Pages

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Ladies Bible Class: Esther, Lesson 23

Esther, Lesson 23  (Final lesson in this study)

Chapter 9: 20 - 32; 10: 1 - 3

The book of Esther:  A study of God in action when nothing appears to be happening!

by Patsy Norwood (c) 2023 - 2024.  All Rights Reserved.

In our last lesson we left the Jews celebrating their victory over those who had tried to do them harm.

Let’s take a closer look at that celebration and then wrap up this study with some insights …

20 And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, 

These letters were the beginnings of what was to become known as the Jewish ‘Feast of Purim.’

(We will remember from earlier in the study that the month of Adar correlates with our February-March calendar and lasts some 29-30 days.)

21 to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar, 

Two days, the 14th and 15th of Adar were to be set aside every year for a time of celebration.

22 as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor. 

Mordecai included in the letter the reason for the celebration and what they should do.  The festivities remind me of our modern-day celebration of Christmas.

23 So the Jews accepted the custom which they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them, 

The Jews liked the idea of a yearly celebration. 

Note:  at this point it is quite possible that Mordecai’s letters were only a ‘suggestion,’ possibly to see how it would be received.  Albeit, at this point I’m sure that anything Mordecai wanted or suggested to the Jews was as good as done.

24 because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to annihilate them, and had cast Pur (that is, the lot), to consume them and destroy them; 

What Haman meant for evil …

25 but when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letter that this wicked plot which Haman had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

… God turned to good!

26 So they called these days Purim, after the name Pur. Therefore, because of all the words of this letter, what they had seen concerning this matter, and what had happened to them, 

Pur is the Persian word for ‘lot,’ which is a reference to Haman’ casting lots to decide the day the Jews would be destroyed.

The idea of ‘Purim’ carries with it … Sorrow turned to joy; destruction turned to triumph and mourning into dancing.

Purim was to be a reminder of what could have happened but didn’t because God intervened.

27 the Jews established and imposed it upon themselves and their descendants and all who would join them, that without fail they should celebrate these two days every year, according to the written instructions and according to the prescribed time, 

The Feast of Purim was for the Jews, their descendants and all who would join them now and in the future.

28 that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, that these days of Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews, and that the memory of them should not perish among their descendants.

The Feast of Purim is still observed by Jews today and is a reminder of their deliverance and of who was responsible for it.

29 Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter about Purim. 

The letters Mordecai and Esther wrote suggesting the idea of a celebration are now made an order!

30 And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews, to the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth, 

This was a new letter, not the one mentioned in verse 20.

31 to confirm these days of Purim at their appointed time, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had prescribed for them, and as they had decreed for themselves and their descendants concerning matters of their fasting and lamenting.

This second letter included a time of fasting the day before the two days of feasting occurred.  The day of fasting was called the Fast of Esther in remembrance of the 3 days of fasting before Esther went unbidden into the presence of King Ahasuerus.  The Fast of Esther was observed on the 13th day of Adar.

 32 So the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim, and it was written in the book.

It is believed that the book mentioned here is the Book of the Chronicles of the kings.

Chapter 10

And King Ahasuerus imposed tribute on the land and on the islands of the sea. 

We go from Purim to imposing tribute.  Life goes on and it seems that the resources of the empire needed to be refilled so the king imposed a new tribute on the land and on the islands (War was still going on and wars cost money.).  Today, we would call this a new tax!

Now all the acts of his power and his might, and the account of the greatness of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?

‘Now all the acts of his power and his might’ … refers to the king.  His achievements have long been forgotten, but what God did through Mordecai and Esther has and will continue to remain forever.

Mordecai was next to the king in authority and power in the king’s vast empire.  He held great prestige even to being written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Media & Persia (Medo-Persian empire).  It is believed that the Book of the Chronicles of the kings and the Book of the Chronicles of the Media & Persia are the same book.

 For Mordecai the Jew was second to King Ahasuerus, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.

Mordecai continued to look out for the Jews in word and deed promoting their good and prosperity.  Life for the Jews was far better than they could have hoped for.

