1 00:00:00,510 --> 00:00:03,030 Steve Webb: I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that I agree 2 00:00:03,030 --> 00:00:03,660 with Paul. 3 00:00:04,770 --> 00:00:07,500 It's the Lifespring! One Year Bible coming to you from 4 00:00:07,500 --> 00:00:11,790 Riverside, California and podcasting since 2004. I'm your 5 00:00:11,790 --> 00:00:16,380 OG Godcaster. Steve Webb. It's history Tuesday. and our reading 6 00:00:16,380 --> 00:00:21,180 is Esther one through five. The website is Lifespringmedia.com. 7 00:00:21,180 --> 00:00:24,540 and contact information will be at the end of today's show. 8 00:00:25,050 --> 00:00:28,770 Before we read, let's pray. Our Heavenly Father, we love you and 9 00:00:28,770 --> 00:00:31,920 we thank You for Your Word. We pray God that as we read you 10 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:37,680 would bless us. Teach us today we pray in Jesus name. Amen. All 11 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:39,750 right, are you ready? Let's begin. 12 00:00:41,970 --> 00:00:45,360 Esther is the final book of history in the Bible. We'll read 13 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:48,810 about a character by the name of King Ahasuerus. He's better 14 00:00:48,810 --> 00:00:52,710 known as Xerxes to students of history. and he was the son of 15 00:00:52,710 --> 00:00:55,860 Darius the first whom we read about in the books of Ezra, 16 00:00:55,890 --> 00:00:59,550 Daniel and Haggai. It's interesting to note that the 17 00:00:59,550 --> 00:01:03,060 ruins of Ahasuerus' palace in which the events of this book 18 00:01:03,060 --> 00:01:08,070 took place have been unearthed by archaeologists, as the events 19 00:01:08,070 --> 00:01:11,670 of this book take place, Ahasuerus' is the largest 20 00:01:11,670 --> 00:01:15,330 empire, the Persian empire the world had ever seen up to that 21 00:01:15,330 --> 00:01:20,670 point, spanning modern Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Jordan, 22 00:01:20,910 --> 00:01:25,950 Lebanon, Israel and parts of Egypt, Sudan, Libya, and Arabia. 23 00:01:25,980 --> 00:01:30,270 So yeah, it was big. As the book takes place, Ezra had returned 24 00:01:30,270 --> 00:01:33,420 to Jerusalem, and 30 years before the temple had been 25 00:01:33,420 --> 00:01:37,560 rebuilt. 40 years later, under a hazard awareness, his successor 26 00:01:37,590 --> 00:01:40,620 or desert sees the first Nehemiah would return to 27 00:01:40,620 --> 00:01:42,630 Jerusalem to rebuild the walls. 28 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:48,420 Esther chapter one. The following events happened in the 29 00:01:48,420 --> 00:01:51,900 days of a heavy Waris, I'm referring to that A has you 30 00:01:51,900 --> 00:01:56,430 heiress who used to rule over 127 provinces, extending all the 31 00:01:56,430 --> 00:02:01,530 way from India to Ethiopia. In those days as Kenya has you era 32 00:02:01,530 --> 00:02:05,460 sat on his royal throne and Susa the Citadel. In the third year 33 00:02:05,460 --> 00:02:08,730 of his reign, he provided a banquet for all of his officials 34 00:02:08,730 --> 00:02:13,020 and his servants. The army of Persia and Media was present, as 35 00:02:13,020 --> 00:02:16,950 well as the nobles and the officials of the provinces. He 36 00:02:16,950 --> 00:02:20,010 displayed the riches of His royal glory in the splendor of 37 00:02:20,010 --> 00:02:24,690 His majestic greatness for a lengthy period of time. 180 days 38 00:02:24,690 --> 00:02:28,680 to be exact. When those days were completed, the king then 39 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:32,040 provided a seven day banquet for all the people who were present 40 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:35,790 in Susa, the Citadel for those of highest standing to the most 41 00:02:35,790 --> 00:02:39,480 lowly. It was held in the court located in the garden of the 42 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:44,070 Royal Palace. The furnishings included white linen, and blue 43 00:02:44,070 --> 00:02:48,330 curtains hung by cords of the finest linen, and purple wool on 44 00:02:48,330 --> 00:02:53,100 silver rings, alabaster columns, gold and silver couches 45 00:02:53,100 --> 00:02:56,520 displayed on a floor made of valuable stones of alabaster, 46 00:02:56,550 --> 00:03:00,540 mother of pearl and mineral stone. drinks were served in 47 00:03:00,540 --> 00:03:04,830 Golden containers, all of which differed from one another. Royal 48 00:03:04,830 --> 00:03:08,640 wine was available in abundance at the Kings expense. There were 49 00:03:08,640 --> 00:03:12,090 no restrictions on the drinking for the king had instructed all 50 00:03:12,090 --> 00:03:15,960 his supervisors that they should do is every one so desired. 