Lessons from Esther: The fateful day

1 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 them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;) 2 The Jews gathered themselves together in 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. 3 And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. 4 For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater. 5Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them. Esther 9:1-5

The “fateful” day arrives, the day of death for the Jews, which was the original plan from Haman. The hand of God has “turned the tables” on the enemies of the Jews.

The Jews have banded together and made plans of attack and plans of protection. A curious thing has taken place, in verse 2 it says “the fear of them fell upon all people.” Not only could they now stand up for themselves but a fear has fallen over their enemies.

The battles are fierce and deadly and the Jews are winning at every turn.

As I read, again I can see the hand of God. The Jews have gone from a people of no hope to a people with hope abounding as they win battle after battle.

We may not face physical hand to hand battles as the Jews faced during Esther’s time, but we do face daily battles. For each battle we face there is a solution in God’s word.

Below are a few ‘battles” I have been in, some victorious, and some I’m still working on.

Problems with anger

James 1:19-20; Proverbs 14:16-17; Proverbs 14:29; I Corinthians 13:4-5 Proverbs 15:18; Proverbs 25:28; Proverbs 29:22; Proverbs 15:18

Problems with forgiveness

Matthew 6:12; Matthew 6:14-15; Matthew 18:21-22; Matthew 23:25; Ephesians 4:31-32; Matthew 11:25

Problems with mouth/tongue

Psalm 34:13-14; Psalm 35:28; Psalm 19:14 Ecclesiastes 5:2; James 1:26; Ephesians 4:29; Titus 3:2

Problems with contentment

Phil 4:11; I Timothy 6:8 II Corinthians 10:12

This is just the tip of the iceberg in the problems/battles we may face. The Bible has the answer. We need to be willing to search for the answers. After searching we need to apply what we learned to our lives, sometimes it means changing the way we do things or taking things out of our lives (sinful acts/deeds etc.) or putting things into our lives (family time/reading the Word etc). Whatever the battle, God is with us. He gives us the strength of His Word to endure the trials.

For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. Psalm 18:39

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Lessons from Esther: The Special Banquet

6 And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. 7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is; 8 If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said. 9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. Esther 5:6-9

The banquet is ready and the food and wine are served. Still very curious about why the queen would request his presence the king asks again, “what is your request?”

Esther does not have complete peace. Fasting for wisdom and guidance from the Lord she knows this is not the time to speak about the situation regarding her people. Esther quickly asks for another banquet. Again she requests the presence of both the king and Haman. The king, as we see from previous chapters, loves a good banquet. He confirms for both of them and I’m sure Esther starts the preparations right away. This next banquet needs to be perfect and the time needs to be right for her to brooch the delicate subject.

Imagine the pride that is welling up in Haman. Not just one banquet but two, he is “beside” himself. Being invited to a private banquet with just the king and queen, could he be any more special.

Haman’s joy is soon turned to indignation when he sees Mordecai. Indigation from the Hebrew means heat; figuratively anger, poison (from its fever): - … In other words, he is so hot with anger that it makes his blood curdle.

There are a few lessons to be learned from this short portion of scripture:

1. There are times to speak and there are times to be quiet.

… a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; Ecclesiastes 3:7

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: James 1:19

2. Don’t let pride “creep” in

The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. Psalm 10:4

When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.  Proverbs 14:3

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. Proverbs 29:23

3. Beware of anger

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. Psalm 37:8

A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.  Proverbs 15:18

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  Ephesians 4:31

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.  Ecclesiastes 7:9

As we travel in our daily life let’s put on the courage of Esther (#1) not the character of Haman (#2&3).

Have a blessed day, 

Donna

Lessons from Esther: Anger controls or Control anger

5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. 6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai. 7 In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar. 8 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. 9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries. 10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. 11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. Esther 3:5-11

Have you ever been angry? I mean really really angry? Well, Haman was so angry that he was ready to burst!! He was full of wrath. His anger was taking complete control of him. He was so angry he didn’t just want to kill Mordecai, for his act of disobedience, but destroy all of his people, the Jews.

Haman had a plan, to kill all the Jews. He needed to pick a time when this would happen. Haman and his cronies got together to “cast pur” today we would call it “throwing dice.” They decided which day and month would be the best to kill the Jews by casting pur. Albert Barnes says, “A lot seems to have been cast, or a throw of some kind made, for each day of the month and each month of the year. The day and month which obtained the best throws were then selected.”

Once the decision was made which day would be best, Haman goes to the king and presents his plan. Basically he said, “O King there is a certain people who are not like us, they have strange laws and they certainly don’t keep the king’s law. I really don’t see much profit for the kingdom in having them around. So king, I have a plan. What a deal! Let me kill all these people and I’ll give the kingdom 10,000 talents”.  After looking at various commentaries and authors many had different amounts that would have equaled 10,000 talents, but all agreed that it was a considerable amount of money.