This is the last we hear of Mordecai.  We have no idea how long he kept his position as ‘prime minister’ to the king or even how long he lived.

History does tell us though that at the end of King Ahasuerus’ reign, his chief advisor (prime minister) was a man named Artabanus, the captain of the guard.  This man, Artabanus, who at the time held this position of closest to the king and who had easiest access to the him took advantage of the position and later murdered him in 464 B.C.

And that is the end of the story … or is it!  Because of Mordecai and Esther’s willingness to be used by God, and because of God’s providence the Jewish people survived what was meant to wipe them out.  Why is this important … because it was through the Jews that the Messiah would come!  God’s redeeming plan was not thwarted and was still in place!

And finally, here are some take-a-ways from the book of Esther I observed, what can you add …

God does not let man get in the way of His plan.

If we are a faithful child of God, we can be assured that God is always working behind the scenes in our lives through the good and bad.

God cares for and has mercy for His children.  Here are a few of many Scriptures that tell us so …

I Peter 5:6-7

Philippians 4:6

Matthew 10:29-31

Deuteronomy 31:8

Nahum 1:7

Romans 8:28

Isaiah 41:10

Psalm 91:4

This has been an in-depth, digging deep kind of study and one that has at times humbled me as it gave me glimpses of our great God in action.  It gives me great pleasure to end this study with a fortified knowledge that even when it doesn’t appear so, God is indeed always working behind the scenes for His children.  This study has been a great faith builder for me, I hope it has for you as well.

This is our last lesson in this study, I hope you have enjoyed it.

Links to previous lessons can be found HERE.

I’m going to take a break for about 6 weeks and then we’ll start our next study on another lady in the Bible.  I haven’t decided yet which one, if you have a suggestion, I’d love to hear it.  In the meantime, share, share, share with other ladies and invite them to join our next study.

patsy @ From This Heart of Mine; (c) 2023 - 2024 by Patsy Norwood ~ All Rights Reserved.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Ladies Bible Class: Esther, Lesson 22

Esther Lesson 22

Chapter 9: 1 - 19

The book of Esther:  A study of God in action when nothing appears to be happening!

by Patsy Norwood (c) 2023 - 2024.  All Rights Reserved.

In our last lesson we saw the king give Mordecai and Esther permission to write a decree that would allow the Jews to defend themselves against anyone who would attempt to do them harm as a result of Haman’s evil decree.

Let’s see how that played out …

1Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, the time came for the king’s command and his decree to be executed. On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them.

The day has arrived for Haman’s evil plan to be carried out.  Instead, though, of the Jews being annihilated, per Haman’s plan and decree, they, per Mordecai and Esther’s decree not only defended themselves but overpowered their enemies.

2 The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, because fear of them fell upon all people.

All over the king’s provinces, the Jews united and came together “to lay hands on those who sought their harm.”  It looks like the Jews though only attacked those who tried to do them harm.  

3 And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and all those doing the king’s work, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.

Did you notice that the Jews had help, possibly military help … officials, satraps, governors and all those doing the king’s work!

“because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them” … It was clear by now that the king and Mordecai favored the Jews, hence attacking the Jews could have brought the king’s wrath upon them.  No one wanted that!

4 For Mordecai was great in the king’s palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai became increasingly prominent.

Mordecai’s popularity grew, not only in Shushan, but in all the provinces.  Mordecai had received everything Haman had schemed to get.

5 Thus the Jews defeated all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, with slaughter and destruction, and did what they pleased with those who hated them.

“Thus the Jews defeated all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, with slaughter and destruction, and did what they pleased” … one has to wonder what was going through the Jew’s minds as they slaughtered and destroyed their enemies.  Was it a survival mindset?  Were they of the mindset of “kill or be killed?”

“those who hated them” … As is typical in this type of situation, there were some who hated the Jews so strongly that they took full advantage of the first decree, seemingly ignoring the second … 

6 And in Shushan the citadel the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men.

This had to have been a gruesome thing to behold!

