King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Sunday, September 24, 2023
Chapters: ESTHER 5-10
Message: Climb of Faith
Hello My Friend,
As I was looking up one verse for victory, I started singing, “Faith is The Victory” when this verse popped up, [1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.] Never let anyone tell you that they do not have faith in something, think about it, you even need to have faith in believing absolutely nothing at all. I love the stories in the Bible that remind us that no matter how much we are taunted and how bad we are treated by the world, including many who call themselves Christians, God has our back. To the world we are just fools trusting in a man who walked the earth two thousand years ago and got martyred for His faith. Nevertheless, to the faithful, born again Christian, we are His and He is ours, and there is nothing they can do to us because even in death we have the victory.
[1 Corinthians 15:54-58 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (55) O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (56) The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.]
I just got a new computer so please bear with me if something looks odd as I have not moved everything over from my laptop just yet. It is strange whenever you get something new because you are both excited and overwhelmed as it takes time to learn and adjust to something new. Is that not how our faith gets sometimes? We are so excited when everything is going well, but the second some new trial pops up we get overwhelmed and start to lag. Well, let me tell you, the best thing about lagging faith is that the climb back up gets stronger, and bolder. When the Jews in Babylon found out that their lives were in danger, it was not just those in Babylon, but Jews all over the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces that Babylon had rule over, including Israel. Now, as we come to the end of the reading of Esther, it had been three days since Esther had told the Jews to fast and pray. It was time for her to make that climb of faith to the king, of which she had a delightful surprise.
[Est 5:1-5 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. (2) And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. (3) Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom. (4) And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him. (5) Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.]
[that she obtained favour in his sight:] Do you know what an honor it is to have the favor of God? As long as you have accepted Christ as your Saviour you can stand before Him and He will listen to you with open arms, [1 John 5:13-15 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (14) And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: (15) And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.]
[it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.] If we recall, Esther, was not like any other woman to king Ahasuerus, she was his queen, he found delight in her, and actually loved her. This is the very same way that Jesus feels about us, we are His bride, He delights in and loves us, and would gladly give us our petitions, within reason of course, [John 14:12-14 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.]
I am sure that the people in the room with the queen could not fathom how this woman could just stand in the hallway without being invited and still live to tell about it, but she did and Haman could not be more ecstatic that he was the only one invited. After the banquet he ran home to tell his wife and friends of how much of an honor it was to be the only person there and was invited the next day. His joy turned into anger when he saw Mordecai, his so his lovely wife, and I say that sarcastically as she had a suggestion that would cheer him up.
[Esther 5:9-11,13-14 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. (10) Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. 13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate. (14) Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.]
[then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet.] This man was full of so much pride that he could not imagine anyone more important than him. You know, the thing about pride is that it will take you up so far that the fall will literally break you to pieces, one humiliation at a time, [Proverbs 16:17-18 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. (18) Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.]
While Haman was on his way to the palace, which happened to be quite late, the king was unable to sleep and decided to go through the government records. As they were read to him he was reminded of the time that Mordecai had stopped the plot of the two men that were trying to assassinate him and wondered what had been done to commemorate him.
[Esther 6:2-4,6 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. (3) And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him. (4) And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?]
[to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows] So, here is this man getting ready to ask the king for permission to hang Mordecai in the morning when he gets sidetracked with this question. Of course, he thought that there was no person more honorable than himself and told him exactly how he wanted to be honored.
[Esther 6:8-10 Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: (9) And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.]
[and do even so to Mordecai the Jew,] Wow! What a kick in the gut. And if that were not more humiliating, it was Haman who paraded Mordecai through the streets. And that was not even the end of his humiliation, no sooner than he gets home to complain to his wife and friends about the humiliating event, he is summoned to join the king and queen.
[Esther 6:12-14 And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered. (13) And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. (14) And while they were yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.]
[Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him,] Oh, now they want to warn him that messing with the Jews is going to come back to haunt him. Well, that warning was about to come true, and I believe they not even think it was going to happen as fast as it did. During the second banquet Esther starts pleading with the king to save her and her peoples lives.
[Esther 7:3-6 Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: 4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage. 5 Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? 6 And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.]
[For we are sold,…to be slain, and to perish.] It really is one thing to be taken captive and another to be sentenced to death just for being born of ones heritage. The call to kill all the Jews just because they were Jews was out of pure hatred, there was no justification in that ridiculous decree. What it all boils down to is the wicked despise God and since they cannot directly attack God directly, they go after the ones who worship Him. Now, add Jesus to the equation and they want to kill you, but since we belong to Him, He certainly has our back, [Matthew 10:21-23 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. (22) And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. (23) But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.]
