Esther Saves Her People

MEMORY VERSE: “For if thou altogether boldest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” —Esther 4:14

ESTHER 4:8,13-16; 7:1-7

WHEN King Cyrus issued his proclamation granting liberty to the captive Israelites to return to their own land, some accepted the opportunity with gladness. Among these were Ezra and Nehemiah, who served the Lord and their people so faithfully in connection with the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, and the wall of the city. But large numbers did not return, but remained in the land of their captivity. Among these was Mordecai, the uncle of Esther of our present lesson.

These lived in Shushan of Persia, which was a part of the Medo-Persian Empire that succeeded Babylon as a world power. Shushan was where the Persian king’s principal residence was located. Ahasuerus was the king at the time of our lesson, and one called Haman was prime minister. Haman disliked Mordecai and, frustrated in his effort to bring injury to him, succeeded in getting a decree from the king calling for the slaughter of all the Jews in the realm beginning with a certain date. The decrees of the Medes and Persians were irrevocable, so the Jewish people were in a most precarious position.

Under the wise guidance of Mordecai, and in the providence of God, his niece, Esther, was named queen. When the decree for the massacre of all the Jews in the empire became known, it was on Mordecai’s earnest advice that Esther undertook the perilous task of interceding with the king on their behalf. The decree of slaughter was the direct result of Mordecai’s refusal to bow down before Haman, the prime minister.

Mordecai was shown a copy of the decree, and he sent word to Esther in the palace charging her “that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.”

This was a dangerous procedure for Esther, for the king had not shown her any special consideration for thirty days, so she hesitated. But Mordecai pressed his request, pointing out to Esther that if she did not use this opportunity to save her people she and her household would surely perish. He ended his plea with the question, “Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Esther then consented, stating that she would do the best she could. She was resigned to accept any eventuality, but was brave, and said, “So will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.”

But Esther did not perish. She found favor in the king’s sight. He knew that she desired a favor, and asked her to make her request known. Her first request was that he attend a banquet she had prepared. The king and Haman came to the banquet, and then the king asked Esther to present her real request. She invited them to another banquet the following day when she made request for her life and that of her people. Esther spoke of her people having been sold for slaughter by the decree which Haman had requested. Until then, the king did not know that his beautiful queen was one of the Jewish people who might well be slain under his decree.

Upon the king’s request Esther identified Haman as the one responsible for the horrible situation in which the king found himself. This information, and the indiscretion of Haman in his pleading with Esther for mercy, brought forth the king’s command that he be hanged on the gallows Haman had prepared for Mordecai. The king could not lawfully rescind his decree, but he issued another which granted permission for the Jews to arm and defend themselves when the time came. Thus they were saved from slaughter.

In this we have a general lesson of the Lord’s overruling providences in the lives of his people. We learn from it that severe trials often result in rich blessings.

QUESTIONS

Name the principal persons involved in this lesson, and the parts they played.

What general lessons may we derive from the story in the Book of Esther?

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