gathered together in their cities and battled. In Shushan 500 of those who sought to see the Jews slaughtered were killed and Haman's ten sons were hanged. The Jews were safe and Mordecai, being second to the king's command, instituted a day of joy and feasting for the Jews. Their sorrow at the thought of being destroyed had been turned to joy. Because Haman had cast pur, or lots, to to decide on what day the Jews would die, the feast day became known as Purim.

    

A Morning Cup of Tea: A Study of Esther Part 5

Good afternoon! While we were late getting to worship, we were there this morning. I don't know about you, but my day, my week even, goes so much better when I'm able to connect face to face with my sisters and brothers in Christ. 
            Because Sundays are filled with family and worship, this one really will be tried and true. Today we are focusing on chapter 7 of Esther. Ahasuerus and Haman are attending the second feast that Esther has prepared for them. The king once again asks Esther what is it her heart desires, and he is prepared to give her anything, up to half his kingdom. She asks for her life, and those of her people, to be spared. She told the king that someone had decided to kill them. When Ahasuerus asks who would do this, Esther points to Haman.
  The king, understandably, is furious. The whole story probably came out during this. The king leaves the feast and goes out into the garden, I'm assuming to calm down so he doesn't take Haman's life right then and there.  Haman realizes the situation he's in so he takes after Esther to plead for his life. But the king sees Haman on the Queen's bed and assumes Haman is trying to force himself on her. It is revealed that Haman had built a gallows in which to hang Mordecai. In a case of letting the punishment fit the crime, Haman is hanged on his own gallows.
    We will finish up the book of Esther in the next day or so, but I love Esther's story so much. God is able to use each of us, whether we are a young orphan girl turned queen or a mother of a young adult with autism, or the bride of a preacher, or any other role you find yourself in. Esther was timid at first, but she had much faith.  

 

A Mornin Cup of Tea: A Study of Esther part 4

The Plan

This is a small study of the book of Esther. If you would like to catch up you can find part one here, 

part 2 here 

and part 3 here.

Today we are reading chapters 5 and 6. My notes from this one may seem hurried or short and sweet because my J Man is wide awake and very vocal. He's had a quick breakfast of pizza eggs (2 eggs scrambled with three pepperonis that have been julienned and a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese) and he is very happy.

  

Esther and her maids, along with the Jews in Shushan, have fasted and prayed for three days. On the third day Esther dressed in her royal clothes and went to see king Ahasuerus. He sees her waiting and points his golden scepter at her. Because of his love for her, he asks her request and tells her she can have anything she wants, up to half of his kingdom. "If it pleases the king, then you and Haman come to a feast I've made for you today," was her reply. So simple. The king accepts. The two have a fine old time at the feast and Ahasuerus asks again, what is your request? Ask for up to half the kingdom and it will be given to you. Once again, Esther simply asks that they both come to a feast for them that she will prepare tomorrow. They accept.

    On the way home Haman is pleased with himself. He got to dine with the king and the queen by special request and he gets to do it again tomorrow! Nothing can take away his happiness. That is, until he catches sight of Mordecai sitting at the gate. Mordecai did not so much as stand up when Haman came by, much less bow to him. There goes that happy mood he was in. And it's all Mordecai's fault. 

 Now, stop for a moment. Do you ever catch yourself doing that? I was having a great day but so and so did something to ruin it. Or this happened and there went my day. I've done that a time or two. And all I can think now is :really? you're going to allow someone else or a bump in the road take away your joy? Most of the time those things that suddenly turn our blue skies gray aren't worth even the time it takes to growl and stomp and fume. It may seem like it at the time, but most times, once we look back at it, it's not really worth even a frown. Don't give anyone or anything power to rule your emotions for you. 

   True joy isn't being deliriously happy 24/7. I don't think anyone would ever feel like that. Joy should be in our hearts when we know that our lives belong to the One True God. We put our hopes and our fears in his hands. If you are a Christian, you know that setbacks on this earth are temporary, in the long run. If we hear the word, believe, repent, are baptized, and strive to live the way God wants us, we get everlasting life with him in heaven. Yes, our hearts are going to be broken a time or two or even more here on earth. It's okay to grieve for those. In Haman's case, however, just the sight of a man who refused to bow before him gave him cause to frown.