51 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:20,160 Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in Kenya has you 52 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:24,870 Waris, his royal palace on the seventh day is King has you Aris 53 00:03:24,870 --> 00:03:28,410 was feeling the effects of the wine he ordered me human because 54 00:03:28,410 --> 00:03:33,750 the heart Bona big fo a bag the Z Thor and carcass the seven 55 00:03:33,750 --> 00:03:37,050 Unix who attended him to bring Queen Vashti into the king's 56 00:03:37,050 --> 00:03:40,590 presence wearing her royal high turban. He wanted to show the 57 00:03:40,590 --> 00:03:43,800 people and the officials her beauty for she was very 58 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:47,550 attractive. But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's 59 00:03:47,550 --> 00:03:50,820 bidding conveyed through the Unix. Then the king became 60 00:03:50,820 --> 00:03:54,720 extremely angry and his rage consumed him. The king then 61 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:58,260 inquired of the Wiseman who were dissenters of the times for it 62 00:03:58,260 --> 00:04:00,840 was the royal custom to confer with all those who were 63 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:04,380 proficient in laws and legalities. Those who were 64 00:04:04,380 --> 00:04:09,180 closest to him were car Sheena sheath are at Mesa Tarshish me 65 00:04:09,180 --> 00:04:13,500 res Martina and memudahkan these men with the seven officials of 66 00:04:13,500 --> 00:04:17,460 Persia and Media who saw the king on a regular basis and had 67 00:04:17,460 --> 00:04:21,660 the most prominent offices in the kingdom. The king asked by 68 00:04:21,660 --> 00:04:25,110 law what should be done to Queen Vashti in light of the fact that 69 00:04:25,110 --> 00:04:28,500 she is not obey the instructions of King a has you Eros conveyed 70 00:04:28,500 --> 00:04:31,980 through the Unix mum you can then reply to the king and the 71 00:04:31,980 --> 00:04:35,460 officials. The rung of Queen Vashti is not against the king 72 00:04:35,460 --> 00:04:38,760 alone but against all the officials and all the people who 73 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,910 are throughout all the provinces of Kenya has you whereas, for 74 00:04:41,910 --> 00:04:44,670 the matter concerning the queen will spread to all the women 75 00:04:44,700 --> 00:04:47,700 leading them to treat their husbands with contempt, saying 76 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:50,880 when King has you Eros gave orders to bring Queen Vashti 77 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:55,050 into His presence she would not come and this very day the noble 78 00:04:55,050 --> 00:04:58,500 ladies of Persia in media who have heard the matter concerning 79 00:04:58,500 --> 00:05:01,890 the queen will respond And in the same way to all the royal 80 00:05:01,890 --> 00:05:05,010 officials, and there will be more than enough contempt and 81 00:05:05,010 --> 00:05:09,360 anger. If the king is so inclined, let a royal edict go 82 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:12,690 forth from him, and let it be written in the laws of Persia 83 00:05:12,690 --> 00:05:16,470 and Media that cannot be repealed that Vashti may not 84 00:05:16,470 --> 00:05:19,890 come into the presence of King has you, Eris, and let the King 85 00:05:19,890 --> 00:05:23,670 convey her royalty to another who was more deserving than she 86 00:05:23,940 --> 00:05:27,390 and let the king's decision that he will enact be disseminated 87 00:05:27,390 --> 00:05:31,230 throughout all his kingdom vast though it is, then all the women 88 00:05:31,230 --> 00:05:33,990 will give honor to their husbands from the most prominent 89 00:05:34,050 --> 00:05:37,740 to the lowly. The matter seemed appropriate to the king and the 90 00:05:37,740 --> 00:05:42,120 officials. So the king acted on the advice of mucus and he sent 91 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:45,150 letters throughout all the royal provinces to each province 92 00:05:45,150 --> 00:05:48,450 according to its own script, and to each people according to its 93 00:05:48,450 --> 00:05:51,990 own language that every man should be ruling his family and 94 00:05:51,990 --> 00:05:54,480 should be speaking the language of his own people. 