Learning to Trust God - Part V: The Book of Esther

Learning to Trust God - Part V: Book of Esther

Learning to Trust God - Part V: Book of Esther

“Our Goal for this bible study is to learn to trust God with every area and aspect of our life.”

 

Key Scripture:

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Esther Chapter 5

The Courage of Esther

On the third day, after Esther had made her petition to God in fasting and prayer, (although the scripture never uses the word “prayer” it is understood that fasting and prayer go hand in hand.  Therefore, I am not adding to God’s word) she put on her royal apparel and went to the kings house and stood in the inner court. 

Esther had great courage, knowing the king had not called for her and if he did not hold out the golden scepter she would lose her life. (Esther 4:11)   

Joshua 1:6-8  ⁶Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

 ⁷Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee:  turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whitersoever thou goest.

⁸This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

⁹Have not I commanded thee?  Be strong and of a good courage: be not afraid neither be thou dismayed:  for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.

Since God is the same, yesterday, and forever. His word is the same.  Did he not tell Joshua to be strong and very courageous and to meditate on the book of the law? God promised if he obeyed this commandment, then he shalt make his way prosperous and have good success.  Is this what Esther had to do?  We learned in our previous studies, Esther being a Jew was raised to observe and obey the commandments of God and serve him faithfully. 

When Esther obeyed Mordecai to plead for her life and the life of her people, her obedience to Mordecai was fulfilling the commandment of God. Joshua 1:8 indicates the existence of the Mosaic Law. 

Esther had courageous faith centered in the Word of God

Esther is not trusting in the king Ahasuerus, her husband, she is trusting in the God she serves, that is why she and her maidens went on a three-day fast.  Esther had a very serious request that only God could move on her behalf and the behalf of his chosen people, the Jews.

Esther is trusting God with her life

 

If you cannot trust God the creator of life, who can you trust?

 

Now the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house over against the gate of the house.  When he saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight and he held out the golden scepter that was in his hand. Esther drew near and touched the top of the scepter.

A scepter is a ceremonial staff, often used by kings. With its jewels and ornamentation, a scepter is a symbol of power. It’s a staff or rod carried by a king or high official.

 

Scepter is related to a Greek verb that means to prop oneself or lean on something. That makes sense, since a scepter is something a ruler can lean on, like any other staff. However, you won't find an ordinary citizen with a scepter.

Genesis 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

Psalm 45:6 Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Thy kingdom.

Hebrews 1:8  But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.

King Ahasuerus , the Persian king and Esther the Jewish Queen is very similar to Christ the bridegroom and his bride, the church.  As Esther obtains favor in the sight of the king, he extends the golden scepter to her meaning he extends grace and mercy to her.  Because of the Messiah, our King, who tore down the wall of partition, we have access to God the Father who has extended to us grace and mercy through his son Jesus Christ. God has extended his scepter of righteousness to us.  “Thank you Lord Jesus for making this possible for us.”  Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 1:17  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

After the king saw his queen, he held out the golden scepter to her, he asked her “What will thou, queen Esther?  And what is thy request? It shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.”

 

Remember Ahasuerus reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces.  

Esther being led by God, who directs our path when we acknowledge him, tells the king she would like him and Haman his highest ranking prince to come to a banquet that she had prepared.  At the banquet the king ask Esther again, “What is thy petition? And it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request?  Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.

Esther’s answer was, “My petition and my request is: If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king hath said. Verse 6-7. 

Observe the wisdom that God gives Esther.  It is certainly providential that Esther did not immediately express her desire to the king at the first banquet.  By waiting on God’s timing, Esther will be able to expose Haman more fully. 
 