  The king could not sleep that night so he called for someone to read to him from the book chronicling all that happened during his reign. It was from this reading that Ahasuerus was reminded that Mordecai had once saved his life by reporting of the two chamberlains who meant to harm him. As it happened, Haman was wishing to see him. The king called him in and asked his opinion of how to reward a man in such high favor. 

  Now, you know this put a huge silly grin on Haman's face! Remember, Haman has a huge ego because of his position. So he tells the king, send him royal clothes by way of one of the highest princes. Let him ride through town wearing the royal clothes on a royal horse, and let him wear the royal crown.  The king agrees to this --and then says to Haman, You take the clothes and the horse and the crown to Mordecai the Jew --and that grin freezes. Maybe even dims a little bit.  He did as the king asked though, because you just don't disobey the king's command. And it galled him so much to help Mordecai dress up and parade him through the area showing this high honor, he went home afterward in mourning, with his head covered. Translation? He pouted! He doesn't really want to do anything other than stay home and sulk for a bit, but he has another feast to attend with the king and queen. 

  I hope you are enjoying the study of Esther as much as I am.         

 

A Morning Cup of Tea: A Study of Esther, Part 3

Enter Haman

 Please read chapters 3 and 4 of Esther.

Yesterday we read that the king loved Esther above all the others and crowned her queen. The king gave a large feast and gave gifts to many. 

  It was during this time that Mordecai sat at the city gate. He heard two chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, who were angry and were looking to harm the king. Mordecai got word to Esther, who let the king know, and the two were put to death. The king knew that Mordecai was the one who saved his life.

  Sometime after, Haman was promoted to a high position in the kingdom. A decree was given that everyone would bow to Haman because of his position, and everyone followed it. That is, everyone except Mordecai. It came to Haman's attention that he would not bow, and the fact that Mordecai was a Jew.

  Position sometimes inflates the ego, or in a phrase from back in the day (and yes, I'm probably dating myself with this) Haman got the big head. He wasn't about to let this pass. No way. Haman went to the king and told him that there was a group of people in the kingdom that don't follow the king's commands. They are different from everyone else. It's not good for the king to let these people live.  I'll pay ten thousand talents of silver to the kings treasuries if you'll let me kill them.

  King Ahasuerus thought this was a good idea, and a decree was sent out. On a certain day, all Jews, young and old, male and female, would die. This sent everyone into mourning, including Mordecai. He ripped his clothes and dressed in sackcloth and ashes and set himself up at the city gate, wailing and crying.

   Word of Mordecai's mourning came to Esther. She sent clothes to him and asked that he remove the sackcloth and ashes, because no one was allowed inside the gate unless properly dressed. Mordecai refused the clothing. He sent word to Esther news of the decree and asked that she intercede to the king.

   It had been a few years since she had be crowned queen, and she still had not revealed her heritage. Because of all the favors she had garnered, she was probably fairly well settled in her lifestyle. Or maybe she was just hesitant to risk the wrath of the king. No one, not even the queen was allowed in the court without a summons from the king. If you did show up unannounced, you were most certainly put to death unless the king held out his scepter to you. Esther reminded Mordecai of this fact.

   Cousin Mordecai sent back word: Don't think that just because you now live at the palace as queen that you will be spared once it's known that you too are a Jew. Don't be selfish. What if this is the very reason you became queen, so that you could prevent this slaughter?

   Esther's words to Mordecai show her true strength of character. Tell everyone to pray for me, and to fast, night and day, for three days. Don't eat or drink anything. My maids and I will do the same thing. Then I will go see the king. If I perish, then I perish.

   That's a pretty heavy responsibility, knowing that the lives of so many people rest on your shoulders. But Esther, though hesitant at first, is willing to try and save her people. She knows that prayer and fasting will give her strength. She's trusting God to see her through this. I think that's one of the reasons why I like the book of Esther so much. She shows such strength even though her first thought is to shy away from trying. 

  I love hearing your thoughts on this.          

