Good morning,
The book of Esther shows us how God keeps His promises, how God saves the Jews from annihilation, and the sovereignty of God. Did I mention the name of God is not mentioned in the whole book? Yet God is in every circumstance that happens to save God’s people.
Please read chapters 1-2.
The Book of Esther
The Festival of Purim
Chapter Outline for Book of Esther
Chapter 1 tells us of an insubordinate Queen. Vashti refuses the King’s request to appear before him. Her refusal results in her removal as Queen and banishment.
Chapter 1 The Fall of Queen Vashti
“But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.” (1:12)
“If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.20 And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honor, both to great and small.21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:” (1:19-21)
Things to think about as you read Esther. The Jews were captives and living in Babylon. The story takes place in Shushan. Woman, whether Jew or Gentile, did not have any rights. They were required to submit to men. The Babylonians did not worship Jehovah God.
Chapter 2 is the search for a new Queen. All the young virgins in Shushan were set before the King. He chose Esther, a Jew. Esther was an orphan, her parents being dead. Her guardian, Mordecai, her uncle, saved the King’s life.
Chapter 2 The Rise of Esther
“Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her.16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. (2:15-17)
Things to think about as you read Esther. Please read and discover how God orchestrated each event and why. Write down events where God kept a promise, the hand of God was at work, or how God, completely behind the scenes, orchestrated events to protect His Jewish people.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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