Week 2 DAY 4
Today
We will:
- LOOK at Esther Chapter 2:12-16.
- LEARN ‘how‘ to incorporate GODcha’s tools along the way.
- LISTEN to God speak to us as we focus on GODcha’s LEARN/LIVE questions.
Let’s Pray
And Continue With an Attitude of Prayer
O LORD, we hunger for Your Word of Truth and do desire to understand it in order to live it and know the fullness of blessing and bring You honor in Your Son’s name. Help us focus today and truly hear Your voice. Thank you.
If you get STUCK at any point in your discovery, stop, and pray!
GOD, your Creator, loves you and desires to reveal much to you.
Remember Context
We were introduced to Mordecai and Esther, who were Jews. We know both are far from home and life has not been an easy road for them.
But, we are given several clues that they were not walking with God at this point in the story.
They:
-Both had Persian names, living with 2 identities, clueing us in that they were subtly indoctrinated and living compromised lives.
-Did not return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, thus living far away from the presence of God.
-Did not resist the king’s orders when Esther is taken to the king’s palace along with 400+ other young ladies.
-Did not refuse the Persian foods, thus being disobedient to the Lord by eating foods He forbid in the Old Testament.
-Did not make known that they were Jewish, perhaps due to the animosity towards the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem.
Even though they were not walking with God, God was walking with them, granting Esther favor with Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the women.
Today: Esther’s Night With the King
Now Let’s LOOK
at What God Says 
Begin LOOKING By READING
READ Esther 2:12-16, asking the who, what, where, when, why and how questions.
Focus on verses 12-14.
1. What was the method and timing of preparation for each lady?
2. How did each lady go to the king, including Esther, when it was their turn?
3. When did each lady go in to the king? Then what would happen?
4. When specifically did Esther go in to the king?
Do we wonder why God would allow this to happen? Where is He?
We must remember it may feel like God is absent, but feelings are not facts! God was there, and is here today, working behind the scenes. So. . .
Reflect on the events that demonstrate God’s hidden hand.
LOOK
At Verses 12-14
What’s Key?
Like a KEY – they‘ unlock’ the meaning to what God is saying.
What happens to each young lady and Esther will be key.
What’s a concubine?
LOOK
Check Out The Meaning
You should know how to do this by now.
Tap on the word in your Bible in GODcha.
Do you see the definition pop open?
CONCUBINE, piylegeš; A concubine was a legitimate wife; however, she was of secondary rank. But concubines were presented opposite the wives of higher rank (1 Kgs. 11:3; Song 6:8). The ability to have and to keep concubines was a sign of wealth, status, and often of royalty (1 Kgs. 11:3; Esth. 2:14).
DON’T STOP THERE!
NOTE: Take what you have learned back to the text, to see what it means in its CONTEXT.
TIP: I would encourage you to note these in your hardbound Bibles.
LOOK
Check Out The Cross References
(aka CR)
About Concubines
1. What do you understand about concubines (a legitimate wife; however, she was of secondary rank)?
Check out the laws that were set up to protect the concubine.
Exo 21:7-10
Deut 21:10-14
2. What did Christianity restore for today?
Mat 19:5-9
1Co 7:2
What Did You LEARN
Check Out GODcha’s #16 LEARN Question(s)
#16. Describe the 12 month process for each young lady to prepare for 1 night with the king (in his bed)? Then what would happen? (v12-16)
[Scholars: If the king was not delighted in a woman to summon her by name, she was banished to the harem where she stayed the concubine of the king, living as an unloved woman, widow, for she could never marry anyone else!]
Okay, Let’s Bring It All Together
We LEARN:
– Each young lady had a 12 mth spa for beautification: 6 mths with oil of myrrh and 6 mths with spices and cosmetics.
Why 12 months?
GODcha tells us Some reason: that this would be sufficient time to ensure a lady was not pregnant.
– Remember – there is a line 400 + deep, and when it was the lady’s turn to go in with the king, she could take anything she desired from the harem.
– In the evening she would go in to the king.
THINK and REASON
One night with the king. And what do we think happened in the evening with the king? It’s night time.
“Are they going on a date? No. Does it start with dinner, and “Tell me about your family,” “What’s your favorite color?” “Do you know how to read?” Nothing. Where do they start? At bed time. He’s like a lot of guys: “Let me sleep with you, and then I’ll figure out if I want to get to know you.”” Mark Driscoll
We LEARN:
And in the morning she would return to the second harem, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not go in to the king again unless the king delighted in her and she was summoned by name.