95 00:05:54,810 --> 00:05:59,280 Esther chapter two. After these things when the wrath of King 96 00:05:59,280 --> 00:06:04,170 has us subsided, he remembered Vash tie what she had done, and 97 00:06:04,170 --> 00:06:07,470 what had been decreed against her. Then the king servants who 98 00:06:07,470 --> 00:06:11,220 attended him said, Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the 99 00:06:11,220 --> 00:06:14,610 king, and let the King appoint officers in all the provinces of 100 00:06:14,610 --> 00:06:17,760 his kingdom, that they may gather all the beautiful young 101 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:21,780 virgins to Sham the Citadel into the women's quarters under the 102 00:06:21,780 --> 00:06:26,340 custody of Haggai the Kings unic custodian of the women, and let 103 00:06:26,340 --> 00:06:29,640 beauty preparations be given them. Then let the young woman 104 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:33,990 who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti this thing 105 00:06:33,990 --> 00:06:38,220 please the king and he did so. In Shu Shan, the Citadel there 106 00:06:38,220 --> 00:06:42,210 was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair the son 107 00:06:42,210 --> 00:06:46,530 of shimmy AI the son of Kish, a Benjamites. Kish had been 108 00:06:46,530 --> 00:06:49,260 carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been 109 00:06:49,260 --> 00:06:52,800 captured with Jack Enya, king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the 110 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:56,250 king of Babylon had carried away. and Mordecai had brought 111 00:06:56,250 --> 00:07:00,300 up a dasa that is estar, his uncle's daughter, for she had 112 00:07:00,300 --> 00:07:03,690 neither father nor mother, the young woman was lovely and 113 00:07:03,690 --> 00:07:07,500 beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her 114 00:07:07,500 --> 00:07:11,460 as his own daughter. So it was when the king's command and 115 00:07:11,460 --> 00:07:15,120 decree were heard. and when many young women were gathered at Shu 116 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:18,660 Shan, the Citadel under the custody of Haggai, that Esther 117 00:07:18,660 --> 00:07:21,960 also was taken to the king's palace into the care of Haggai, 118 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:26,220 the custodian of the women. Now the young woman pleased him and 119 00:07:26,220 --> 00:07:29,970 she obtained his favor, so he readily gave beauty preparations 120 00:07:29,970 --> 00:07:34,050 to her besides her allowance. Then seven choice maid servants 121 00:07:34,050 --> 00:07:37,500 were provided for her from the king's palace, and he moved her 122 00:07:37,500 --> 00:07:40,260 and her maid servants to the best place in the house of the 123 00:07:40,260 --> 00:07:43,950 women. Esther had not revealed her people or family for 124 00:07:43,950 --> 00:07:47,550 Mordecai had charged her not to reveal it. and every day 125 00:07:47,550 --> 00:07:50,940 Mordecai paste in front of the court of the women's quarters to 126 00:07:50,940 --> 00:07:54,780 learn investors, welfare and what was happening to her. Each 127 00:07:54,780 --> 00:07:58,320 young woman's turn came to go into King a has us after she had 128 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:02,100 completed 12 months preparation. According to the regulations for 129 00:08:02,100 --> 00:08:04,920 the women. For the US were the days of their preparation 130 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:08,700 apportioned six months with oil of Morocco, and six months with 131 00:08:08,700 --> 00:08:12,810 perfumes and preparations for beautifying women Thus prepared, 132 00:08:12,900 --> 00:08:16,320 each young woman went to the king, and she was given whatever 133 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:19,260 she desired to take with her from the women's quarters to the 134 00:08:19,260 --> 00:08:23,160 king's palace. In the evening she went and in the morning, she 135 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:26,340 returned to the second house of the women to the custody of che 136 00:08:26,340 --> 00:08:30,330 ash gas, the king's unit who kept the concubines, she would 137 00:08:30,330 --> 00:08:33,780 not go into the king again unless the king delighted in her 138 00:08:33,780 --> 00:08:37,950 in called for her by name. Now, when the turn came for Esther, 139 00:08:37,950 --> 00:08:41,310 the daughter of Abba Hale, the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken 