Week 2 DAY 1
Today
We will:
- Focus on Chapter 2.
- Get used to using GODcha’s tools.
- LISTEN to God speak as we concentrate on GODcha’s LEARN/LIVE questions.
The Big Picture of the Book of Esther 
Do you remember when we first began this journey,
We looked at the Big Picture!
Perhaps Review!
Why Was Esther Written?
Check out the Overview in GODcha if you can’t remember.
The author wanted 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.
Let’s Pray
And Continue With an Attitude of Prayer
O LORD, we hunger for Your Word of Truth desiring to understand it in order to live it and know the fullness of blessing and bring You honor in Your Son’s name. 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.
Before We Begin
Consider Context
CONTEXT is the setting that Rules Interpretation.
Context Tutorial >Do you remember what Esther Chapter 1 was about? What was the setting when we finished Chapter 1?
There is a king ruling the largest empire at the time who is showing off, chasing after his own glory; giving 2 parties for 180 + 7 days;
There is a queen who disobeys the king and is banished – the king divorces her.
Bringing us to the next scene of our drama.
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. Bring everything you LEARNED together.
3. LISTEN to what God has said, CHAT with Him and Commit to LIVE Out what you learned.
Today: The King Plays the Bachelor
1st Let’s LOOK at What God Says 
Always Begin LOOKING By READING
READ Taking Small Bites.
This Narrows Your Focus
Chapter 2 is broken down into several Paragraphs:
2:1-4;
2:5-7;
2:8-9;
2:10-11;
2:12-16;
2:17-20;
2:21-23.
Remember to READ With Purpose
READ Esther 2:1-4, asking the who, what, where, when, why and how questions.
1. Notice ‘when‘ this chapter is taking place?
2. ‘Who‘ counsels the king now?
3. ‘What’ is their suggestion?
NOTE: Est 2:16 tells us it is the 7th yr of the king’s reign. So 4 years have passed between Chapters 1 and 2. And history tells us this is because this king who wanted fame and glory had gone off to war to battle the Greeks, but came home war torn and defeated.
Catch the scene: the king who is lost, lost his wife, and has now lost a war. He has been defeated, so probably disappointed, discouraged and maybe even depressed.
Disappointments are part of life, God’s ‘divine appointments’. But disappointments can lead to discouragement, and discouragement can lead to depression.
Remember:
Reflect on the events that demonstrate God’s hidden hand.
Today: The King Plays the Bachelor
LOOK
For Key Words
Like a KEY – they ‘unlock’ the meaning to what God is saying.
‘Attendants’ is key to our understanding.
LOOK
At GODcha’s Dictionary 
For Word Meanings
Tap on ‘attendants‘ in verse 2 of your Bible.
Do you see the definition pop open?
ATTENDANTS, na‘ar; A masculine noun referring to a boy, a young man, a servant. It is used of a young person, a boy; one old enough to serve in battle or as a personal private force.
Oh, think of the insight that just came to the forefront.
Now consider turning to young, probably single men, and their advice to the king! What would we expect? Bad idea right?
DON’T STOP THERE!
NOTE: Take what you have learned back to the text, to see what it means in its CONTEXT.
” Then the king’s attendants (young men),. . .“
TIP: I would encourage you to note this in your hardbound Bibles.
Understand: The king has young men telling him he needs a woman, a beautiful young virgin to replace his wife.
NO, what the king needed was the Living God who is KING!
And sadly, it isn’t much different today, because the human heart is the same until God changes it.
STOP
LISTEN to God Speak
And LIVE it out!
Remember, take what you learn and turn it into a personal question.
Perhaps . . .
Have I been in a place like this king? Disappointed, discouraged and perhaps battling depression?
What do I do?
Do I turn to God for help?
Do I get into His Word to renew my mind and be strengthened, encouraged, and transformed?
Or do I turn to anything and everything but God to fulfill my needs?
Do I turn to man? When have I received foolish counsel?
Do I turn to drugs, alcohol, and even sex in my loneliness? Why? What has been the consequence of such a choice?
Respond to God. . . LIVE it out!
Understand We Don’t Just LISTEN,
But, We Speak to God!
God is waiting for you to share your burdens with him. He is ready and willing to help you. Turn to Him!
Today: The King Plays the Bachelor
Keep LOOKING
Let’s Check Out the Cross References
(aka CR)
Re: Young Virgins
Remember: As you read ask the 5W’s and H questions.
1. What do you discover about young virgins, young women?
What is a virgin?
Jdg 21:12
2. What brings satisfaction and contentment?
Isa 55:1-2
Joh 6:35
Mat 5:6
3. How are we to regard women?
Gen 1:27
1Ti 5:1-2
Let’s Bring It Home!
