Week 1 DAYS 1 and 2
Begin Segment 4, Esther Chapters 8-10.
Today AND Tomorrow
We will:
- LOOK at Esther 8:1-2.
- LEARN ‘how‘ to incorporate GODcha’s tools along the way.
- LISTEN to God speak to us as we focus on GODcha’s LEARN/LIVE question.
Open GODcha to the Book of Esther
You Can Open GODcha and GODchats together
NOTE:
If you don’t have GODcha Get It>
Or, use your hardbound Bibles and follow along.
You can print off this week’s posts and put in a notebook!
Consider the Overview
To Find the Purpose of Esther
Scan the Overview in GODcha to refresh your memory!
Why Was Esther Written?
Understand: Everything written in this book points back to the purpose.
The Purpose Was To:
Reveal how the Jews, living in exile throughout all the king’s provinces, were protected and delivered from annihilation by God’s divine power and control even though He is never mentioned in this book.
We are seeing how God’s hidden hand is working through ordinary, unlikely imperfect people to accomplish His perfect will.
Let’s Begin With Prayer
And Continue With an Attitude of Prayer
Perhaps. . .
Oh Lord, as we have been walking through this drama of Esther, we know we can do nothing apart from You. Please unfold Your Word to us today as only You can do. We know apart from You Holy Spirit these are but lifeless words. Illuminate Your Holy Word to us. Please give us the understanding. May we live in the light of what You show us and teach us today. Thank you, Lord, (Psalm 119:130).
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.
Context
CONTEXT is the setting that Rules Interpretation.
God’s people have been in exile for 100 yrs. Now, some of the 3rd generation had separated from Babylon going back to Jerusalem while others remained in Babylon blending in.
Let’s Go Backward for a bit. . .
Esther Chapter 1
The 3rd year of Ahasuerus’s reign
King Ahasuerus partied for months, displayed his riches and splendor. Queen Vashti was removed as queen.
Esther Chapter 2
The 7th year of this king’s reign, about 4 years after chapter 1.
Esther is made queen.
Mordecai’s name was written in the chronicles.
Esther Chapter 3
The 12th year of this king’s reign, about 5 years after Esther became queen.
Haman plotted to destroy the Jews.
Esther Chapter 4
Esther agrees to go to the king to help the Jews.
Esther 5
Esther goes to the king – 1st Banquet
Esther 6
The king honors Mordecai
Esther 7
Esther exposed Haman to the king; Haman was hanged.
But it ain’t over!
As we begin this New Segment
Some Reminders and How To’s.
3 EASY Steps
To Put into Play
Just a quick reminder to help you walk through God’s Word implementing the LOOK, LEARN and LIVE Steps.
1. To LOOK:
a. Read a verse;
b. Consider what is Key to that verse; and
c. Investigate what is Key by checking:
– The Word Meanings; and
– Other Scripture References for better understanding.
d. Pay attention to: Timing, Contrasts, Comparisons, and Terms of Conclusions.
2. LEARN
Bring everything you LEARNED together.
3. LISTEN
LISTEN to what God has said.
CHAT with Him and Commit to LIVE Out what you learned.
As You LEARN and LISTEN, THEN You Respond
– An awesome dialogue begins to take place between you and Your Creator!
– This is fellowship – you developing a relationship with God, the Father, and His Son Jesus, (1Jo 1:3).
Your Response to God Might Be:
Praise,
Forgiveness,
Confession,
Repentance,
Thanksgiving, and/or
A commitment to LIVE out what He is showing you!
Let’s LOOK
Open GODcha’s LOOK Section
Always Begin LOOKING By READING
READ Taking Small Bites
This Narrows Your Focus
Focus on a Paragraph at a Time
Esther Chapter 8 is Broken Down Into Paragraphs
8:1-2
8:3-7
8:8-14
8:15-16
TIP: In your hardbound Bibles Paragraphs are designated by:
– an indentation;
– a paragraph symbol; and/or
– a boldface number.
READ With Purpose
As You READ, Ask Questions
Have you ever read something, and 5 minutes later you couldn’t remember what you read?
Learning to read with a purpose will change that!
We Always Want to Consider:
Who is speaking; and to whom?
What is happening?
Where is it happening?
When is it happening?
Why is it happening or, why did it happen?
How did it happen?