140 00:08:41,310 --> 00:08:45,060 her as his daughter to go into the king, she requested nothing 141 00:08:45,060 --> 00:08:48,150 but what Haggai the Kings unit, the custodian of the women 142 00:08:48,180 --> 00:08:52,530 advised and Esther obtain favor in the sight of all who saw her. 143 00:08:52,980 --> 00:08:56,730 So Esther was taken to King Ahaz you Eros into his royal palace 144 00:08:56,940 --> 00:09:00,540 in the 10th month, which is the month of tea Beth in the seventh 145 00:09:00,540 --> 00:09:04,050 year of his reign. The king loved Esther more than all the 146 00:09:04,050 --> 00:09:07,230 other women and she obtained grace and favor in his sight 147 00:09:07,230 --> 00:09:11,010 more than all the virgins, so he set the royal crown upon her 148 00:09:11,010 --> 00:09:15,420 head and made her Queen instead of Vashti. Then the king made a 149 00:09:15,420 --> 00:09:18,780 great feast, the Feast of Esther for all his officials and 150 00:09:18,780 --> 00:09:22,620 servants, and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces and 151 00:09:22,620 --> 00:09:26,820 gave gifts according to the generosity of a king. When 152 00:09:26,820 --> 00:09:30,570 virgins were gathered together a second time, Mordecai sat within 153 00:09:30,570 --> 00:09:34,200 the Kings gate. Now Esther had not revealed her family and her 154 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:37,830 people just as Mordecai had charged her for Esther obeyed 155 00:09:37,830 --> 00:09:41,760 the command of Mordecai is when she was brought up by him. In 156 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:45,240 those days while Mordecai sat within the king's gate, to have 157 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:49,140 the king's Unix big fun and Tirosh doorkeepers became 158 00:09:49,140 --> 00:09:52,980 furious in sought to lay hands on King as you heiress. So the 159 00:09:52,980 --> 00:09:56,610 matter became known to Mordecai who told Queen Esther and Esther 160 00:09:56,610 --> 00:10:00,660 informed the king and mortar guys name and women inquiry was 161 00:10:00,660 --> 00:10:03,990 made into the matter. It was confirmed and both were hanged 162 00:10:03,990 --> 00:10:07,650 on a gallows. and it was written in the book of the Chronicles in 163 00:10:07,650 --> 00:10:08,940 the presence of the king. 164 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:14,640 Esther chapter three. After these things King a has you Eros 165 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:18,060 promoted Haman, the son of hammer data, the aggregate and 166 00:10:18,060 --> 00:10:21,030 advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were 167 00:10:21,030 --> 00:10:24,030 with him. and all the king's servants who were within the 168 00:10:24,030 --> 00:10:27,630 Kings gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had 169 00:10:27,630 --> 00:10:31,260 commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay 170 00:10:31,260 --> 00:10:34,740 homage. Then the king servants who were within the king's gate 171 00:10:34,740 --> 00:10:38,310 said to Mordecai, why do you transgress the king's command? 172 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:41,610 Now it happened when they spoke to him daily and he would not 173 00:10:41,610 --> 00:10:45,510 listen to them that they told it to Haman to see whether Mordecai 174 00:10:45,510 --> 00:10:48,660 his words would stand for Mordecai had told them that he 175 00:10:48,660 --> 00:10:53,070 was a Jew. When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him 176 00:10:53,070 --> 00:10:56,910 homage, Haman was filled with wrath, but he disdained to lay 177 00:10:56,910 --> 00:11:00,090 hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people 178 00:11:00,090 --> 00:11:04,230 of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews 179 00:11:04,230 --> 00:11:07,200 who were throughout the whole kingdom have a has you Eris, the 180 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:10,980 people of Mordecai in the first month, which is the month of 181 00:11:10,980 --> 00:11:15,060 nice and in the 12th year of Kinga has you Waris, they cast 182 00:11:15,060 --> 00:11:19,050 pure that is the lot before Haman to determine the day and 183 00:11:19,050 --> 00:11:22,380 the month until it fell on the 12th month, which is the month 184 00:11:22,380 --> 00:11:27,270 of ADR. Then Haman said to King has you Eris, there is a certain 185 00:11:27,270 --> 00:11:30,150 people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the 186 