Esther's Timely Appeal to the King

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Esther's Timely Appeal to the King

Date: May. 7, 2023

Passage

Esther 7:1-10 (ESV)

1 So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther. 2 And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, “What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” 3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. 4 For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.” 5 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who has dared to do this?” 6 And Esther said, “A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.

7 And the king arose in his wrath from the wine-drinking and went into the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm was determined against him by the king. 8 And the king returned from the palace garden to the place where they were drinking wine, as Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. And the king said, “Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?” As the word left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman’s face. 9 Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, “Moreover, the gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman’s house, fifty cubits high.” And the king said, “Hang him on that.” 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 7:3

Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request.

One may wonder why Esther delayed making her request and extended the banquet for another day. Was she fearful and indecisive? Probably not. Esther had already decided she would perish if it came to that. She was equipped with prayer; she fasted and prayed along with Mordecai and fellow Jews (4:16). When she saw the king was in a generous mood (5:3) and showed a positive view toward Jews when he exalted Mordecai over Haman (6:10), she knew her time had come. Esther demonstrated her wisdom as she prayed and followed the Lord's plan (Prov 16:9).

She begged for her life at the king's offer to give her anything she wished. She exposed Haman's plot to pay the king for the right to annihilate the Jews (3:9). Haman probably was unaware of Esther's Jewish background nor her relation to Mordecai. Nonetheless, his plot to wipe out the Jews based on his childish pride and ambition for human honor earned the rage of God (Ps 5:6).

At Esther's plea and on her behalf, the king became furious. Ironically, Haman was hanged at the pole he had set up to hang Mordecai. That was the end of a man who seemed to succeed through malice and lies (Ps 7:14-16).

Prayer: Prayer: Father, you have a plan in your wisdom and goodwill. Please help me to ask for your direction rather than acting based on my feelings.

One Word: One Word: Wisdom comes from seeking the Lord.

“he Has Risen!”

Mark 16:1-20

Key Verse: 16:6

And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.

Today's Question

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