 7-9 Also Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vajezatha—

These were the names of Haman’s ten sons.

10 the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews—they killed; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

All ten of Haman’s sons were killed by the Jews, his immediate family line ended here.

“but they did not lay a hand on the plunder” … The Jews had the freedom and right to take the spoil, but they chose not to.  Some commentators think it was because they were fighting for survival and not for material gain.

The edict also gave them the freedom to kill women and children, but we have no record that that happened.

11 On that day the number of those who were killed in Shushan the citadel was brought to the king.

Do you imagine the king was eagerly waiting for news?  It seems he was as the number killed was brought to him on the very day of the conflict.

Do you think he was surprised at the large number that had been killed in Shushan alone?

12 And the king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the citadel, and the ten sons of Haman. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now what is your petition? It shall be granted to you. Or what is your further request? It shall be done.”

“What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces?” … it does indeed seem as if the king is a bit surprised and maybe in awe as well.

The king reports to Esther what he has been told, including the slaughter of Haman’s sons. He could have said, “Enough,” but he didn’t, instead he inquires of Esther, “what else do you want done, it shall be done?”  Is this the same king who banished Vashti?

By deferring to his wife, it seems that the king has developed great trust and respect for her.  Could her actions throughout this whole thing have had an impact on him?  It would seem so.  Could her actions be leading him to become a believer in the God of the Jews?  We have no record that he ever did or didn’t become a believer, but you can see that at this time God had his attention … and I’m going to say that it started with Esther.  Ladies, never, ever underestimate your influence!

13 Then Esther said, “If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do again tomorrow according to today’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged on the gallows.”

At first thought it seems that Esther might have been a bit heartless in her further requests … let’s see what they were …

Esther wants another day for the Jews in Shushan to fight. 

Why a second day of fighting?  Maybe it was needed to wipe out the more devious and stronger bands of Jewish haters.

Esther wants something else also, even though Haman’s sons have been slaughtered, she wants their bodies hung on the gallows.

Why did Esther want the bodies of Haman’s already dead ten sons hung publicly on the gallows?  Maybe she was making an unspoken statement, maybe she was sending a silent message that the Jews were God’s people and if you contend with them, then you contend with God.  Maybe she was making a mark on history that would not be easily forgotten.  Maybe she was looking to the future of her people.  Maybe she was saying, “Never Again!”  Maybe she wanted every vestige of this evil removed.

14 So the king commanded this to be done; the decree was issued in Shushan, and they hanged Haman’s ten sons.

The king grants Esther everything she asked for and issues another decree, he gives her everything she wanted … just as he said he would!

With all that is happening and the witnessing of the behind-the-scenes workings, it seems the king doesn’t want to stand in Esther’s way.   Do you think God has his attention?

15 And the Jews who were in Shushan gathered together again on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and killed three hundred men at Shushan; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

Three hundred more Jewish haters were killed and once again the Jews forgo their right to plunder.

16 The remainder of the Jews in the king’s provinces gathered together and protected their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of their enemies; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

The Jews killed 75,000 of their enemies – this was not Haman’s plan, was it?  The tables had turned, the offenders (Jewish haters) were now the offended.

“gathered together and protected their lives” … this was a well-orchestrated and thought out plan, most likely by Mordecai who was being guided by God.

“had rest from their enemies” … makes one think that the Jews had been being discriminated against for a while.

“but they did not lay a hand on the plunder” … they had to be committed to their plan as walking away from things that could/would have made life easier had to be hard.  Never-the-less, they did just that again and again!

17 This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. And on the fourteenth of the month they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

This was in the provinces … one day of fighting and then a day of feasting and gladness.

18 But the Jews who were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day, as well as on the fourteenth; and on the fifteenth of the month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

But in Shushan, there were two days of fighting and then a day of feasting and gladness.

19 Therefore the Jews of the villages who dwelt in the unwalled towns celebrated the fourteenth day of the month of Adar with gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and for sending presents to one another.