In verses 9-14, Haman boasts of his advancement above the princes and all the kings’ servants.  Haman is so excited that the Queen invited only him and the king to the banquet today and the banquet on tomorrow.  Haman was joyful and glad in his heart, but when he saw Mordecai the Jew in the king’s gate, that he still would not honor him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.  He told his wife and friends how the king had promoted him and about the banquets, but, his hatred for Mordecai the Jew was greater than his rejoicing in his advancement. (vs. 13)

(Haman was wicked, just as Amnon was wicked and  sinned against Tamar.  Read: 2 Samuel 13:1-19; 20-39)

As he expressed his total dissatisfaction with Mordecai, his wife and all of his friends told him to build gallows for Mordecai to be hanged on and to ask the king before going to the banquet for permission to kill Mordecai.  This pleased Haman the Agagite.

Ø  Job 20:5

Ø  Proverbs 21:12-13

Discussion questions:

1)     What have you learned from Chapter 5 of the Book of Esther?

2)     When you find yourself in a challenging situation, like Queen Esther, what is your normal pattern to obtain a favorable outcome?

3)     When you look at Esther’s personality, what can you relate to yourself?

4)     When you look at Mordecai’s personality, what can you relate to yourself?

5)     When you look at Haman’s personality, what can you relate to yourself?

6)     Have you ever received a blessing, promotion, reward, or recognition?  When you received it, was there anything or anyone that caused you grief, where you could not enjoy what you received?  (Esther 5:13)

Next week we’ll continue our study of Esther Part VI, Chapter 6 where we will see the wisdom of Esther and Mordecai honored for saving the king’s life.

For those attending the bible study in person:

·        Read Esther Chapters 5-7

·        Be prepared to answer the above questions 

·        Be prepared to share what you learned in this chapter

Contact Evangelist Waters:

 www.PureGoldEvangelisticMinistries.com

Follow my Bible Study Blog: 

www.PureGoldMinistries.blogspot.com

Follow the Weekly Prayer Blog: www.PureGoldEvangelisticMinistriesPrayer.blogspot.com

 

Learning to Trust God - Part IV: The Book of Esther

Learning to Trust God - Part IV: Book of Esther

Learning to Trust God - Part IV: Book of Esther

“Our Goal for this bible study is to learn to trust God with every area and aspect of our life.”

 

Key Scripture:

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Esther 4:

When Mordecai knew what Haman had done, he rent his clothes and put on sackcloth with ashes and sat in the city and cried with a loud and bitter cry.  He came before the kings gate in his sack cloth, which was against the rules.  In all one hundred twenty-seven providences the king’s commandment and decree was given.  The Jews were mourning, fasting, weeping, wailing and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 

The custom of sack cloth and ashes was practiced throughout the Old Testament by Israel and other nations (Genesis 37:34; 2 Samuel 1:11; Daniel 9:3*; Isaiah 15:3). Many times this custom was equated with fasting, prayer, mourning, and supplication.

Esther’s maids and her chamberlains (eunuchs) told her what Mordecai was doing.  Esther was exceedingly grieved; and she sent clothes to Mordecai, but he refused the clothes.  Then Esther had Hatach one of the king’s chamberlain who was appointed to attend to her, go to Mordecai asking him why was he in sack cloth.  Mordecai told him all that Haman had done and the sum of money he promised to pay to the king’s treasuries to destroy the Jews.  Mordecai also gave Hatach a copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy the Jewish people, to show Queen Esther and to charge her to go to the king to make supplication unto him, to plead for her people’s lives.  So, Hatach showed the writing to the Queen and told her everything that her adopted-father Mordecai told him. 

Esther told Hatach to go to Mordecai and tell him about the king’s commandment, “that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put that person to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter that he may live.”  She told him to let her Father know, she had not been called in unto the king for thirty-days. 

Although Esther is the king’s wife (queen) she too must obey the royal laws.  Access to the king was strictly limited as access to our President is limited.  All leaders in such positions need to be protected both from attempts on their lives and from vexation with people’s problems.