Questions
Help SLOW You Down
You will:
1. See the complete picture;
2. See how everything relates to one another; and
3. Remember what you read.
This is the most critical skill to learn in order to see God’s Word accurately!
Okay, Let’s Give It a Try!
READ the 1st paragraph, Esther 8:1-2.
As you read, ask the who, what, where, when, why, and how questions.
This is a skill that just takes time and practice.
What happens?
Remember to:
Reflect on the events that demonstrate God’s hidden hand.
LOOK
For KEY Words
Because they ‘unlock’ the meaning to what God is saying.
In GODcha Scroll Down To:
Key Words
What caught your attention? You might want to check it out.
TIP: If you need help to see what is key, check out GODcha’s Key Words, and/or even the LEARN Questions to help you as they have been designed to reveal what is Key.
Today, let’s do just that.
Let’s Work Our Way Backwards.
Check Out the LEARN Questions
Scroll down to GODcha’s Deeper Discovery Section
Find the #1 LEARN Question(s).
Here it is for you.
1. Ch 8, What a difference a day can make in unthinkable circumstances. What day is being referred to?
a. What did the king do?
b. What did Esther disclose?
c. What did Mordecai get? (v1-2)
Now you see what to zoom in on.
Today: Mordecai is Exalted
Let’s LOOK Once More
At Verses 1 and 2
READ Esther 8:1-2 again, asking the who, what, where, when, why, and how questions.
What’s Key?
1. The ‘timing’ is Key.
Do you see the Time Phrase, ‘On that day’?
We want to stop and ask, ‘What day is it’?
This slows us down to think. This may take us back to Chapter 6, the day when the king could not sleep, with much happening on that day.
THINK: What day is it?
2. What the king did is Key.
3. And what Esther did is Key.
Do you see the big reversal?
Let’s LOOK
At GODcha’s Cross References
God Uses Truth to Explain Truth
In GODcha’s LOOK Section Scroll Down To:
Cross References (aka CR)
Tap on any Scripture Reference either in GODcha, and/or here in GODchats, and the verses will open up for you.
1. Let’s see what we can learn about this incredible reversal where we see the king giving the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews, to Esther?
a. What does God say about the portion of a wicked man from God; and the sinner’s wealth?
Job 27:13-23
Pro 13:22
b. What does Jesus warn us about?
Luk 12:13-21
LISTEN to the Spirit
Am I heeding the Lord’s warning?
What must I do to be on guard with every form of greed?
Am I guilty of having an abundance of possessions? Am I storing up treasures for myself and not rich toward God? Why?
Who will own what I have prepared?
2. We have seen this before, but in case you have forgotten, what do you understand about the Jews and their enemies?
Gen 12:3
Zec 2:8
LISTEN to the Spirit
How do I treat the Jews?
3. What do you understand about Mordecai receiving the signet ring (remember this signifies authority), and Esther setting Mordecai over the house of Haman?
Psa 37:34-36
Ecc 12:13-14
Mat 23:12
Luk 1:52
LISTEN to the Spirit
What must I do to wait upon the Lord to exalt me?
Do I fear God? Do I try to keep His commandments? Do I know He will bring every act, good or evil, to judgment?
Am I guilty of exalting myself? What must I do to humble myself?
When has God turned the tables for me, and exalted me?
Can I pinpoint specific reversals in my life, after God changed my heart?
What Did You LEARN
Sum It Up!
We LEARN:
‘On that day’… v1
We Discover:
Back in Chapters 5, 6, and 7, where we saw God’s providential hand working all over the place.
This was the day:
That came after the Queen’s 1st banquet;
This was the 2nd day,
when the king was not able to sleep;
when Haman came to the king at the exact time the king was planning to honor Mordecai;
when Haman was humiliated, having to honor Mordecai, the Jew;
when Haman was taken to Queen Esther’s 2nd banquet,
when Haman was exposed and hanged.
We LEARN:
According to verses 1-2:
The king gave the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews to Queen Esther. . .who sets Mordecai over the house of Haman.
We Discover:
Herodotus and Josephus both recorded that the property of a traitor by Persian practice returned to the king. In this case, the king gave Haman’s property to Queen Esther.
Job makes it clear that God deals with the wicked, punishing them with severe suffering. They may pile up silver like dust and garments as plentiful as the clay, but the just will wear it, and the innocent will divide the silver, Job 27:13-17.
