Esther 5:1-5

Esther 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Well, she did it! When Queen Esther came into the throne room, the king’s heart melted. The king’s heart was softened, partly because Esther was so beautiful, and partly because of all of the prayers and fasting. You see, God expects us to be bold for Him, but God also moves as we obey His commands. And God was blessing Queen Esther and softening King Ahasuerus’ heart. And he didn’t even know it! The king held out his scepter to Queen Esther and asked what she wanted. She said, “I would like to invite you and Haman to a banquet this evening.” The king was delighted. And Haman was delighted too. “My, My,” Haman thought, “I am coming up in the world!” Really, Haman? You have no idea what Almighty God is going to do!

Esther 4:10-17

Esther 4:10-17 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; 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, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. And they told to Mordecai Esther's words. Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; ... and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him. Wow! Esther is in a difficult situation! No one was allowed to come into the king’s throne room except by the king’s express command. If they did, they risked their life! The only way they could survive was if the king had mercy and held out his golden scepter to them. If the king was angry with Esther, she was doomed. But if she didn’t act quickly, her people, the Jews, were doomed! Queen Esther made her decision: she was going to try. She commanded everyone around her to fast and pray. She instructed Mordecai and all of the Jews to fast and pray. Would the king hear her request? Only God knew.

Esther 4:5-9

Esther 4:5-9 Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was. So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate. And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people. And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. Esther had no idea that her people were under a death warrant! She was living a great life in the palace and knew very little of the outside world. Her servant, Hatach, spoke with Mordecai and delivered the bad news to Queen Esther. Esther couldn’t believe her ears, but there was the copy of the decree, right there in her hands. What was going to happen to her cousin and her people? What could she do?

Esther 4:1-4

Esther 4:1-4 When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not. Mordecai showed his sorrow by ripping up his clothes and putting on old rough burlap material. He wasn’t afraid to die; he knew he would go to heaven. But he was crushed that God’s chosen people were targeted to be destroyed by the wicked Haman. When Queen Esther heard that Mordecai was making a scene right in front of the palace, she tried to get him to calm down. She sent clean clothes by her servants, but Mordecai would not be satisfied. What was Esther to do? “What was Mordecai’s problem?” she thought.

Esther 3:13,14,15

Esther 3:13,14,15 And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey. The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day. The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed. Haman’s death warrant was sent out by horsemen to all of the Persian provinces. On Adair the 13^th, the Jews were to die. Haman was proud of his plan, but not everyone else in the capital was. Many people in Shushan didn’t understand the king’s new command. What was the problem with the Jews? Weren’t they generally good citizens? Would they be next? Better keep a lookout for that Haman. He is trouble, they said.

Esther 3:8,9,11

Esther 3:8,9,11 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries. And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. Haman’s plan was simple. First he convinced the king that the Jews were troublemakers and were unfit to live. Next, Haman volunteered to pay the wages of the hangmen who would remove the Jews from the kingdom. King Ahasuerus fell for Haman’s charm and gave him permission to exterminate the Jews. King Ahasuerus had no idea that his dear Esther was a Jew! But in killing the Jews, Haman was messing with God’s chosen people. And that wasn’t very smart. Here is a lesson to be learned: don’t mess with God. Not a real bright idea.