Esther - Lesson Seven - Day 2

DAY TWO: The Unexpected Revelation

Please carefully read Esther 7:3-4 and answer the following questions.

1.  We can easily imagine that Esther’s heart was pounding, and that she quickly prayed that God would give her the exact right words to say.  After probably taking a deep breath, how did she begin her two-fold request (v. 3)?

NOTE: As we saw in an earlier study, favor meant grace, loveliness, charm, kindness, or preciousness, while pleases meant to be good, beneficial, favorable, well pleasing, or to be lovely.[iv][iv]

2.  What explanation does she give of this strange and unexpected request (v. 4)?

NOTE: These are the same words used in Haman’s declaration to the people of Persia (Esther 3:13).  They meant to utterly destroy, annihilate, commit homicide, and leave the Jewish people in utter ruin and desolation.[v][v]  The Amplified Bible puts this, “For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, slain, and wiped out of existence!”

3.  Bible scholars describe verse 4 as one of the most difficult passages in the Book of Esther to translate, but that it most likely meant that the Jews were to be destroyed, which would have been an economic loss for the king, so Esther had to speak up about it.[vi][vi]  Either way, Esther boldly identified with her people in this.  

Of course to this point neither Ahasuerus nor Haman had a clue that Esther was Jewish, but now had come the time to stand up and proclaim that truth.  We should never be ashamed to stand for Christ and say that we are His children.  What strong words did Jesus have about this (Luke 9:26)?  

4.  What should our attitude be toward the fact that we are Christians and identify with our Lord (Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 1:8—10, 12)?

Scripture Memory:  Try to fill in the missing words in the blanks below, by memory if at all possible, and then review the passage several times today.

Do not be deceived, God is not ____________________; for whatever a man sows, that he will also ____________________. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap _____________________________, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit ________________ everlasting life.  Galatians 6:7—8 (nkjv)