00:11:30,150 --> 00:11:33,510 provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from all 187 00:11:33,510 --> 00:11:37,260 other peoples and they do not keep the king's laws. Therefore, 188 00:11:37,260 --> 00:11:40,380 it is not fitting for the King to let them remain. If it 189 00:11:40,380 --> 00:11:43,620 pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be 190 00:11:43,620 --> 00:11:47,430 destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands 191 00:11:47,430 --> 00:11:50,100 of those who do the work to bring it into the king's 192 00:11:50,100 --> 00:11:53,880 treasuries. So the king took his signet ring from his hand and 193 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:57,330 gave it to Haman, the son of hammer data, the aggregate the 194 00:11:57,330 --> 00:12:01,260 enemy of the Jews, and the king said to Haman, the money in the 195 00:12:01,260 --> 00:12:04,710 people are given to you to do with them as seems good to you. 196 00:12:05,310 --> 00:12:08,370 Then the king scribes were called on the 13th day of the 197 00:12:08,370 --> 00:12:11,490 first month, and a decree was written according to all that 198 00:12:11,490 --> 00:12:15,270 Haman had commanded to the kings satraps to the governor's who 199 00:12:15,270 --> 00:12:19,080 were over each province, to the officials of all the people to 200 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:22,770 every province according to its script, and to every people in 201 00:12:22,770 --> 00:12:26,610 their language. In the name of King it has us it was written 202 00:12:26,670 --> 00:12:30,330 and sealed with the king's signet ring. and the letters 203 00:12:30,330 --> 00:12:33,510 were sent by couriers into all the king's provinces, to 204 00:12:33,510 --> 00:12:37,500 destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews, both 205 00:12:37,500 --> 00:12:41,790 young and old, little children and women in one day on the 13th 206 00:12:41,820 --> 00:12:45,300 day of the 12th month, which is the month of a dar and to 207 00:12:45,300 --> 00:12:48,930 plunder their possessions. A copy of the document was to be 208 00:12:48,930 --> 00:12:52,830 issued as law in every province being published for all people, 209 00:12:53,070 --> 00:12:57,000 that they should be ready for that day. The couriers went out, 210 00:12:57,030 --> 00:13:00,840 hastened by the kings command, and the decree was proclaimed in 211 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:04,800 Shu Shan, the Citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to 212 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:07,980 drink, but the city of Shu Shan was perplexed. 213 00:13:08,970 --> 00:13:12,990 Esther chapter four. When Mordecai learned all that had 214 00:13:12,990 --> 00:13:16,740 happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes 215 00:13:16,770 --> 00:13:20,100 and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a 216 00:13:20,100 --> 00:13:23,610 loud and bitter cry, he went as far as the front of the king's 217 00:13:23,610 --> 00:13:26,610 gate, for no one might enter the king's gate close with 218 00:13:26,610 --> 00:13:30,540 sackcloth, and in every province where the Kings commanded decree 219 00:13:30,540 --> 00:13:34,230 arrived, there was great morning among the Jews with fasting, 220 00:13:34,260 --> 00:13:39,420 weeping and wailing, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. So 221 00:13:39,420 --> 00:13:42,690 Esther's maids in Unix came and told her and the Queen was 222 00:13:42,690 --> 00:13:46,620 deeply distressed. Then she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and 223 00:13:46,620 --> 00:13:49,740 take his sackcloth away from him, but he would not accept 224 00:13:49,740 --> 00:13:53,280 them. Then Esther called haystack one of the kings Unix 225 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:56,550 whom he had appointed to attend her. and she gave him a command 226 00:13:56,550 --> 00:14:00,840 concerning Mordecai to learn what and why this was so hate 227 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:03,720 that went out to Mordecai in the city square that was in front of 228 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:07,080 the kings gate, and Mordecai told him all that had happened 229 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:10,320 to him and the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into 230 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:14,130 the Kings treasuries to destroy the Jews. He also gave him a 231 00:14:14,130 --> 00:14:16,860 copy of the written decree for their destruction, which was 232 00:14:16,860 --> 00:14:20,700 given at Shu Shan, that he might show it to Esther and explain it 233 00:14:20,700 --> 00:14:23,550 to her, and that he might command her to go into the king 234 00:14:23,550 --> 00:14:27,420 to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people. 