Mordecai’s response to Queen Esther, who had always obeyed his commandments, put great pressure on her.  He reminded her of  the risk death whether or not she approached the king, since she was in fact, a Jew.  Mordecai’s faith and trust in God and his promises is evident verse 14, he reminds Esther, that God will not permit the extinction of his people and if Esther fails, God will have another way of saving the Jews, since God’s purposes are not thwarted by the failure of one individual’s disobedience to his leading.  (Remember, the promise he made to Abraham: the promise child and Abrahams’ seed to be more numerable than the sand of the sea and the promised of the Messiah. 

God is faithful to his word although he told Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham spoke his faith when he said, “Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.” (vs. 5) His trust and faith in God spoke again in verse: ⁸ And Abraham said, my son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. So, they both Isaac and Abraham went up to sacrifice unto the Lord and both came back, because Abraham trust God.  (Also note in verse 7, Isaac said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?  (Proverbs 22:6 and Deuteronomy 11)  Abraham trusted God to keep his promise and he was training his son to obey and trust the commands of God. 

Genesis 17:19

And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him

Genesis 17:21

But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year

Genesis 22:2

And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Genesis 22:1-14

King James Version (KJV)

22 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

² And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

³ And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

⁴ Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.

⁵ And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

⁶ And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

⁷ And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

⁸ And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

⁹ And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

¹⁰ And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

¹¹ And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

¹² And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

¹³ And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

¹⁴ And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.

God has made Israel a promise that the Messiah will come to save his people. Therefore, God could not allow the Jews to wiped off the face of the earth.  Esther’s life’s purpose is at stake in verse 14.  Will she fulfill her purpose/destiny?

Esther responds to her cousin, Mordecai in verse 15-17, with a confession of faith as she accepts God’s purpose for her.  Queen Esther requested Mordecai to gather all the Jews that were in Shushan to fast for her: neither eating nor drinking for three days: night and day. She and her maidens would also fast and then she would go to the king, which was not according to the law and she summarized it with “and if I perish, I perish, verse 16.  Mordecai went his way and did according to all Esther had commanded him.  He now obeys his Queen.

Let’s focus for a moment on verse 14:  Speaks of the Providence of God.  The word providence means “foreseeing”: the idea of providing for the future.   This is God’s continuous work that he makes all thing work out according to His purpose.  God is providing a way for our Messiah to come forth.

Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

The scriptures teaches us that God rules over the all the earth and everything in it.  God rules over the nations of the earth, the affairs of our lives, the animals and the universe.  Therefore we must learn to trust him with every area and aspect of our lives. 

Ø  I Samuel 16:1

Ø  Job 12:23

Ø  Job 12:10

Ø  Psalms 103:19

Esther’s final statement, “and if I perish, I perish” is not a statement hopelessness, it is a statement of confidence/trust in God’s will and wisdom.  Her trust is in the God she serves as Jewish woman still obeying her cousin/father who adopted her.

"Esther is not leaning to her own understanding, she is acknowledging God through fasting and prayer.  She is trusting God with all her heart to direct her path. (Proverbs 3:5-6)"

Ø  Genesis 24:27

Ø  Genesis 43:14

Ø  Job 13:15

Ø  Daniel 3:17-18

As we face our situations, trials, concerns of life, we should remember all the things we go through come directly or indirectly from God.  We will be tried in the fire, so we can come forth as gold.  Our trust must always remain in our heavenly father because he does work things out for our good. 

Ø  1 Peter 1:6-9

Ø  James 1:2-4; 22

Ø  1 Corinthians 10:12-14

1 Corinthians 10:12-14

King James Version (KJV)

¹² Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

¹³ There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

¹⁴ Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

Questions to Ponder:

1)     Are you facing a situation in your life that seems hopeless?  (Health, finances, marriage, children in rebellion, a legal situation, etc.)

 

2)     Where have you placed your trust in your particular situation?

