Purim Esther 9

Esther 9:1-2 "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 the, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;) The Jews gathered themselves together to 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."

After Haman was discovered and reported to the king, his decree was reversed so that the Jews could defend themselves and they had the help of those governing them so that the tide turned totally in their favor.

Pur or Purim: called the feast of lots because Haman sought to determine by lots when the day would be to destroy the Jews. In celebration for their deliverance the feast is still honored. There was a difference in the day celebrated because the triumph occurred on a different day in the provinces than in Shushan. So two days are celebrated now as confirmed by queen Esther.

v22 "As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another and gifts to the poor."

v32 "And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim, and it was written in the book."

Mordecai was surely correct when he told Esther that her purpose in coming to the king's house may have been to save her people. The whole series of events could not have happened other than by the guiding hand of God. Vashti's rebellion, Haman's rise to power, Esther's abduction, the conspiracy to kill the king, Mordecai's lingering at the gate, Esther's winning of the king's heart, Esther's wisdom in arranging the banquet to accuse Haman, the decree that reversed the decree that was not suppose to be changed, Mordecai's rise to power. It is all to fantastic except by the hand of God.

Psalm 33:18 "Behold the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;"

The feasts of lots or Purim is confirmed.

Link to Turn-a-round post.

Turn-a-Round Esther 8

Esther 8:1 "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."

In faraway places the Jews must have been huddled in their homes afraid for the decree Haman had sent out, that the Jews could be killed and their stuff taken.

Here is an example of how the Lord works. While those people in the far flung provinces did not know of the goings on in the palace, the Lord had turned a king's heart because of a little Jewish girl and hanged the enemy and promoted a man who hung around the gate to the highest position under the king.

The children of Israel, called Jews in this Book, are still under God's protection even though he has allowed them to be carried away into captivity for their disobedience. It is love beyond understanding.

v4 "Then the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther, So Esther arose, and stood before the king."

Esther now approaches the king again and request that the decree of Haman, to kill the Jews, be dealt with. The king gave Mordecai his ring and told him to handle it as he saw fit.

v8 "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."

Oh ye people, who are afraid in the kingdom, help is on the way.

v10 "And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries: v11 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."

The king gave them the right to defend themselves.

v16 "The Jews had light, and gladness and joy, and honor. v17 "...And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them."

These dishonored people who did not even have the right to fight for their families were now elevated in the kingdom to the point that people took on their nationality.

God is doing as any parent would do here. He may punish his child but he will not allow another to do so.

Nehemiah 9:31 "Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake, thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God."

Psalm 119:153 "Consider mine affliction, and deliver me; for I do not forget thy law."

Haman's decree is reversed.

Link to previous post.

Banquet for Three Esther 7

Esther 7:2 "And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom."

The three: King Ahasuerus, Queen Esther, Haman.

Haman has just led Mordecai through the street on the kings horse and went home in shame. Then the kings men came to get him for the banquet that Esther has set up. The king has asked Esther what she wanted.

v4 "For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. ..."

v5 "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?"

v6 "And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen."

The king rose and went to the garden. He must have been a good king, of sorts, to take time to think even now and to give his rage time to settle down. While he was in the garden Haman began pleading with Esther. It must have been custom to lie on a bed at these occasions for Esther was laying on one. Haman in his pleading fell upon her bed and the king came in at this time to find Haman on his queen's bed.

v8 "Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wind; 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."

It is a bad sign when the king stops talking directly to Haman and speaks about him as if he could not hear. He never got a chance to plead further. Esther told the king of the gallows Haman had prepared for Mordecai. Haman was hanged there forthwith.

v10 "So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified."

Remember how Haman was promoted to the top position in the kingdom under the king. The people of 127 provinces bowed to him except one man, Mordecai. Haman could have ignored Mordecai as a nut case but instead he aspired to take vengeance on all the Jews instead. His ego would not let him ignore Mordecai and it cost him his life. Although, he had the ring to represent the king, he was not the king and should have remembered.

In all this, we can see the LORD's hand. Esther was placed in the palace and given favor with the king. Mordecai was there to remind Esther that the issue was larger than just one person. They were there to rescue their people. The issue was a national issue. The decree went to all the provinces to kill the Jews. But the solution was narrowed to four people: King Ahasuerus, Queen Esther, Haman and Mordecai.

