ESTHER

The following comments are from Navigator's and Quiet Time Diary journals. One verse will be entered, then the comment, then the date.

1:12    But Queen Vashti refused to come at the King's command delivered by the eunuchs. Then the King became very angry and his wrath burned within him.    

    In the time that this was written, men were the complete rulers and women were to do as they were commanded. When Queen Vashti refused to come when summoned, tradition and probably law was broken.
    Today women have the same rights as men in most countries, where their opinions and thoughts are highly valued. (DRM 10/22/06)

1:19    If it pleases the King, let a royal edict be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti should come no more into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the King give her royal position to another who is more worthy than she.

    After consultation, the decision had been made. The law had been broken and the people had to see that this wouldn't be taken lightly. We all have laws to follow, and if some laws have no meaning, they should be abolished. God wants us to obey the laws that are created by men, with few exceptions. (DRM 10/23/06)

1:22a,c    He (King Xerxes) sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom . . . proclaiming in each people's tongue that every man should be ruler over his own household. 

    The Queen would not come to the King when requested, so this edict was composed. In today's "modern" times, very few people would agree to this edict - except we Christians! (DRM 11/10/88)

2:10    Esther did not make known her people or her kindred, for Mordecai had instructed her that she should not make them known.

    One thing hasn't changed in thousands of years; the Israelite people or the Jews have been despised throughout history. I think that is because they are God's chosen people and Satan wants them eliminated. Nothing was different in Esther's time. Mordecai wanted to protect his uncle's daughter (v. 7), so told her this verse. (DRM 10/24/06)

2:17    Now the king (Xerxes) was attracted to Esther more than any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.  

    The king had a different way to choose the new Queen, and this chapter deals with all the details. I personally couldn't do things in the same way. (DRM 11/11/88)

    The virgins had one year to get ready to meet the king (v. 12), which seems very long to me. At any rate, the king chose Esther to be the queen. Perhaps I should learn to have more patience from these verses, and to let God do the choosing what I shall do the rest of my life. (DRM 10/25/06)

3:6    But he (Haman) disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were; therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

    Mordecai refused to bow before Haman as commanded by the king (v. 2). This caused Haman to be filled with rage (v. 5) and thus he wanted to exterminate all of the Jews.
    Sometimes I get angry or upset with a person of a particular group - but that doesn't mean the whole group is bad; rather that I should try to understand the reasoning of that one person, and to pray to correct it. (DRM 10/26/06)

4:8    He (Mordecai) also gave him (Esther's eunuch, Hathach) a copy of the text of the edict which had been issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show Esther and inform her, and to order her to go in to the king to implore his favor and to plead with him for her people.

    It seems that the protocol of nobility is a hindrance - in that it would be easier to talk to someone directly that to go through "channels." This still occurs in government and large organizations. PTL I don't have to go through channels to talk to God=Jesus. He's always available to listen to my concerns. (DRM 10/27/06)

4:16b    . . . I (Esther) and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish. 

    Esther just found out that the Jews were to be killed and finally agreed to see the king. As in this case, God tells us what to do via others speaking to us. (DRM 11/12/88)

5:3    Then the king asked, "What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you."

    King Xerxes still loved Esther and would do whatever she asked. Esther was smart and prepared one banquet and scheduled another before telling of her plan. (DRM 11/13/88)

5:4    And Esther said, "If it please the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him."

    Esther had to have a plan and wanted to create suspense as to what her request would be. She had two banquets prepared, two days in a row before she would even mention her request.
    Like Esther, sometimes God gives me a plan (like now) on how to serve Him in a special way. My (our) job is to do His will, His way. (DRM 10/28/06)

6:6b    Now Haman thought to himself, "Who is there that the King would rather honor than me?"

    In Esther 6, the King found out that Mordecai deserved honor, while Haman was intending to kill Mordecai. Haman thought he would be honored, however it was to be Mordecai.
    Sometimes we don't realize our own sins and expect to be honored for things that we have done on our own and not in God's will.
    We should try to be more aware of God and not self-centered. (DRM 2/9/87)

6:11    So Haman took the robe and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, "Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor."