 

3)     What scriptures do you stand on for your situation?  (Psalm 119:104-106; Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4)

 

4)     Where is Esther, Mordecai, and the Jews trust?  What verse?

 

Next week we’ll continue our study of Esther Part V, Chapter 5 where we will see the courage of Esther. 

Bible Study Participants please note the new lessons/post come out on each Tuesday and  the prayer post come out on each Friday.  (If you don't receive an email, the post will be here, the Lord willing.)

For those attending the bible study in person:

·        Read Esther Chapters 4-7

·        Be prepared to answer the above questions 

·        Be prepared to share what you learned in this chapter

Contact Evangelist Waters:

 www.PureGoldEvangelisticMinistries.com

Follow my Bible Study Blog: 

www.PureGoldMinistries.blogspot.com

Follow the Weekly Prayer Blog: www.PureGoldEvangelisticMinistriesPrayer.blogspot.com

Learning to Trust God - Part III: The Book of Esther

Learning to Trust God - Part III: Book of Esther

 

 

Learning to Trust God - Part III: Book of Esther

“Our Goal for this bible study is to learn to trust God with every area and aspect of our life.”

 

Key Scripture:

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

 Esther 3:

After Esther becomes queen, Mordecai (her cousin/adopted father) saves the King’s life and it is written in the Book of Chronicles before the king.

After this king Ahasuerus (Gentile) promotes Haman the Agagite and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.  The king commanded his servants to bow and reverence Haman. But Mordecai did not bow to him, nor did he reverence him because he was a Jew and obeyed God’s commandments. 

After the king’s servants told Haman that Mordecai did not hearken to them, nor the king’s commandment, Haman was filled with wrath and he thought to kill Mordecai, but when the servants showed Mordecai’s people to him, he sought to destroy all of the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.  

Mordecai the Jew was of royal blood and was a member of God’s chosen family who inherited the promises.  He was of the Tribe of Benjamin. He took his cousin Hadassah (Esther) and raised her as his daughter after the death of her parents.  In raising Esther, Mordecai, taught her the commandments and laws of God, which she did obey.  As we obey God, which demonstrates our trust in him, he uses events and people to fulfill his promises.  Remember, as we trust God with our life as Mordecai and Esther did, there is always a bigger picture.  (Jeremiah 29:11; Matthew 6:10, 26:36-42)

In Deuteronomy 28 God clearly states the blessings of obedience and the consequences of disobedience: sin.  This is not an all-inclusive list.  Mordecai and Esther knew the commandments and laws of God and obeyed them, evident by Esther 3:2-5, 8. 

It was customary for the Jews to bow before their king (2 Sam. 14:4; 18:28; I Kings 1:16) as God’s chosen servants. When the Persians bowed before their kings, they paid homage as to a divine being: god. This is why Mordecai and the Jews customs and laws were different from the Persians; they served the one and only True God (Exodus 20:1-3 ; Deuteronomy 6). Mordecai was faithful to God and could not give the King, nor Haman such honor. 

Although, the Jews were scattered throughout the provinces of king Ahasuerus kingdom, they remained faithful to the laws and customs that God had commanded of them.  Today, we are to remain faithful to the Word of God, although the world is living contrary (Romans 12:1-2).

Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews was because of his pride and wrath, and his ancestors’ hatred for Israel (Jews).  It was also a strategic plan of the enemy to destroy all Jews, to stop the Messiah from coming.

James 1:19-21

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁹ Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

²⁰ For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Psalm 10:4

The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

History:

Haman was an Agagite from I Samuel 15 when Saul was reprimanded for sparing King Agag. Saul’s disobedience help create this future situation in the Book of Esther.  All disobedience is sin and sin is like a wild fire or weeds: sin gets out of control easily.  King Agag’s descendant killed Saul.  Agag was the king of the Amalekites.  The Amalekites hated Israel.  The descendants of Simeon smote the rest of the Amalekites.