What Did You LEARN
Check Out GODcha’s #11 LEARN Question(s).
#11. Ch2, begins with the time phrase ‘after these things’. [Ch 1:3 is in the 3rd yr. of the King’s reign, and Ch 2:16 tells us it is the 7th yr of the King’s reign. 4 yrs have passed since Ch 1.]
Now, whom does the king turn to for advice?
What was their counsel to replace Queen Vashti?
What were the requirements for the gathering to the harem? (v1-4)
We See and LEARN:
The king doesn’t turn to God, but turns to his attendants, that we discover are young men. He turns to young single men for advice. Really?
These young men tell the king he needs a woman. That will solve the king’s problem.
The king needs a 1) beautiful 2) young 3) virgin to replace Queen Vashti. Nothing about love character, integrity etc.
We Discover:
A virgin is a woman who has not known a man by lying with him.
Man, male and female, were created equal in the image of God.
Younger women we are to regard as sisters, in purity.
Thus, women are not to be used and abused.
We See and LEARN:
These young single men advise the king to appoint overseers in all the provinces to gather every young beautiful virgin to the citadel in Susa.
The king did accordingly. He is going to choose a wife based on her beauty and whether she pleases him.
We Discover:
The Lord Brings Our Contentment and Satisfaction.
God says listen carefully as He invites us to come to Him. We spend our money on that which is not bread, on that which doesn’t produce permanent satisfaction.
Jesus tells us He is the true bread. If we come to Him we will not hunger, if we believe in Him, we will never thirst.
We will be satisfied and blessed when we hunger and thirst for righteousness.
THINK AND REASON
What did the king need?
He needed God.
He needed to humble himself before the Lord, and confess and repent of living for himself and how he treated the Queen.
He needed to find his contentment and satisfaction in the Lord.
Now LISTEN to God Speak
And LIVE it out!
Perhaps. . .
1. If a young single woman, am I a virgin?
Or am I living a life of compromise, following the world’s standards and ways?
2. What brings me satisfaction?
Am I like this king, do I turn to others to bring me satisfaction?
Am I spending my money on everything that is not bread and does not satisfy?
Or, have I come to Jesus, hungering and thirsting for Him and His righteousness?
3. If a man, how do I regard women?
Do I view women as being created equal in the image of God?
Do I treat older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, in all purity?
Check out GODcha’s #11 LIVE Question(s).
#11. What happens when I don’t turn to God for advice and counsel?
a. How would I view the counsel of these attendants (boys; young men) if I am a:
– Young man – do I think it’s a great idea?
– Dad – do I think it’s a horrible idea?
– Woman – am I excited because I might become Queen? Or mortified, refusing to go?
b. How are women portrayed in my culture? If a man, how do I regard women?
Respond to God. . . LIVE it out!
Understand We Don’t Just LISTEN,
But, We Speak to God!
Fabulous!
Easy as pie, right?
Remember, you are developing the most vital skill there is to see God’s Word correctly and handle it accurately! And at the same time fine tuning your ears to hear Him speak personally.
I am so proud of you!
That’s It For Today!
Mull over what we just learned about this earthly king playing the bachelor.
Consider what God has shown you and perhaps what He is asking you to look at about yourself.
Log Your Discovery
Today: The King Plays the Bachelor
Did you have questions?
Put them in your Notes.
Ask God to answer them.
He will!
Record your discovery.
Let’s Close in Prayer
FATHER GOD WHO ART IN HEAVEN, AND DEAREST LORD JESUS who is the Bread of Life. We come ever so grateful that You HOLY SPIRIT made our hearts desperately hungry and thirsty for righteousness, and then showed us the true Bread of Life. May we understand eating is so necessary or we will die. Eating is so necessary to be satisfied!
We live in a day of compromise Father, and tragically the Church has followed the world’s example, even bringing it in, not staying separate. Show each one of us how we have compromised.
Oh, we confess and ask that you forgive us for replacing You with other people and things like this king. Forgive us Lord for trying to find our satisfaction in the fleeting pleasures and pastimes of this world. We confess and know we have compromised accepting at times the world’s values, attitudes, and mindset, such as these attendants this king turned to. We, and the Church, have failed to stay separate from the world twisting our morality, forgive any with us who have failed to remain pure. You have warned us that friendship with the world is hostility with You God, making us Your enemies, James 4:4.
Oh Father God, help us to be bound to Your Word, feeding on the true Bread night and day, clinging to You at every turn, and turning to You, not man, for wisdom. Strengthen us and sustain us so we will not allow compromise to enter into our thinking and living. We ask these things in the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen!
Thank you for hanging in there, and being disciplined to discover and learn truth!
Next: we will dig in to understand another small bite, Esther 2:5-7.
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