    Haman was a very prideful person, he was getting his way, and thought he was a close advisor to the king. Today's verse shows that he wasn't fully in control in his desires to exterminate the Jews. God was/is still in control, and soon Haman would see that. (DRM 10/29/06)

7:3    Then Queen Esther replied, "If I have found favor in your sight, O King, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me as my petition, and my people as my request;

    Haman had devised a plot to exterminate all the Jews in the kingdom. The king had singed the order without knowing what was planned by Haman. Queen Esther found out about the plot and requested this meeting with the King to expose Haman's plot.
    The Lord God puts each of us in different positions during our lives. He arranges who we will meet and knows what we will say.
    The purpose of life is to glorify the Lord and here is our example of how Queen Esther saved her people, the Jews. (DRM 10/25/11)

7:4    . . . for we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed and to be annihilated. Now if we had only been sold as slaves, men and women, I would have remained silent, for the trouble would not be commensurate with the annoyance to the king."

    Haman had planned and had King Ahasuerus sign a document to destroy all the Jews in the Kingdom of Persia (Iran)  (Esther 3:6).
    The king was not aware that his new wife, Queen Esther, was a Jew and she found out the plot and brought it to the king in this verse.
    Today the ruler of Iran has a similar plot in mind. God saved His people from destruction about 460 B.C. and, since God is unchanging, I believe He will protect His people from what the Iranians are planning today. (DRM 4/28/12)

7:6    And Esther said, "A foe and an enemy, is this wicked Haman!" Then Haman became terrified before the king and queen.

    While God is never mentioned in this book, He seems to have been working through the lives of Esther and Mordecai. They wanted to save their people from being killed, but God knew that this line of David had to be preserved, and worked out all the details in this book - just as He will work out all the details in my life, to be of service to Him. (DRM 10/30/06)

7:10    So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.

    The king was furious upon finding out Haman's plans to kill the Jews. When he found Haman with Esther, he (the king) ordered Haman killed. Personal glory/fame will last only a short time unless it is for God's glory. (DRM 11/14/88) Then it isn't OUR fame, it is God's fame that will be proclaimed. (DRM 5/9/2004)

8:8    "Now you write to the Jews as you see fit, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's signet ring; for a decree which is written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's signet ring may not be revoked."

    The tables had been turned. Now Mordecai could write a decree to cancel Haman's decree to kill all the Jews (v. 9). While God isn't mentioned, He was still the director of all these events - as He is in my life daily. (DRM 10/31/06)

8:11a,b    The king's edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate any armed force of any nationality . . .

    Esther had convinced the king that Haman's order to kill the Jews was wrong, so a new edict was drawn up to give the Jews their freedom again. The Lord's people win in the end! (DRM 11/15/88)

8:15    Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a large crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple; and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced; . . .

    Queen Esther had defended the Jews to King Ahasuerus and Haman's plot to kill the Jews was exposed, then Haman was hung (7:10). Mordecai was promoted and quickly wrote a decree in the king's name (v. 8), that cancelled the earlier decree that would have killed all the Jews (3:13).
    In this verse the Jews were celebrating their new life - cancelling their extermination.
    As Christians, the day we put our trust in Jesus we had reason to celebrate our new life in a similar way. Our spiritual eyes were opened and our eternal life began. Praise the Lord! (DRM 8/23/17)

9:4    Mordecai was prominent in the palace; his reputation spread throughout the provinces, and he became more and more powerful.

    This is a great example of a poor person who totally trusted in God for everything, and God honored him in his lifetime. Serving God is best, rewards can wait. (DRM 11/16/88)

9:16    Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king's provinces assembled, to defend their lives and rid themselves of their enemies, and kill 75,000 of those who hated them; but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

    I guess I'm not a born murderer, and would rather have tried to discuss my problems with my enemy than to kill him. Still, the king allowed this to happenfor two days (v. 13) and the Jews were allowed revenge for what had been done for them in the past. (DRM 11/1/06)

9:28    So these days were to be remembered and celebrated throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, and these days of Purim were not to fail from among the Jews, or their memory fade from their descendants.