235 00:14:28,020 --> 00:14:31,320 So hey, Thach returned and told Esther the words of Mordecai. 236 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:34,590 Then Esther spoke to hate back and gave him a command for 237 00:14:34,590 --> 00:14:37,590 Mordecai. All the king's servants and the people of the 238 00:14:37,590 --> 00:14:40,830 kings provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the 239 00:14:40,830 --> 00:14:44,910 inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one 240 00:14:44,910 --> 00:14:49,320 law put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out 241 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:53,370 the golden scepter that he may live, yet I myself have not been 242 00:14:53,370 --> 00:14:57,480 called to go into the king these 30 days. So they told Mordecai 243 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:01,560 Esther's words, and Mordecai told I'm to answer Esther, do 244 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:04,740 not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace 245 00:15:04,740 --> 00:15:07,530 any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain 246 00:15:07,530 --> 00:15:10,740 completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will 247 00:15:10,740 --> 00:15:14,280 arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's 248 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:17,790 house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the 249 00:15:17,790 --> 00:15:22,200 kingdom for such a time as this? Then Esther told him to reply to 250 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:26,610 Mordecai, go gather all the Jews who are present in Shu Shan and 251 00:15:26,610 --> 00:15:30,480 fast for me, neither eat nor drink for three days, night or 252 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:34,920 day, my maids and I will fast likewise. and so I will go to 253 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:38,700 the king which is against the law, and if I perish, I perish. 254 00:15:39,570 --> 00:15:42,810 So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther 255 00:15:42,810 --> 00:15:43,710 commanded him. 256 00:15:44,470 --> 00:15:48,850 Esther chapter five. On the third day Esther put on her 257 00:15:48,850 --> 00:15:52,360 royal robes, she stood in the courtyard of the king's palace 258 00:15:52,390 --> 00:15:55,540 facing the king's throne room. The king was sitting on the 259 00:15:55,540 --> 00:15:59,140 royal throne inside the palace facing the entrance. When the 260 00:15:59,140 --> 00:16:02,260 king saw Queen Esther standing in the entrance, she won his 261 00:16:02,260 --> 00:16:06,010 favor. So the king held out the golden scepter that was in his 262 00:16:06,010 --> 00:16:09,970 hand to Esther. Esther went up to him and touched the top of 263 00:16:09,970 --> 00:16:14,260 the scepter. Then the king asked her, What is traveling you Queen 264 00:16:14,260 --> 00:16:17,740 Esther? What would you like? Even if it is up to half of the 265 00:16:17,740 --> 00:16:22,120 kingdom it will be granted to you. So Esther answered, If it 266 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:25,390 pleases you, Your Majesty come today with Haman to a dinner 267 00:16:25,390 --> 00:16:29,560 I've prepared for you. The king replied, bring him in right away 268 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:33,400 and do whatever Esther asks. So the king and Haman came to the 269 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:37,120 dinner that Esther had prepared while they were drinking wine. 270 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:40,180 The king asked Esther, what is your request that will be 271 00:16:40,180 --> 00:16:43,990 granted to you? What would you like? Even if it is up to half 272 00:16:43,990 --> 00:16:47,710 of the kingdom? It will be granted. Esther answered my 273 00:16:47,710 --> 00:16:51,910 request. What would I like? Your Majesty come with him into a 274 00:16:51,910 --> 00:16:54,760 dinner I will prepare for you and tomorrow I will answer you, 275 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:58,390 Your Majesty. If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, 276 