If there was any doubt in Ahasuerus’ mind, it was dissolved with the discussion of money. It did not take the king any time to make his decision as a matter of fact; he didn’t even ask who the people were. Whatever you say Haman, do what you want with these people. The king seems so wishy washy to me, no problem just do whatever you want. I’ll get the money.

Everything Haman did was anger driven. Anger was in every pore of his being.

 Let’s take a minute to see what the Bible says about anger.

Anger hinders

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. Psalm 37:8

There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. Psalm 38:3 

Watch your words

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Proverbs 15:1 

Pick friends carefully

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Proverbs 22:24 

Self control

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. Proverbs 16:32 

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:9 

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: Ephesians 4:31 

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Ephesians 4:26 

Does anger control you or do you control your anger?

Pray and ask God for help. We need to “hid God’s word in our heart” by memorizing anger verses to help us conquer the problem.

Have a blessed day, 

Donna

Lessons from Esther: The King’s decree

And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus. 17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not. 18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath. 19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small. 21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan: lo; 22 For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.  Esther 1:16-22

Vashti has refused the king. The king is furious, so angry, he cannot think straight.

Anger is a choice. Unfortunately a choice too many Christians make, anger can destroy friendships; marriages; as well as work places. Here are a few verses on anger to help with making good choices.

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Proverbs 22:24

An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression. Proverbs 29:22

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:9

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:  Ephesians 4:26

Ahasuerus called all his “wise” men to help him make a decision. What should he do to the queen who disobeyed?

Memucan, one of the wise man spoke and said Vashti had not just offended the king but all the people in the provinces. Remember he was over 127 provinces; also remember this was before TV, newspaper or other public medium. How was this news to travel to all the lands?

Memucan was appealing to the pride of Ahasuerus. “O King remember how great you are and no one should dare offend you, not even your wife. Something must be done and the sooner the better.”

After a brief time the decision was made. Vashti would be “dethroned”, not just dethroned but a royal commandment; a written law would go into effect. Verse nineteen explains the purpose of the written law, “so it be not altered”. Once a law was made by the king and written down, nothing could change it.

The law was twofold, Vashti would no longer be the queen and all the wives would give their husbands honor and the man would be the ruler of his house.

John Gill’s explanation: “for so it was, that when a law was made, and signed, and sealed, and registered among the laws of the kingdom, it remained unalterable, this precaution Memucan took for his own safety; for had the king acted upon his advice, without passing it into a law in such form, he might change his mind, and recall Vashti, who would not fail of venting her wrath upon the counsellor, and so he be in danger of losing his life for it:”

The king had letters sent, all over his provinces, written in the languages of each area. There would be no excuse, everyone would know the law.

The next step, “let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she” would now begin.

Join me the next time as the “search” begins.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

A warning about anger

9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. 10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. Ecclesiastes 7:9-10

Anger is not good, but uncontrolled anger is the worse of all types of anger. There are many books written about anger and how to control it. In my own library I own the following counseling books:

Anger is a choice

Uprooting Anger

The Heart of Anger

The reason there are so many books about anger, is there are many people who have anger issues. The Bible tells us we can be angry but the key is not to sin in our anger. (Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:)

Solomon tells us that anger rests in the bosom (within) of fools. I do not want to be a fool. There are many times I was a fool with uncontrolled and very foolish anger. What does God’s word say about anger?

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. Psalm 37:8 

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Proverbs 15:1 

A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. Proverbs 15:18 

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. Proverbs 16:32 

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: Ephesians 4:31 

An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression. Proverbs 29:22 

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Proverbs 22:24 

I Googled the word anger, 43,000,000 sites with the word anger came up. Wow! Do you think people today have a problem with anger?

Some of the titles of the sites were:

Controlling anger

Anger management

Taking charge of anger

What is anger?

Strategies for Controlling Anger

National Anger management association

Here are some quotes that should make one think before letting anger get the upper hand.

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. ~ Buddha.

Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret. ~ Ambrose Bierce.

For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

      

 Anger dwells only in the bosom of fools. ~ Albert Einstein (Ecc. 7:9)

Whenever anger comes up, take out a mirror and look at yourself. When you are angry, you are not very beautiful. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Anger is a wind which blows out the lamp of the mind. ~ Robert Green Ingersoll

Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured. ~ Mark Twain

Anger is not new but it is certainly something we need to control. Anger is a problem in the world today both in Christian and non-Christians circles. As Christians we do have the answer but the question is: What are we going to do about it?

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. Psalm 103:8 

Have a blessed day,
Donna