Bible Discussion: Esther 3-5

July 2, 2008, 12:00 pm; posted by
Filed under Bible, Chloe, Connie, David, Steve  | No Comments

This week, Bweinh.com continues in Esther by discussing the next three chapters!

PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS:
Genesis: 1-4 | 5-9 | 10-14 | 15-18 | 19-22 | 23-26
27-29 | 30-32 | 33-36 | 37-39 | 40-43 | 44-46 | 47-50
Exodus: 1-4 | 5-8 | 9-11 | 12-14 | 15-18
19-22 | 23-26 | 27-30 | 31-34 | 35-40
Romans: Ch. 1 | Ch. 2 | Ch. 3 | Ch. 4 | Ch. 5 | Ch. 6 | Ch. 7 | Ch. 8 (I)
Ch. 8 (II) | Ch. 9 | Ch. 10 | Ch. 11 | Ch. 12 | Ch. 13 | Ch. 14 | Ch. 15-16
Luke: 1:1-38 | 1:39-2:40 | 2:41-3:38 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
11 | 12 | 13 | 14-15 | 16-17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24
Esther: 1-2

 
INTRODUCTION:
David:
The scene is now set for the clash between God\’s people and the reigning world power. All we need to set it off is an arrogant prime minister and an uncompromising man of God.

Connie:
The newlyweds begin their happily-ever-after — but wait, there\’s an evil ambitious madman threatening to wreck their future! Why hasn\’t Disney gotten to this yet?

 
SOMETHING YOU’D NEVER NOTICED BEFORE:
David:
I just noticed, or perhaps re-noticed, that Mordecai\’s refusal to bow to Haman leads to the decree to kill all the Jews. The Bible says the upright contend with the wicked just by keeping the Law; this is the proof.

Connie:
I guess that Mordecai sort of caused all the trouble in the first place by telling his friends at the gate that he was Jewish — after swearing Esther to secrecy. He\’d already told everyone she was his daughter, so whether he told or she told, either way, the cat was out of the bag.

Chloe:
3:15 says that the city of Susa was bewildered, but it doesn\’t say why.

 
BEST BAND NAME FROM THE PASSAGE:
David: Nisan
Connie: Haman’s Conspiracy
Steve: Hammedatha

 
STORY IT REMINDS YOU OF:
Connie:
Continuing in the example of reality TV, where someone said last week\’s chapters looked like Flavor Flav, chapter three has shades of The Apprentice. Doesn\’t it make you wonder what the king\’s hair looked like?

David:
The way Haman gets so excited about the banquet with Esther reminds me of my son’s excitement about me telling him and Rachel to head down to their bedroom for an “executive conference” (spanking) when they were little. He said, “Oooohh, Rachel, a conference! We\’ve never had one of those before!” Poor kid.

Chloe:
There\’s a quote that says something like, “All it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing.” Mordecai\’s insistence that Esther do something reminds me of that — we\’re all in a position to do something.

 
WHERE IS JESUS IN THIS PASSAGE?:
David:
In Esther’s willingness to die for her people.

 
DEEP THEOLOGICAL MEANING:
David:
Mordecai told Esther that if she refused to intervene, God would save His people some other way — but she and her family would be destroyed. God using us is as much about saving us as anyone we might reach through our ministry.

Chloe:
When Esther was about to risk her life to save her people, she asked the Jews of Susa to fast and pray for her. She looked for support among the community, found it, and succeeded. Too often we try to suffer silently, but God did not make us to do anything alone. As the body of Christ, we are here to support each other through prayer and fasting, food drives, special offerings, or just being there for each other. But we have to let others know we\’re struggling before they can reach out to us.

 
RANDOM THOUGHT:
Connie:
Why couldn\’t Esther\’s father live in the palace somewhere? Weren\’t there apartments someplace in town so he wouldn\’t have to stay outside like a homeless guy? He was after all, the Queen\’s closest relative.

Steve:
Haman allowed his anger and resentment against Mordecai to ruin his joy. If he had just been able to be satisfied with “his great riches, the multitude of his children” and “everything in which the king had promoted him,” the story would have ended much better for him.

 
VERSE TO REMEMBER:
Chloe, David, Connie, Steve:
4:13-14 — “Mordecai told them to answer Esther: ‘Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king\’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father\’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?’ ”

 
PORTION YOU WOULD MOST LIKE EXPLAINED IN HEAVEN:
Connie:
I\’d like to ask Mordy what he was thinking, letting out the family secret like that.

 
GENERAL RESPONSE TO THE PASSAGE:
Connie:
I couldn\’t stop reading — who could stop reading? I\’m ready for next week already!

 
LESSON TO TAKE AWAY:
David:
God puts His people exactly where He wants them — sometimes they are only there so God can pick a fight with someone.

 
CONCLUSION:
Connie:
God will take care of you today, and tomorrow. Seek out His plans.


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