A Morning Cup of Tea: A Study of Esther part 2

This morning as I was reading chapter two of Esther (in the car on the way to run errands) I began wondering how Hadassah--Esther-- must feel. An orphan, she was taken into her cousin Mordecai's home to be raised. Still at a young age (I'm not sure how old she would be at this time) she is taken to live at the palace in the women's quarters, as part of the search for the new queen. The bible tells us she is very beautiful, and because of her beauty (I'm guessing her beauty included her attitude and temperament as well) she gained the favor of the chamberlain. She was given the best area of the house, seven maids, and along with all the other young women, oils of myrrh and sweet fragrances during their twelve month stay and purification.    Mordecai has not left her alone. He works in the area and checks on her every day. 
  Esther has been told by Mordecai not to reveal that she is a Jew, and she hasn't. I wonder if she ate things and did things that went against her faith, or did she find a way to circumvent that without raising suspicion? We know in later chapters that she was a very intelligent and resourceful woman. The bible does not say one way or the other so my thoughts are purely speculation on that point.
  At the end of twelve months, each of the girls were to spend a night with the king, and would afterward go to live in the concubine's house, never to see the king again unless he specifically called for her. Esther found much favor with King Ahasuerus. He loved her above all others and made her queen. Even after being made queen, she kept her heritage a secret, as Mordecai asked her to.
   Tomorrow we will look more at Esther. I love reading your comments, even when I don't reply. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on Esther.   

A Morning Cup of Tea: A Study of Esther

When I first began this blog, one thing I wanted to do was to keep track of my bible study. Sadly, I let it fall away for the longest time. I tried bible study on my own, but each time I'd end up stopping for some reason or another. Knowing that I would be writing my notes here on the blog each day kept me accountable. It worked for me, so I'm bringing it back.
  Last week my family went to the funeral of a dear lady. She was a good Christian woman, and one thing that was said about her, among many, is that she knew her bible well. She'd start in the beginning, read it from cover to cover, and start over again. She kept the word of God in her heart, and quite obviously fresh on her mind each day. She lived by the Word. 
  To me, she was the epitome of southern hospitality. I didn't know her as well as my husband did --she moved to be closer to family shortly after we married--but she welcomed guests into her home, fed them, and talked with them for long periods of time. And of course, she loved to talk scripture. It poured from her. There is another like her. My mother in law. But I'm getting off track here. 
     Today I began to read the book of Esther. The first chapter deals with king Ahasuerus. The very first verse says he ruled over 127 provinces, from India to Ethiopia. That's quite a spread! In the third year of his reign, Ahasuerus decided to throw this elaborate banquet for the nobles. They partied for several days with lots of food and wine. Vashti, the queen, had her own party in the royal house for the women. They spared no expense on all this. 
  Vashti was a beautiful woman, and Ahasuerus knew this. On the seventh day of feasting, being fairly well drunk, he sent for Vashti to come to him. He wanted to show off his lovely queen. Now, when the king calls you, you show up, no questions asked. He is after all, the king and it would be an insult (and could prove quite dangerous) to displease the king. But Vashti, for whatever reason, refused to make an appearance. Perhaps she had a headache and just did not feel well. Or maybe she just did not want to be shown off to a bunch of drunk men. She was sent for and she refused. 
    The king, not used to being ignored like this, was quite angry. His advisors told him to banish her. Give her position and estate to someone else. After all, the women of Persia and Media looked to Vashti as an example. If she could defy her husband like that and get away with it, the other women might defy their own husbands. Vashti would no longer be allowed time with the king. Ahasuerus agreed to this and it was so.
  In time his anger waned, but he remembered that she had refused him and now was banished by his own decree. But a king needs a queen so he went to his advisors once again, and they came up with an idea to, well, audition for a queen. They would choose the most beautiful young maidens of the land and they would come to the palace to live for a year. They'd be given beauty treatments and such, and one by one they would spend time with the king himself. Then he could choose one of them to be his new queen. In chapter two, which I had just begun to read before I had to stop, Esther was introduced. We will talk more about her tomorrow.
   It seems strange that the King and Queen would celebrate separately, and the queen would be at her husband's side only at his request, but this was the custom of the day. Vashti knew her role and she risked everything by defying her husband's command. And during this time is a young girl in the care of her cousin, with no idea that she would soon be a queen. Hope to see you tomorrow so we can continue.