Do you think it is odd that Jesus would tell us that if they persecute us in one city that we are to flee to another? I believe that He is telling us to try to avoid confrontation unless it is absolutely necessary. Well, the king was so angry that he got up and walked outside, that was when Haman, realized that his own life was in danger, and literally begged for the queen to save his life, falling on the couch that she was sitting on. When the king returned, he was even more angry at seeing Haman laying next to her.
[Esther 7:7–9 And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. (8) Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.]
[they covered Haman’s face.] Oh, it was over for him at this point, the king could not even stand to look at him. Not only was he angry with him over that decree, he was also angry at him for deceiving him. You know, the wicked are strong until they get exposed for who they truly are, they never prosper, and those who do, only do for a season until God sees His plan through. The wicked will always suffer in their sin, but God’s people will always prevail in their faith, [Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.]
[And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains,] Always remember that someone is watching, there is nothing hidden, especially if it is evil, it will all come out. Satan, thought that he defeated Jesus when he saw him hanging on the cross, he got even more confident when he died on the cross and was buried. And for three nights, he basked in his glory of defeating God’s only begotten Son. Then his glory turned to shame when He arose on the third day, [Matthew 28:5-6 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.]
Now, after Haman was hung by the very gallows that he had made for Mordecai, the king asked Esther what else he could do to make things right. She asked him to allow the Jews to defend themselves of the decree that Haman had forged concerning that all Jews be executed.
[Esther 8:3-6 And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. (4) Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king, (5) And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king’s provinces: (6) For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?]
[or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?] We should all be burdened about family and friends whom have not come to know Christ as their Saviour and not be afraid to tell them how they can be saved, [Luke 14:23-24 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. (24) For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.]
It was not enough that Mordecai’s life was spared, the decree was still out to kill all the Jews, but the king wasted no time in making a new decree that allowed them to defend themselves should anyone attempt to come after them. In fact, he had Mordecai write up the decree and gave him his ring to certify it.
[Esther 8:9,11 Then were the king’s scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language. 11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,]
[and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse.] The law stated that when the king signs a decree, certifying it with the stamp of his ring it cannot be broken under any circumstances, even if someone forged his signature. So, the death sentence was still in affect and would take place on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month of Adar, which is in the middle of January and February, but the king did allow the Jews to defend themselves if anyone tried to kill even one of them, which is why we learn that no one touched them.
[Esther 8:15-17 And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. (16) The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour. (17) And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.]
[And many of the people of the land became Jews;] Many of the people converted to Judaism out of fear that they would be killed. Perhaps they realized also that there is only one God and the Jews had His favor. It is that fear that we all need to realize that unless we are converted we too will die. And guess what? The second we accept Christ as our Saviour, He will protect us for eternity, [Romans 6:22-23 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (23) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.]
After all this, the king made Mordecai his next in command and allowed him to write a new decree to give the Jews freedom and the right to defend themselves from their enemies. Seventy-five thousand people who were set out to destroy the Jews were slain within three days time.
[Esther 9:15-17 For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand. 16 But the other Jews that were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey, 17 On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.]
[and made it a day of feasting and gladness.] We can learn a valuable lesson in all this, God, is on His throne, Jesus, stands before God, pleading with Him to save the souls of the ones who comes to Him through there faith in Him, and one day, Satan, will meet his doom. Now, that is something worth celebrating every day of the year, [Romans 6:22-23 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (23) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.]
Today’s Prayer: God, As I look back on my life I can see all the difficulties that You have allowed and just how much Your hand played a part in my enduring them, even when I was not always faithful to Your will for my life. I thank You for the cross that You took that I should have bore, and how You saved my soul. I also thank You for the life that You have given me. Lord, lead me and guide me, let me be a witness to the amazing life that You provide when I put my faith and trust solely upon You. Let me be as faithful as Esther, willing to always give my life as a living sacrifice to be used for Your glory, and let me not become boastful or proud, and think of myself anything other than a sinner saved by grace through my faith in Your Son alone. I love You and ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/ready-to-follow-jesus/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Read Previous Devotions: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Read The Bible: http://kingjamesbible.imfollowingjesus.com/
Visit I’m Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2023 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.