Ø  Exodus 17:8-16;

Ø  Deuteronomy 25:17-19

Ø  I Chronicles 4:43

Ø  Deuteronomy 25:18*

 

Haman, just like his ancestors, feared not God and hated the Jews, God's chosen people.*

Psalm 111:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Ecclesiastes 12:12-14

King James Version (KJV)

¹² And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

¹³ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

¹⁴ For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

1 Chronicles 16:21-23

King James Version (KJV)

²¹ He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,

²² Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

²³ Sing unto the Lord, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.

So, what does this have to do with our goal, “to learn to trust God with every area and aspect of our life.”

Let’s take a closer look: 

1)      God is the same yesterday, today and forever (what he did back then, he’ll do it again)

2)      When God makes a promise, he always fulfills his promise

3)      God is trust worthy

4)      When we trust God, which is through obedience to his word, he moves on our behalf

In the following chapters of Esther we’ll see how God moved for the Jews who trusted him.

Questions:

1)     What are you doing because everybody else is doing it?

2)     When people look at you, do they see a difference in your character as the people saw in Mordecai?

3)     What or who have you bowed down to, instead of obeying God’s word?

4)     The bible tells us to count the cost, if your life was threatened as the Jews lives were, would you continue to trust God to deliver you?

5)     In the past, you found yourself in a situation you knew there was no way out, who did you turn too? 

a.      Your mother

b.     Your father

c.      Your friend

d.     Your Sister or Brother

e.      Your own abilities

f.      God Almighty

Now Esther 3:7-15:

Haman had the magicians and astrologers cast lots to determine which day he would destroy Israel, God’s chosen people.  And he made these plans before speaking to king Ahasuerus. The lot fell on the twelfth month, which gave Haman time to prepare.  It also gave the Jews time to thwart his plans and God shows his overruling providence.  God reigns supreme over all kings.  Little did Haman realize, the lot was cast into his lap. (Proverbs 16:32-33)

Kings, love money, riches, wealth, honor and Haman appealed to the king in that manner, although he subtile, as the serpent was in Genesis 3:1.  Haman told the king, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of the kingdom: and their laws are diverse (different) from all people: neither keep they the king’s laws:  therefore it is not for the kings profit to suffer them.”   Haman volunteered to pay ten thousand talents of silver (12 million ounces) to those who would take care of this business and bring it to the king’s treasuries.  The money pleased the king, and he granted Haman’s request and sealed it with his ring.

The king’s scribes wrote the decree down and it was sent to every province and to the rulers of every people in their language in the name of king Ahasuerus and sealed with his ring.  The command was to destroy, kill, and cause all Jews, women and children, young and old,  to perish on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month of Adar and to take the spoil of them for prey. 

Wicked Haman sat down to drink; he was satisfied with his progress.  The city of Shushan was perplexed.  But God is still in control and will deliver his people because they trust him and obey his commandments.

King Ahasuerus, a Gentile, was indifferent to the fate of millions of people who would die, just as our modern day parallels: Hitler, Stalin, and Khrushchev.

This is one of the reasons we need to pray for the leaders of our nation, our state, our county/parish, our city.  They are in need of God’s guidance. 

1 Timothy 2:1-3

  King James Version (KJV)

1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

 ² For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Please visit my prayer blog:  www.PureGoldEvangelisticMinistriesPrayer.blogspot.com

Next week we’ll continue our study of Esther Part IV, Chapter 4; where will see the providence of God Almighty for his people and we will learn the importance of trusting God in our lives.

For those attending the bible study in person:

• Read Esther Chapter 3
• Be prepared to answer the above questions 
• Be prepared to share what you learned in this chapter

 Contact Evangelist Waters:

 www.PureGoldEvangelisticMinistries.com

Follow my Bible Study Blog: 

www.PureGoldMinistries.blogspot.com

Follow the Weekly Prayer Blog: www.PureGoldEvangelisticMinistriesPrayer.blogspot.com