Out in the villages, away from the populated areas, the Jews celebrated on the 14th day of Adar as did the Jews in the more populated areas of the king’s provinces.

We’ll learn more about this holiday in our final lesson next week as we wrap up our study of the book of Esther.

I hope you’ve enjoyed today's lesson.  Don't forget to leave a comment and if you're enjoying this study, please share the link with other ladies who you think might enjoy it as well.

We have one more lesson in this study, and I would love to get feedback regarding its format as well as any thoughts overall you would like to share.  As a student of God’s Word, I am always looking for ways to improve upon the methods I use in writing and do take into consideration any feedback to make future writings and studies more user friendly, easier to understand and navigate.  Thank you in advance.

Links to previous lessons can be found HERE.

Until the next class ...

patsy @ From This Heart of Mine; (c) 2023 - 2024 by Patsy Norwood ~ All Rights Reserved.

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Ladies Bible Class: Esther, lesson 21

Esther Lesson 21

Chapter 8

The book of Esther:  A study of God in action when nothing appears to be happening!

by Patsy Norwood (c) 2023 - 2024.  All Rights Reserved.

In our last lesson we left Haman hanging on the gallows he had built for Mordecai and the question of what to do about his decree that would annihilate the Jews.

Also, it seems the king is undergoing a change of heart, can it be?

Let’s pick up from there …

1 On that day King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her.

“On that day King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the house of Haman” … it was customary in Persia that the goods and properties of the executed were automatically confiscated by the king.  This confiscation included everything the executed owned right down to the lowliest servant.

This obviously left Haman’s family homeless and penniless!  What a change in their lifestyles!

So the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai; and Esther appointed Mordecai over the house of Haman.

This is a big verse for Mordecai, a lot happens in his life:

“So the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai” … with this action the king gives Mordecai Haman’s job of prime minister and then Esther appoints him overseer of Haman’s estate which the king has given to her.

Mordecai now has a new job and a new place to live, both of which have elevated his position, authority, and status.  Sadly though, it doesn’t change the decree against the Jews made by Haman.

Now Esther spoke again to the king, fell down at his feet, and implored him with tears to counteract the evil of Haman the Agagite, and the scheme which he had devised against the Jews. 

Sometime later, Esther again goes to the king to plead for her people.  Will the king withstand her tearful pleas?  Does he want to?

And the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther. So Esther arose and stood before the king, 

Esther has once again risked her life by going before the king unbidden and the king has once again granted her entrance.

5 and said, “If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight and the thing seems right to the king and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to annihilate the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces. 

“if I have found favor in his sight and the thing seems right to the king and I am pleasing in his eyes” … it seems Esther is using ‘a delicate touch’ with the king.   The king displays a glimpse of human kindness towards Esther … maybe he learned something from the debacle of Vashti.  Maybe his heart is changing!

Esther’s request this time has to do with Haman’s decree against the Jews, she asked him to revoke it.  She and he both knew that he couldn’t because of the “Law of the Medes and Persians” that said that no one, not even the king had the authority to reverse a decree signed and sealed by the king’s ring.  That didn't stop Esther from asking though, it was a starting place to begin to unravel the danger Haman had created.  (Sometimes we have to start where we can, don't we and not necessarily where we would like to.)

For how can I endure to see the evil that will come to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my countrymen?”

Esther continues to plead for her people, she bears her heart to the king …

Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, “Indeed, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he tried to lay his hand on the Jews. 

The king recounts to Esther the things he has done for her.  It does indeed seem that he loves her and has softened his heart.

It appears the king’s heart is truly undergoing a change in the hands of God.  (Nothing is too hard for God, let us not forget that!)

You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring; for whatever is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring no one can revoke.”

The king might not be able to reverse or revoke Haman’s decree, but he can counteract it by giving the Jews authority to defend themselves.  This surely would give pause and be a deterrent to anyone planning on participating in the destruction of the Jews.