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:02,080 and if it pleases you, Your Majesty, may you then grant my 277 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:06,970 request and do what I would like. When Haman left that day, 278 00:17:06,970 --> 00:17:10,840 he was happy and feeling good. But when Haman saw Mordecai at 279 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:13,840 the king's gate, neither getting up nor trembling in His 280 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:18,430 presence. Haman was furious with Mordecai, however, Heyman 281 00:17:18,430 --> 00:17:22,000 controlled himself, he went home and sent for his friends and his 282 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:26,410 wife Zeresh. Then Haman began to relate in detail to them how 283 00:17:26,410 --> 00:17:30,460 very rich he was, the many sons he had, and all about how the 284 00:17:30,460 --> 00:17:33,760 king promoted him to a position over the officials in the Kings 285 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:38,380 advisors. Haman went on to say, what's more Queen Esther allowed 286 00:17:38,380 --> 00:17:41,200 no one except me to come with a king to the dinner she had 287 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:45,220 prepared. and again tomorrow I am her invited guest together 288 00:17:45,220 --> 00:17:48,790 with the king. Yet all this is worth nothing to me. Every time 289 00:17:48,790 --> 00:17:52,660 I see Mordecai, the Jews sitting at the king's gate, then his 290 00:17:52,660 --> 00:17:56,290 wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, have a pole setup 291 00:17:56,350 --> 00:18:00,100 75 feet high, and in the morning asked the king to have 292 00:18:00,100 --> 00:18:03,850 Mordekaiser dead body hung on it. Then go with the king to the 293 00:18:03,850 --> 00:18:07,720 dinner in good spirits. Haman liked the idea, so he had the 294 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:08,800 pole set up. 295 00:18:10,690 --> 00:18:13,540 Well, how's that for a cliffhanger? What will happen to 296 00:18:13,540 --> 00:18:18,190 Mordecai Tune in next week to find out well today in chapter 297 00:18:18,190 --> 00:18:22,030 one out of pride has he Where is held to different banquets. 298 00:18:22,060 --> 00:18:24,790 First, there was a six month long banquet for all of his 299 00:18:24,790 --> 00:18:28,510 officials and servants. He was the ruler of the largest empire 300 00:18:28,510 --> 00:18:31,960 in the world and he wanted to show off and by the way, in all 301 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:35,350 likelihood this lavish celebration was paid for from 302 00:18:35,350 --> 00:18:38,860 the taxes he collected. The word tells us that it was his own 303 00:18:38,860 --> 00:18:41,290 expense. But where do you suppose he got the money in the 304 00:18:41,290 --> 00:18:46,330 first place? Yeah, taxes. Go figure. The second banquet was 305 00:18:46,330 --> 00:18:49,660 for all the residents of the capital city Shu Shan this 306 00:18:49,660 --> 00:18:52,720 celebration was much more modest, of course lasting only 307 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:56,740 seven days. Drink was abundant at both banquets, but at the 308 00:18:56,740 --> 00:19:00,820 second it was not compulsory. Well, in chapter one, we were 309 00:19:00,820 --> 00:19:05,680 introduced briefly with a has us his wife, Queen Vashti. She also 310 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:08,890 had a banquet for the women in the palace. and on the seventh 311 00:19:08,890 --> 00:19:12,520 day of the second banquet, a hazard awareness was drunk, and 312 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:15,460 he ordered that Vashti should come to him at his banquet 313 00:19:15,610 --> 00:19:19,690 because he wanted to display her beauty. and commentators believe 314 00:19:19,690 --> 00:19:23,440 that it's implied that the king wanted her to appear without her 315 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:28,270 clothes on, which is the reason she refused to go. Well, in his 316 00:19:28,270 --> 00:19:31,510 drunken condition, the king became enraged and he asked his 317 00:19:31,510 --> 00:19:34,090 advisers what he should do in response to this 318 00:19:34,120 --> 00:19:37,540 insubordination. They said he should remove her as Queen 319 00:19:37,540 --> 00:19:40,510 because she was a bad example to all the other women in the 320 00:19:40,510 --> 00:19:44,320 kingdom. Find a replacement they said, or wives everywhere will 321 