Bible in one year 7/22/2022 Esther Chapter 4-6 By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Bible in one year 7/22/2022 Esther Chapter 4-6

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce    

Christian Arts Ministries : Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

 

Chapter 4 the decision of God’s servant Mordecai’s appeal to Esther

            When Mordecai learned of al that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. When Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai. She sent Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why. So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to urge her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.(vv.1,5-8).  Hathach now knew that Esther was a Jewess. Mordecai put pressure on Esther, reminding her that she risked death whether she approached the king or not. Hathach went back and reported to Esther, and she instructed him to say to Mordicai,

“ All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death.The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”(vv.10-11).

When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer:

“ Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”(vv.12-14).

Mordecai was convinced that God would somehow save the Jewish nation, whether through Esther or otherwise.

Esther’s answer to Mordecai

            Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:

“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” (vv.15-16).

So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions. Prayer was no doubt the purpose for this fast, indicating Esther’s sense of dependence on God.

Chapter 5 Esther approached to King Xerxes

            On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. (vv.1-2). Then the king asked, “ What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”(v.3).  Esther replied, “ If it pleases the king, let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”(v.4) “ Bring Haman at once” the king said. So that we may do what Esther asks.” (v.5). So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “ Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.” (v.6). Esther replied, “ My petition and my request is this: if the king regards me with favor and it it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.” (vv.7-8).

            A part of a day was counted as a whole day, explaining how the fast could extend for three days, night and day (4:16), and yet terminate on the third day. It was providential that Esther apparently lost the courage to expose Haman before the king at her first banquet, and so held a second one the next day. During the intervening night, the events of chapter 6 took place, making it much easier for Esther to expose Haman at the second banquet.

Haman’s arrogance over Mordecai

             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. Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, 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. And “ I am 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. But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”(vv.9-13). His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “ Have a gallows built, seventy-five feet high, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go with the king to the dinner and be happy.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the gallows built. (v.14).

Chapter 6 the deliverance of God’s people Mordecai and the defeat of Haman’s scheme

            That night the king could not sleep, so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.(vv.1-2). “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this ?” the king asked. “ Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered. The king said, “ Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows he had erected for him. (vv.3-4). His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.” “Bring him in,” the king ordered. (v.5).

 When Haman entered, the king asked him, “ What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?” Now Haman thought to himself “who is there that the king would rather honor than me?”  So he answered the king, “ For the man the king delights to honor, have them bring a royal robe the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble prices. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him,‘ This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’” (vv. 6-9). “ Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “ Get the robe and the house and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.” (v.10). So Haman go the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “ This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!” (v.11).

 Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief, and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “ Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him, you will surely come to ruin!”  While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared.(vv. 12-14).

By divine arrangement, Haman was at court early to seek permission to have Mordecai executed on the gallows he had had built during the night. However,  the hand of God delivered Mordecai from Haman, the king discovered that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh two officers who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. Mordecai robed and proclaimed his honor through the city streets. Haman’s wife and his wise men apparently just now suspected that Mordecai was a Jew, and predicted doom for Haman if this were so.   

Bibliography,

 Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986