King James Bible Study – [Mark 8:34 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.]
Date: Saturday, September 24, 2022
Chapters: ESTHER 5-10
Study: Who Do You Fear? God or Satan
Hello My Friend,
As I was reading the chapters for today I wondered how difficult it would be to live as one of the royals. I am not talking about England, and all that drama, I am talking about having that type of title, and the expectations and demands that come with it. I imagine that it is quite lonely even though you have absolutely no privacy as I am sure that they even have guards outside their bedroom doors. When you think about our relationship with God, and since we who are saved are joint heirs with KING Jesus, we can account that God would have expectations, although I do not believe that they would be so liberal and progressive.
[Romans 8:10-12,14-17 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.]
That reminds me of a song, [I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God, I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood. Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God.] Did you know that once you accept Christ as your Saviour, while He will chasten us, He will protect us from all evil? Jesus said it this way, [Luke 12:4-5 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.]
Now, we can take this two ways, we can fear God who really does not cast anyone into hell as anyone there is there of their own freewill because they are the ones who rejected God. We can also take that as to fear Satan, he too has no power to cast anyone into hell as again, that was of their own freewill. However, that does not mean that God or Satan cannot influence us by the decisions we make, according to what we believe our will to be. There are two things that draw our influence one way or another and those things are pride and lust. Pride and lust is what actually led Judah to their captivity into Babylon for seventy years, it was also what led Haman to his own death. Now, as we come to the end of the reading of Esther, it had been three days since the Jews, or anyone who thought that this decree to kill all the Jews was absurd, fasted and prayed for their lives. Esther, puts on her royal apparel and stood before the inner court of the king’s house.
[Esther 5:1-4 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.]
[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, which we will see as we continue. This is the very same way that Jesus feels about us, we are His bride, He delights in and loves us, and would give us anything we need, within reason, [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.]
Do you see the key there in God granting our reasonable requests? We follow the works of Christ. The last thing we want to do is come off as this arrogant fool who thinks that we can have everything we want, live anyway we want, and that everyone needs to bow down to us. Well, that was Haman, and he was quite proud of the fact that he was the only one invited to a banquet with the king and queen. Haman, in all his pride, strutted out of the palace, I am sure that he was a bit tipsy as this was a just banquet of wine, as he watches all the people bow down to him, and Mordecai just standing there. As much as Haman wanted to approach him he did refrain himself, but when he got home he could not stop talking about him.
[Esther 5:9-10,13-14 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. 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.] Okay, so, this woman was just as wicked as Haman, to suggest that it would be good thing to hang Mordecai before this banquet, and just show up as nothing happened is pure evil. The wicked will always get their power under the fear of Satan, but guess what? God is much more powerful and will always knock Satan down. Haman, went to the king to ask of a petition to have Mordecai hung, only to get distracted by something else when the king discovered something.
[Esther 6:1-4,6 On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 2 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 whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?] This man was full of so much pride that he could not imagine anyone more important than him, he suggested to the king what he would want for himself, and the king granted it, only to discover that the king was not referring to him.
[Esther 6:8-10,12 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. 12 And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.]
[But Haman hasted to his house mourning,] You know, Satan, had it all when he was an archangel, he was next in line to God, and yet it was not enough for him, he wanted and still lusts for all the glory and power that God has. Well, his pride and lust led to him being cast out of heaven and stripped of his title all together, [Isaiah 14:12-15 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.]
God is not done with Satan, all of his pride, lust, and hatred toward man will lead straight to his own death, but God will humiliate him first, just like He did Haman. Well, that humiliation was only the beginning, he would soon find out why he was the only one invited to the banquet when Esther revealed the purpose.
[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.]
[But if we had been sold for bondmen] It is God who gets to decide who lives and dies, not Satan, not man, and especially not a bunch of arrogant wicked fools who think they are God and can destroy anyone that does not bow down to them, [Romans 14:9-11 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.]
Who was the one afraid now? The king was so angry that he got up and walked outside, that was when Haman, realized that his 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 7:8-10 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. 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.]
[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.]
[Then was the king’s wrath pacified.] Right now, Satan is in all his glory because he literally has billions of people bowing to him as well as sent multitudes of souls to hell as they trusted him over God. While God is angry, His wrath will be pacified when He sends Satan to hell also and casts all his minions and those who trusted him into the lake of fire, [Revelation 20:9-10 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Revelation 21:7-8 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.]
And the reason why Jesus has not returned yet, and Satan is still out there tormenting lost souls, and causing havoc on save souls has to do with the fact that there are lost souls that need to be found. Remember, while God is going to destroy this earth and give us a new earth to live, He will not send His Son until the very last soul to trust Him gets saved. Every person will bow to Christ one day, and those who never took the time to receive Him will be begging for their lives only to be sentenced to a second death, hell and the lake of fire). After Haman was hung by the very gallows 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.
[Esther 8:1-3,5,8 On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews’ enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her. 2 And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman. 3 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. 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: 8 Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring: for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse.]
[give the house of Haman the Jews’ enemy unto Esther the queen.] What this means is that the king gave Haman’s estate and all those things that he bragged about to Esther, who in turn gave it to Mordecai. That was still not enough those as that decree to kill the Jews was still in writing. Well, the king granted another decree that would allow the Jews to defend themselves should anyone try to take their lives.
[Esther 8:11,13,17 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, 13 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. 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;] Keep in mind that there is a difference between being a Jew, which was a person born into the lineage of Jacob (Israel) and then there is the Jewish religion, which is Judaism and said to be based on the Law of Moses, and perhaps it was at one time, but it changed into something more of tradition than law, which Jesus pointed that out Himself, [Mark 7:6-8 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.]
The king made Mordecai his next in command and with the new decree now executed, it gave the Jews freedom and the right to defend themselves from their enemies. All the Jews in Shushan gathered together to prepare for this battle, including rulers, officers, and laymen.
[Esther 9:1-4 Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;) 2 The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people. 3 And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. 4 For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.]
[that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them,] Do you see what this is all about? The wicked are strong until they get exposed for who they truly are, they never prosper, and those who do, only do for a short time until God sees His plan through. The wicked will always suffer in their sin, but God’s people will wax greater and greater, [Matthew 23:12-13 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. 13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.]
Even with so many people converting, there were still seventy-five thousand people set out to destroy the Jews and were killed within three days time. Not only that, Haman’s sons were killed as well.
[Esther 9:10,15-17,20-21 The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand. 15 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. 20 And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, 21 To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,]
[but on the spoil laid they not their hand.] You see, while they were allowed to take the things that these people owned, they wanted no part of it. What was more important to them was their lives. God, has give us the power to defend ourselves, and when that time comes He will be there to help us each and every step of the way. You see, the wicked are so conceded that they think that everything they get is a privilege, and literally think that they should be treated as royalty themselves. As cunning as they are they never think twice that all their deception will catch up to them, but it always does. Satan will meet his doom, and that is something worth celebrating every day of the year.
[Revelation 12:9-12 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.]
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
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