This week starts with a lesson that keeps us on the edge of our seats. Imagine this. Esther, Xerxes and Haman are at the second banquet that Esther has prepared. Finally, at the end of the banquet Xerxes speaks up and asks Esther what it was she wanted to ask him. Let's stop here for a minute. How do you think Esther felt during this banquet? Could she even eat anything because she was so nervous? Then when he finally asked her what she wanted, did she want to crawl under the table and forget the whole thing? I'm just thinking, what if that were me, how would I be feeling.
Back to the banquet. Esther finally tells Xerxes that she and her people have been sold for destruction, slaughter and annihilation; and she wants the king to save them. What a relief! Imagine carrying that load around and what it would feel like to finally get it out in the open. I would imagine it feels the same as when we came to Christ and asked him to save us and take the burden of sin from us. What a relief!
What really surprised me when Esther presented her request, was that the king had no idea what she was talking about. His response was "Who is he? Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?" We know it was Haman's idea, but the king played a part in it as well. He was a pawn in Haman's game. Do you think she wanted to scream "YOU"? In my flesh, I probably would have wanted to say that, but wouldn't just to save my own life.
What do you think Haman was thinking once Esther made her request? He may have not even known that she was a Jew. Once he hears the request, he knows his name is coming. What is thinking during this moment?
Isn't it funny (not really), how close the comparison is between Haman and Satan? Can you list some comparisons between them? I encourage you to take the time to comment on the blog this week. The questions are just to help you think about the situation in more detail.
Over the next week or two, I will be posting a couple of extra blogs, probably on Wednesdays. We are preparing the next Bible Study and I'll announce that in the coming weeks.
I'm looking forward to reading your comments this week!
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4 comments:
Does anyone know what the word countervail means? I'm trying to put it in context with what Esther says to the king in Chapter 7 verse 4.
In answer to your question Aleisha, I think some of the similarities between Haman and Satan are the fact that they both were underhanded in getting what they want- I guess liars, looking for those weaker(seemingly) than they are to destroy, see themselves as much more than they really are, and proud. That's all I have right now.
Well, I looked countervail up on the computer. It says the definition is to exert force against an opposing and often bad or harmful force or influence.
I didn't have my Bible in front of me to see Esther 7:4, so I Googled it. After I read the KJV, it said this under it:
Bible in Basic English
For we are given up, I and my people, to destruction and death and to be cut off. If we had been taken as men-servants and women-servants for a price, I would have said nothing, for our trouble is little in comparison with the king's loss.
I'm still trying to figure out what it means by the king's loss.
Hey, I just looked at the footnotes of my study Bible (duh! I forgot that I had footnotes) It says that countervail the king's damage means to compensate for the king's loss. I would guess, Vs. 4 could be translated, "...if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not compensate for the king's loss."
I'm not sure what she meant by saying that the king's loss could not be compensated. Maybe the enemy couldn't replace the queen or the loss of the king's pride by losing his queen. Any ideas?
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