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous, Pro 13:22.
In the Parable of the Rich Fool, regarding the one laying up treasure for himself, and not toward God, we see that very night his soul was required of him, meaning sudden death. And then who would own what he had prepared? Luk 12:20-21.
We See: What wicked Haman had prepared went to Mordecai the innocent, the righteous, beginning with his house, including his riches, everything Haman had.
We Discover:
Don’t mess with the Jews who are God’s people.
The Jews are God’s chosen people who He will bless, and will bless those who bless His people but curse those who curse His people, Gen 12:3.
The Jews are the apple of God’s eye, Zec 2:8.
We See: Haman messed with the Jews, and was hanged.
We LEARN:
According to verse 1, Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had disclosed what he was to her.
We Discover:
Esther told the king that Mordecai was her adoptive father, Est 2:7.
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven, Ecc 3:1.
We See: Esther shared who Mordecai was at just the appointed time.
We LEARN:
And the king took off his signet ring which he had taken away from Haman and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman, v2.
We Discover:
We need to learn to wait for the Lord, and He will exalt in due time when the wicked are cut off, Psa 37:34-36.
We must fear God and keep His commandments, which applies to every person because God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil, Ecc 12:13-14.
Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted, Mat 23:12.
God has brought down rulers from their thrones and exalted those who were humble, Luk 1:52.
We See: What God says about the wicked happened to Haman. What God says about exaltation and being humble happened to Mordecai.
THINK and REASON:
See the wonderful reversal.
See God’s hand working behind the scenes.
Wicked Haman was indeed brought down, impaled on the gallows that were intended for Mordecai.
Mordecai who:
Did not have access to the king, now has access to the king.
Worked at the king’s gate, now has been exalted to the position of the king’s right-hand man.
Had no authority, now has authority.
Was powerless, now has power.
LISTEN to God Speak
And LIVE it out!
Check out the #1 LIVE Questions.
#1. When hopeless unthinkable circumstances come against me do I walk by faith or sight?
a. When and how has God the King, done an incredible reversal in my life?
b. As a result, what position has God opened to me for His essential work?
GODcha Helps Us Think
We’ll look at the rest of this paragraph tomorrow, but for now, aren’t you amazed at what all you discovered as you LOOKED at just 1 verse?
As we LOOK at God’s Word and LEARN, do you see there is no guessing?
No ‘I think‘, or ‘I believe‘.
We answered the LEARN questions straight from the text.
Don’t you love it!
I sure do!
I want you to see there is no need for guessing!
God has spoken very clearly.
So we sheep can see His Word and come to understand it!
Oh, you all just Discovered Truth for Yourself!
I am so so excited!
That’s It For Today!
Soak in all God is saying and teaching you about an incredible reversal between the wicked and the righteous.
Chat with God about it! Have that constant, conscience, communion with God all day today!
NOTE Your Discovery!
You’ll be glad you did!
Video Tutorial> Notes Tutorial >
Take the time to journal your discovery. And if you can, jot some notes in your hardbound Bibles. You will be so glad you did.
If you have any questions,
write them down,
God will answer them.
Also, enter the personal things God has touched you with.
Let’s Bow Before the Father
OH HEAVENLY FATHER, BLESSED LORD JESUS, and HOLY SPIRIT – GOD in three persons, we so praise You! Oh Father, may we grasp what a difference a day can make. Help us to ponder everything You are trying to show us. As we look at this incredible reversal of wicked evil Haman and humble Mordecai, may we understand the about-face that takes place in our own lives after You change our hearts. Oh, thank you for the hope and encouragement You are giving us as we see Mordecai and Esther, imperfect people, who weren’t walking with You, but then changed, and You turned the tables, exalting them to positions to be used to bring about Your perfect plan. Thank you Father for Your Word to all of us that You will take care of the ungodly in Your timing, and You have exalted us in Christ Jesus if we indeed have turned to You. Show us perhaps what still needs reversing in our lives. Cement down deep in our hearts that You exalt those who are humble! May our U-turn be seen by all. We praise You and thank you for all You do! In Jesus’ name, we pray and ask these things. Amen.
Awesome! Do you realize you are doing the one thing that is necessary, learning to sit at the feet of Jesus, letting Him explain Truth to you by the power of His Spirit?
Next: We’ll look at the next paragraph, Esther 8:3-7.
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