Esther Chapters 1 - 10
The book of Esther teaches much more than the life of one lady.There are five main characters in this story King Xerxes, Queen Vashti, Mordecai, Esther and Haman. As you read the story in Esther chapters 1 - 10 make sure you understand the roles of these five characters.
In this short study we will concentrate on the life of Esther.
Esther first appears in Chapter 2. She is an orphaned Jew brought up by her uncle Mordecai. Esther is also known as Hadassah (Esther 2: 5 - 7).
In Chapter one of Esther king Xerxes decided to display his abundant wealth for 180 days followed by a seven day feast. A lavish display of his power. On the seventh day King Xerxes calls Queen Vashti in order to display her beauty to the people. She refuses to come and is eventually banished from the kings presence for life. A new Queen is sought. This is the beginning of God opening doors for Esther. God does have a hand in the affairs of the world.
In chapter two Esther is chosen to be Queen. She goes through the normal twelve months of beauty treatment before meeting the King.
God still prepares us for His work today
1 Peter 3:3-4 Do not let your adornment be [merely] outward -- arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on [fine] apparel -- 4 rather [let it be] the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible [beauty] of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. (NKJV)
The beauty of Christ is seen in the fruit of the spirit. A life touched by Christ will show a godly character. True spiritual maturity is measured by the fruit of the spirit and not the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Gifts are what God gives us, whereas the fruit of the Holy Spirit is what we give to God by yielding to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to touch our personality and character.
A carnal Christian maybe able to manifest the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but it takes a person who has dedicated herself willingly to the Lord to manifest the fruit of the spirit.
Are you allowing God to give you beauty treatment?
The beauty treatment in Esther's day was a physical treatment carried out with oils. Oil in the old testament represented the Holy Spirit.
Under the new testament the Holy Spirit still prepares us to be beautiful in the sight of God. However this is an inner beauty.
Chapter two also records the good deed of Mordecai in saving the Kings life by alerting him of an assassination attempt on his life. This deed is recorded in the record books and later serves as a blessing for Mordecai in the future.
God never forgets our labour of love (Hebrews 6:10).
In Chapter three Haman is honoured by the King and given a high position in the kingdom. Haman is annoyed with Mordecai because Mordecai refuses to kneel down to him. Haman's anger leads him to plot the execution of all the Jews in the kingdom.
God had foreseen this situation and had positioned Esther as Queen to prevent it. Nothing takes God unawares. He has all the answers you will ever need. We need to receive them by faith from him. The promises of God were given in advance of all our needs. They are our provision for life (2 Peter 1: 3-4)
In Chapter four Mordecai asks Esther to approach the king for help. The Jews execution has to be stopped. Esther agrees and asks Mordecai to organise a time of fasting for her. She is well aware that she needs God's favour if she is to succeed.
Fasting is a godly exercise which bring us closer to God.
In Chapter five Esther approaches the King and invites him and Haman to a banquet. This is an attempt to get the timing right before she informs the king about Haman's plot to kill the Jews of which she is one. Esther had hid the fact that she was a Jew from the King on Mordecai's advice.
God's timing is always best. We need to wait for God's timing in doing things. It is dangerous to jump out before time.
Meanwhile Haman's hatred for Mordecai is growing and on the advice of his friends and wife he has a special gallows prepared beside his house on which to hang Mordecai. In Chapter six God moves to save the Jews. The King cannot sleep and asks for the record books to be read aloud to him. The deeds of Mordecai in saving the king are read out.
In an extraordinary change of events the King asks Haman what should be done to a man who the king wants to honour. Haman, in his arrogance, thinks the king is referring to himself and advises a lavish display of wealth on the man which should be done publicly. The King orders Haman to do this to Mordecai. Can you imagine the shock, horror and humiliation Haman must have suffered! (You must read the book of Esther)
In chapter seven Esther reveals to the king that she is a Jew and that Haman has plotted to kill them all. Haman is hanged on his own gallows. In Chapter eight, nine and ten all the Jews are saved and Haman's children are killed.
Esther saved the Jews. Her life teaches us these vital lessons
1. There is a preparation timeShe allowed herself to be prepared for the task. God's preparation time can sometimes be long and uneventful. Moses spent 40 years in the desert looking after sheep before coming to deliver the Israelites. The refining of our characters is very essential to God's plan for our life. God cannot use a proud woman (or man).
2. We need the favour of GodEsther found favour with the King and so did Mordecai. Even Jesus grew in favour with God and man (Luke 2:52). When you live a life pleasing to God, by obeying His will you will find favour with Him. God will also give you favour with people.
3. God works in His own time and seasonEsther also got her timing right. Maybe God has put it on your heart to do something for Him. Don't just jump into it but wait for his time. Joseph was in jail until it was God's time for him to be released. God will move in His time when we remain faithful and alert to His leading.
4. Your background does not hinder your future with GodEsther was an orphan. God still exalted her and used her. Some of Jesus' disciples were fishermen, tax collectors and one was a doctor. Your background does not determine what God can do with you. Your faith does.
Questions
1. Who was Esther? 2. What role did King Xerxes, Queen Vashti, Mordecai, and Haman play in the book of Esther? 3. What preparation did Esther go through to become Queen? 4. What preparation does God take us through? 5. What is the importance of God's timing in our life? 6. How did God turn Haman's plot around? How can God turn bad situations in your life around? 7. What effect did Esther's background have on God's plan for her life? 8. What hinders people from walking in God's plan for their life?
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