We Discover
GODcha shares Scholars say: If the king was not delighted in a woman to summon her by name, she was banished to the harem where she stayed the concubine of the king, never to leave nor return to her family, living as an unloved woman, like a widow, never allowed to marry anyone else.
THINK and REASON:
What is happening in each young lady’s life?
Some relished the glamorous and lavish lifestyle.
But for others, this is dark, it’s tragic! Each one has been taken from her family, from her hopes and dreams and goes in to the king, to do whatever he wants and requires of her. And the odds are very much against her.
This is sexual exploitation. You go in and if not picked to be crowned Miss Persia, then you are tossed aside, sent off to a nice plush room in the palace. For the rest of your life luxury, but empty and hollow.
THINK A BIT MORE:
In contrast, we need to see God. See that He is not absent, and as we are beginning to see, He was working behind the scenes in Esther’s life, we also need to realize He was working in each lady’s life.
We Discover:
-A concubine was a legitimate wife, but second in rank.
-In the Old Testament, among God’s people, provision was made to ensure the proper treatment of female slaves, who could be redeemed, and not be left destitute by wrongful action on the part of their master.
-BUT, in the New Testament the sacred institution of marriage has been restored. A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the 2 shall become one flesh.
-Because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband.
LISTEN
What Might God Be Asking You
Check Out GODcha’s #16 LIVE Question(s)
#16. This is a horrible scene, like sex trafficking, rape, and/or incest.
a. When/how have I been sexually abused?
b. How has the Lord helped me overcome, so I can be used for His purposes?
c. How can I help others who have been sexually exploited?
Remember:
Respond to God. . . LIVE it out!
Remember We Don’t Just LISTEN,
We Speak to God!
Oh talk to the Lord your incredible Creator, who knows you intimately, and is there ready and willing to help you.
Psa 139:7-12 tells us God is right here with you, and darkness is not dark to Him! The night is as bright as day!
God has a plan for all our lives, redeeming us if we have bowed the knee to Him by faith. And takes what was meant for harm and turns it into something good, Rom 8:28.
Today: Esther’s Night With the King
Keep LOOKING
At Verses 15-16
READ Esther 2:12-16 again, asking the who, what, where, when, why and how questions.
Focus on Verses 15-16.
- What happened when it was Esther’s turn to go in to the king?
- Did she request anything as the other ladies?
- What was the result?
- When was Esther taken to the king?
Remember:
Reflect on the events that demonstrate God’s hidden hand.
LOOK
What’s Key?
LOOK
At The Cross References
(aka CR)
About Not Requesting Anything
What do you learn about ‘not requesting anything’ in verse 15?
1. What does Peter tell us about a woman’s adornment?
1Pe 3:3-4
2. What do you discover about godliness and contentment?
1Ti 6:6-7
Phil 4:11-13
LISTEN to the Spirit –
The Personal Question(s) Might Be:
Ladies:
Is my adornment merely external?
Why?
Am I not concerned with my heart and an internal beauty?
What must I do to have the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit that is precious in the sight of God?
Right now, this day, am I content in my circumstances? If not, what must I do?
Oh, do you see how you can HEAR the Lord speak to you, causing you to ponder and reflect even more?
As you slow down and prayerfully focus on what God says and means,
You will begin to be sensitive to His Spirit,
Hearing Him speak to you, and
The questions will come.
LOOK
At The Cross References
(aka CR)
About Esther Taken to the King
1. What would Esther and Mordecai have known?
Exo 20:14
Deut 7:1-4
Deut 22:10
2. What should we know and do?
2Co 6:11-17
1Co 6:9-11, 18
3. What are the consequences for immorality?
Heb 13:4
LISTEN to the Spirit –
The Personal Question(s) Might Be:
Have I committed adultery? Or, been sexually immoral?
If so, what have been the consequences?
What can I expect?
What must I do to flee sexual immorality?
What Did You LEARN
Check Out GODcha’s #17 LEARN Question(s)
#17. What happened when it was Esther’s turn to go in to the king?
What do you learn from the Cross References (CR) about Esther spending the night with a man who is not her husband?
What might this reveal about Esther? (v15-16)
Sum It Up!
We LEARN:
When it was Esther’s turn to go in to the king, she did not request anything except what Hegai advised.
Hegai, the keeper of the harem, probably knows what the king likes. And he surely knows what the concubines need to please the king. Some of these women would have done anything and used anything to gain the king’s favor. But, Esther leaves it up to Hegai. He knows best.
We Discover:
A woman’s adornment is not external, but internal, having a gentle spirit and quiet spirit which is precious in God’s eyes.
Godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.
We brought nothing into the world, thus we cannot take anything out of it either.
We need to learn to be content in every circumstance, with much or little.
We LEARN:
And Esther who was incredibly beautiful found favor in the eyes of all who saw her.
THINK:
This is the 2nd time we see favor mentioned.
What hope and encouragement to see God does not forsake His people who disobey Him, even though He does allow consequences.
Doesn’t God grant favor (grace) to all undeserving people?
So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus at his palace in the 10th month, in the 7th year of his reign.
THINK:
Have you thought of this as competing for a man, performing for a man? I have a beautiful, young, virgin daughter, and find this horribly disgusting!
We Discover:
Esther and Mordecai Would Have Known:
God’s design for marriage was to be between 1 man and 1 woman.
That God’s 7th commandment forbids adultery.
That God had commanded the Israelites not to intermarry.
For Esther to go to this Gentile king who was not her husband would have gone against all God had commanded.
We Discover:
We Who Believe in Christ Know:
We once were unrighteous, ungodly.
We are not to be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, men who practice homosexuality, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. Which we once were, but have been washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, by the Spirit.
We are not to be bound to unbelievers.
God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
LISTEN
What Might God Be Asking You
Check Out GODcha’s #17 LIVE Question(s)
#17. How am I like Esther?
a. What morally compromising situation am I in?
b. Am I sexually immoral? Am I sleeping with someone who is not my spouse?
c. Knowing God will judge immorality, what will I do?
Respond to God. . . LIVE it out!
Remember: We Don’t Just LISTEN,
We Speak to God!
Before we close for today, let me share the Different Views that many have regarding Esther’s turn to go in to the king.
1st: Esther was always godly, a remarkable woman from beginning to the end. Thus, she probably didn’t sleep with the king maintaining her virginity.
2nd: Esther was a young innocent victim of sexual assault.
3rd: Esther was not godly at this point, which is actually where all of us begin until we meet Jesus.
She has a dual identity.
Nothing spiritual is seen.
She is living far away from God (not in Jerusalem).
She is eating foods the Old Testament forbids.
She takes her turn for the 1 night with the king.
Much to ponder and chew on.
Let’s Call It a Day!
Shut out the world, and be quiet before the Lord.
Think deeply about all He has shown you in this Book of Esther until these Truths become real in your thinking and belief.
How did you experience God today?
How did He touch your heart and mind?
Oh talk with God, Your loving Father!
You are not left to yourself, God is right there at work in you through the Spirit to help you serve and obey Him, (Phil 2:13)!
Note Your Discovery
Today: Esther’s Night With the King
You are learning vital Truths that you don’t want to forget.
Take the time to type them in your Notes.
It will help you bury God’s Word down deep into your head and heart.
You might put the Definitions and Cross References next to these verses in your hardbound Bible.
Let’s Close in Prayer
OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, there is so much in these 3 verses. Father God we just keep seeing and realizing this chapter is chalk full of compromise. Father, You made people, You love people, and You show us people in the Scriptures to show us ourselves. May we remember that You do this as Romans has told us for our instruction.
What bad decisions and choices have we made?
How are we being disobedient?
Are we living far away from Your presence?
We see Esther spent the night with a man who wasn’t her husband. Are we sleeping around?
Are we living compromised lives?
Oh Father, such hope You give us in these verses of Esther. We saw in the Corinthians passage, ‘for such were some of you‘ – people who were messed up, who were not walking with You, who did not want to obey You. If we think about it, all You have to work with are sinners, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, Rom 3:23. You are working through the circumstances of our lives, and You have GOOD NEWS! You give ‘favor‘, grace, to undeserving people. You chose us, we do not choose You, and You chose us to go forth and bear fruit, Joh 15:16.
Oh Father, if there are any here with us on this journey who have been abused in some way, I pray for them. Lord, may they know that You are with them. Help them to understand Your deep love for them, that You love them more than they could ever know. May they comprehend that You are with them never to leave them, knowing what they have gone through, and You are ready and willing to help them. Oh Father God please restore them to wholeness. Fill them with Your joy and peace, and give them that hope that will not disappoint, Rom 5:5.
Oh Lord, I pray each one of us is willing to hear Your Word that is sharp. Pierce our hearts! Renew our minds! May we all be willing to confess our sins to You, and ask that You forgive us for living compromised lives. Change our hearts oh God! We ask this in the precious name of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Amen!
Next: we will LOOK at another small bite, Esther 2:17-20.
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