Esther Chapter 4

Esther Chapter 4

1.  What did Mordecai do when he learned about what had been decreed by the king against all of the Jews? vs. 1 - Name 4 things - 1)rent his clothes
2)put on sackcloth with ashes
3)went out into the midst of the city
4) cried with a loud and a bitter cry

2.  He went as far as the king's gate, but did not enter it.  Why not? vs. 2 You could not  enter  the kings gate  in sackcloth and ashes.

3.  How were the Jews in every province reacting when they heard the command and decree of the king that they would be destroyed? vs. 3 - Name 5 things - 1) great mourning 
2)fasting
3)weeping
4) wailing;
5) lay in sackcloth and ashes

4.  What did Esther do when her maiden and her eunuchs told her the news? vs. 4a exceedingly grieve

5.  What did she send to Mordecai and how did he respond? vs. 4b  raiment to clothe

6.  Esther summoned one of the king's eunuchs that had been appointed to attend her.  What was his name? vs. 5 Hatach

7.  What did Esther order him to do concerning Mordecai? vs. 5 to know what it was, and why it was.

8.  Hathach went out to Mordecai to the city square in front of the king's gate and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. (vs.6,7) ... What did he give him a copy of to show Esther to inform her? vs. 8a the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan

9.  What did Mordecai want Esther to do concerning it? vs. 8b  she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.

10.  Hathach came back and told Esther what Mordecai had said.  What did Esther order him to say back to him? All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, 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 him to death,
 What did she risk if she went before the king without being summoned? vs. 11 death

11.  What would show that the person coming before the king would not be put to death? vs. 11 the king shall hold out the golden sceptre

12.  How long had it been since the king had summoned Esther? vs. 11 30 days

13.  They told Esther what Mordecai wanted her to do. (vs.12)  What warning did Mordecai send back to her? vs. 13  Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews

14.  If she chose to remain silent at this time, what did Mordecai still believe would happen for the Jewish people? vs. 14a For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place

15.  What question did Mordecai want Esther to consider? vs. 14b but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

16.  When Esther heard this message, she sent a reply to Mordecai, asking that he assemble all the Jews found in Susa to go on a fast for her.  How many days were they to not eat or drink?  vs. 15a 3 days and 3 nights.

17.  What would Esther and her maidens do as well? vs. 15b They would fasted also.

18.  After 3 days of fasting (and assumed prayer), she would go to the king even though it was against the law.  What was her brave statement? vs. 16  so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish

19.  How did Mordecai respond to her request? vs. 17 all that Esther had commanded him

Application:

20.  Esther feared facing the king without being summoned for it could mean instant death to her.  We are told in the Bible that no man can look upon God and live.  We would have the same thing happen to us if we tried to access the throne of God without His Scepter of favor welcoming us.  Sin cannot be in the presence of God, but if we come through Jesus, we come in His righteousness.  Jesus is our Scepter of Favor to draw near to the throne of God.  Comment on the following Scriptures:

• Exodus 33:19,20 -
• John 1:18 -
• 1 Timothy 6:15,16 -
• John 14:6 -
• 2 Corinthians 5:21 -
• Hebrews 4:16 -
• Hebrews 10:19 -
• Titus 3:4-7 -

21.  Mordecai wanted Esther to realize that her coming from being a Jewish orphan to the Queen of Persia could be her purpose to be used to save her people... "for such a time as this."... Do we realize the same thing about our individual lives?  God had a purpose for our family, our location, and every circumstance we find ourselves in.  Even when times are dark and uncertain, we can know that God is going to use us if we are willing to be His Ambassador on His Mission.  Comment on the following Scriptures:

• Ecclesiastes 3:1 -
• Psalm 139:15,16 -
• Ephesians 2:10 -
• Matthew 28:18-20 -
• John 17:15-18
• Acts 1:8 -
• Galatians 2:20 -
• Colossians 4:5 -
• 1 Peter 2:9 -
• Titus 2:11-14 -
• Romans 8:28 -
• Romans 10:14 -
• 2 Corinthians 5:20 -
• 1 Thessalonians 2:4 -
• 2 Corinthians 6:1,2 -

22.  Esther asked that the Jews gather to fast for her.  Fasting always involved prayer although the word prayer is not mentioned.  That would be the purpose for it.  On the 3rd day, she would go to the king and hope he would extend the golden scepter to her.  She would ask that her people be saved.  Her resolve was ... "If I perish, I perish." ... This is the point we must come to; where we are willing to abandon it all, including our lives for the sake of the Gospel.  The world is full of people who are still under a death sentence and they need a Savior.  Will we risk our comforts and safety to tell them how to be saved for eternity?

• Luke 9:23-25 -
• Acts 20:24 -
• 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 -
• 2 Corinthians 5:14,15 -
• Galatians 2:20 -
• Galatians 5:24 -
• Philippians 1:21 -
• I John 3:16 -

23. Mordecai obviously knew the promises of God from the Old Covenant of the Law of Moses for God promised there would always be a nation.  He told Esther that if she did not step forward and seize the moment, deliverance for the Jews would arise from another place.  This is true for us in our gifts and callings as well.  God will move forward calling His followers and bringing His plan of the ages, but we have the opportunity in our sphere of time and location to be co-workers with Him for the sake of the Gospel; we can even hasten His coming by working with Him in the fields that are white for harvest!  Who is in?  I know I want to be!

• 2 Corinthians 6:2 -
• John 6:37-39 -
• John 10:27,28 -
• 2 Timothy 4:5 -
• 1 Corinthians 3:9 -
• 2 Corinthians 6:1 -
• Luke 10:2 -
• John 4:35 -
• Matthew 24:14 -
• 2 Peter 3:12 -
• 1 Thessalonians 2:19,20 -

24.  Summarize this lesson and post a prayer if you would like.

Then entered the bad guy of the story, Haman, who was promoted far beyond his level of competence, and it all went to his head. Haman got the king to order all to bow to him, but there was one man who refused to do so, Mordecai the Jew.  This refusal angered Haman so much that he not only wanted Mordecai put to death, but the entire Jewish race!  He tricked Ahasuerus into ordering the death of the Jewish people, resulting in confusion throughout the city.  When Mordecai read the order of the king to exterminate the Jews, he immediately went into mourning with sackcloth and ashes.

It dawned on Mordecai that perhaps God was at work through all of this, and had elevated his cousin to the place where she was “for such a time as this,” and perhaps she could convince the king to stop this slaughter. She took a bold step of faith and went before the King unbidden, yet he pardoned her rather than having her put to death for her trespass. She had an unusual request of the king, for him and Haman to come to a feast she had prepared. Ahasuerus knew something else was up, though, and that Esther wouldn’t have risked her life unless it was for a crucial reason.