Esther was obedient to Mordecai. Esther won the king's heart.

Proverbs 11:5 "The righteous of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness."

A banquet for three. Esther points out the enemy.

Link to previous post.

Haman and Mordecai Face Off Esther 3

Esther 3:5 "And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath." See also Daniel chapter 3.

Haman is one of the kings men who was promoted to the top spot under the king. The people were required to bow to him when he passed as they would bow for the king. Mordecai refused to do so.

v3 "Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transfressest thou the king's commandment?"

They let this go on for a while but finally reported the disobedience to Haman. Haman took personal offence instead of actually being offended for the king's commandment. Instead of getting mad at Mordecai, Haman got mad at the whole race of Jewish people.

v8 "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."

Haman carried his offense to the king, not for the kings sake (actually) but for his own ego because Mordecai would not bow to him. The king turned the lions lose on the Jewish people and made a decree that they could be killed and their possessions taken for spoil.

v15 "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 seems to have accomplished his purpose. He has convinced the king to allow the Jews to be killed and he is now having a drink with the king.

But we should not forget about Esther. Remember she has not yet revealed that she too is a Jew. Mordecai will ask for her help in the next chapter.

Psalm 34:1 "I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth."

Haman plots to kill the Jews.

Esther and the King.

Esther and the King Esther 2

Esther 2:17 "And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti."

Esther's Hebrew names was Hadassah. Hadassah means myrtle. Esther means star. She was of the tribe of Benjamin, an orphan and adopted by her cousin Mordecai.

Esther did not go to the palace to be crowned queen so far as those who took her were concerned. She was one of many who were kept in a house for the king's pleasure. However, she found great favor with the king and was made queen.

v3 "And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:"

Mordecai taught Esther well. She was fair and beautiful v7. She found favor with Hege and he gave her 7 maidens and the best place in the house v9.

v10 "Esther had not showed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not show it."

So Ester did not tell them she was Jewish. She waited her turn to be called by the king and no doubt she was very afraid. After all, she was there against her will and in our day would have been considered kidnapped.

The decree to gather the young women was in the kings ( about the) fourth year of his reign and Esther went to him in the seventh year of his reign. v16. There is a greater purpose in all this but Esther did not know it at the time.

v18 "And the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces and gave gifts according to the state of the king."

The king had found his queen.

Mordecai stayed around the gate to see if Esther was alright. He irritated the guards but managed to stay anyway. He discovered a conspiracy against the king and told Esther saving the kings life. Mordecai was not rewarded then but the event was recorded and will show up later.

v23 "And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree; and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king."

The stage is set now and a new name will appear in the next chapter. He is a power seeker and has a big ego. His name is Haman. He and Mordecai become foes.

v14 "And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her."

Psalm 147:6 "The LORD lifteth up the meek; he casteth the wicked down to the ground."

Esther becomes queen.

Ester Intro

Trouble Within-Usury Nehemiah 5

Nehemiah 5:8 "And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer."

From what I can remember, it was not lawful for the children of Israel to charge usury to each other although they could charge other nations.

Now Nehemiah has found out from the people that those who are working and trying to care for their families are being taken advantage of by others who are seizing the opportunity to get mortgages on land and loan money. They are even putting the children in bondage.

v1 "And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

v2"...we are many; therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.

v3 "...We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.

v4" ...We have borrowed money for the king's tribute..."

v5 "...we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters..."

Nehemiah got mad. I think he was more angry now that when Sanballat made fun of them and even attacked them.

v6 "And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words." I like the next phrase "v7 "Then I consulted with myself,..."

Nehemiah made a very strong speech to those who were charging the people all this interest. He got them to give it back...the land and a part of the money. In a vivid demonstration typical of the culture he let them know he would not put up with a breach of their promise and hoped God would agree.

v13 "Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise."

Nehemiah goes on to say that even though he was governor that he did not do as the other governors and demand stuff from the people as the other governor. He took a minimum, plus he continued to work on the walls. He even fed over a hundred people at his table on what he did get.

v17 "Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us."

To use my words, I think he said: 'I'm not taking advantage and neither will you get away with it.'

Jeremiah 18:6 "O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel."

Nehemiah stops the charging of usury among the Jews and other stuff.