The king gives full authority to Mordecai and Esther to write another decree that will allow the Jews to unite and defend themselves.  What a task, it had to be airtight and cover all the points that Haman’s decree had.

Haman’s decree was meant to wipe out the Jews.  Mordecai’s was meant to save them.  What a contrast that speaks volumes about each man.

So the king’s scribes were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day; and it was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded, to the Jews, the satraps, the governors, and the princes of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, one hundred and twenty-seven provinces in all, to every province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language. 

The ’third month’ corresponds to our May-June calendar and was a little over 2 months after the first decree had been written and published.  This would give the Jews some 8 months to prepare to defend themselves.

Notice Mordecai’s decree was delivered to the same places and in the same manner as Haman’s had been.  This was important, no place could be neglected, this new decree must reach all the same people as Haman’s had.

10 And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, sealed it with the king’s signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback, riding on royal horses bred from swift steeds.

The king’s signet ring made it official and irrevocable, just as Haman’s decree was.

11 By these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together and protect their lives—to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both little children and women, and to plunder their possessions, 

Mordecai was careful in wording his decree to match Haman’s so that no loophole could be found for those wishing to challenge the new decree.

The entire land had been turned against the Jews by Haman’s decree, now they would be free to defend themselves.   Only God can make such a transformation reality.  In our world today, we would call that a ‘game changer!’

12 on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. 

Same day, the 13th day of the 12th month.  Everything about the new decree had to match Haman’s right down to the date.

13 A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province and published for all people, so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. 

The king’s command was clear, all people everywhere were to be informed of this new decree.  He wanted to make sure that everyone knew that the Jews were given authority to defend themselves and that those in opposition might want to consider this before attacking!

14 The couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king’s command. And the decree was issued in Shushan the citadel.

“Royal horses” … this added to the importance and officialness of the delivery … just like Haman’s deliverance of his decree did.

15 So Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, with a great crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple; and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. 

As soon as the couriers were on their way, Mordecai assumed his royal garments and went forth in a public procession giving credence to the decree.  The Jews could believe it, this was not some horrible joke. 

The city, not just the Jews rejoiced and was glad … did some of these non-Jews just want to be on the winning side?  Would they have rejoiced and been glad in the same way if Haman’s decree had not been circumvented?

Mordecai’s new authority, power and position are on display, which he likely didn’t enjoy.  But, if it portrayed the authority of the decree being delivered, he was willing.

16 The Jews had light and gladness, joy and honor. 

Prior to this, the Jews had been living in dread and with great fear hanging over their heads.  It truly was a time of mourning in every sense of the word for them, but now the Jews had reason for hope and their mourning turned to gladness. 

Mordecai and Esther had courageously done what they needed to do, what peace that must have brought to both of them.  (There’s a lesson in that for us today!)

On the other hand, it was evident that Haman had been no match for God!  (There’s a lesson in that for us today as well!)

17 And in every province and city, wherever the king’s command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews fell upon them.

Joy, feasting, gladness, and a holiday, those observing who were not Jews had to be confounded along with being fearful in what they were seeing.

“Then many of the people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews fell upon them.” … many became Jews because of their fear of the Jews.  Did they actually convert to the Jewish faith and all that that entailed or did they just side with the Jews? 

The ungodly were afraid of the godly, sadly, it’s not that way now.

I hope you’ve enjoyed today's lesson.  Don't forget to leave a comment and if you're enjoying this study, please share the link with other ladies who you think might enjoy it as well.

Next week we’ll move into chapter 9 and look at verses 1 – 19, ‘THE DAY’ arrives!

We have two more lessons in this study, and I would love to start getting feedback regarding its format as well as any thoughts overall you would like to share.  As a student of God’s Word, I am always looking for ways to improve upon the methods I use in writing and do take into consideration any feedback to make future writings and studies more user friendly, easier to understand and navigate.  Thank you in advance.

Links to previous lessons can be found HERE.

Until the next class ...

patsy @ From This Heart of Mine; (c) 2023 - 2024 by Patsy Norwood ~ All Rights Reserved.