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:48,250 disrespect their husbands. In the New Testament, in Ephesians, 322 00:19:48,250 --> 00:19:52,000 chapter five Paul says that wives should respect their 323 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:55,750 husbands. Well, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that I 324 00:19:55,750 --> 00:19:59,650 agree with Paul. Respect is the greatest gift a wife can give to 325 00:19:59,650 --> 00:20:03,730 her house. Bend, but a husband cannot demand respect. Well, 326 00:20:03,730 --> 00:20:07,030 that's not entirely true, though is that I mean, a husband can 327 00:20:07,030 --> 00:20:11,260 demand respect and many husbands have cruel ways to do that. But 328 00:20:11,260 --> 00:20:14,830 respect given as a result of mistreatment is not true 329 00:20:14,830 --> 00:20:18,430 respect, is it? Let's look at what exactly Paul said there in 330 00:20:18,430 --> 00:20:22,930 Ephesians. It's in verse 33. of chapter five, he said, each one 331 00:20:22,930 --> 00:20:27,070 of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to 332 00:20:27,070 --> 00:20:31,210 respect her husband. So that brings a bit more perspective 333 00:20:31,210 --> 00:20:34,480 into the equation, doesn't it? and then earlier in the chapter 334 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:38,560 in verse 25, Paul made it even more clear, he said, Husbands, 335 00:20:38,650 --> 00:20:42,640 love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave 336 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:47,050 Himself for her. Well, that really drives at home, a husband 337 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:51,190 that loves his wife, just as Christ loved the church will, in 338 00:20:51,190 --> 00:20:55,600 almost every case, be rewarded with respect and love from his 339 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:59,920 wife. If a has you, whereas had loved Vash Thai with this kind 340 00:20:59,920 --> 00:21:03,070 of love to begin with, he would have never made such a request 341 00:21:03,070 --> 00:21:06,640 of her and he would have had her respect. But of course, if that 342 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:09,160 had happened, then we wouldn't have had the rest of the story 343 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:16,900 with Esther would we don't miss next week's conclusion? If you 344 00:21:16,900 --> 00:21:19,270 have thoughts or questions, I'd love to hear it said the 345 00:21:19,300 --> 00:21:22,390 Boostagram love to get those call the Lifespring family 346 00:21:22,390 --> 00:21:25,750 hotline, I love to hear your voice, go to the comments page 347 00:21:25,750 --> 00:21:28,720 or just write an email. I tell you how to do each one of those 348 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:31,690 things at the end of the show. Tomorrow will be Psalms 349 00:21:31,690 --> 00:21:36,310 Wednesday, we'll read chapters 146 through 148. and we'll also 350 00:21:36,340 --> 00:21:37,390 have a time of prayer. 351 00:21:41,110 --> 00:21:45,820 Lifespring family Berean sister Ann came in with a $150 donation 352 00:21:45,820 --> 00:21:49,450 this morning. Thank you so much, sister, and God bless you. and 353 00:21:49,450 --> 00:21:53,290 Lester came in with $25 Thank you, Lester. God bless you as 354 00:21:53,290 --> 00:21:59,770 well. and Jamie the trucker sent in at 1352 sat Boostagram 13 355 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:03,940 352. and he said, "Jamie, the trucker the OG show number 356 00:22:03,970 --> 00:22:07,510 Boostagram Her rolling through Kansas, between the pre 357 00:22:07,510 --> 00:22:11,470 recordings and getting ready for surgery. You missed my s 13 e 358 00:22:11,470 --> 00:22:15,340 345. Show number Boostagram So I'm sending this one just to let 359 00:22:15,340 --> 00:22:18,310 you know!" and he had a smiling emoji with that as well. Well, 360 00:22:18,310 --> 00:22:21,730 thank you Jamie, the trucker God bless you and you know I look 361 00:22:21,730 --> 00:22:27,400 back in my Boostagram and that s 13 e 345. Boostagram never 362 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:30,070 showed up at least it doesn't show on the tool that I use 363 00:22:30,100 --> 00:22:33,910 hella pad to track boosts and booster grams you know that 364 00:22:33,910 --> 00:22:36,400 happens every once in a while I know I've sent booster grams 365 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:38,590 before that didn't get through and it's happened to other 366 00:22:38,590 --> 00:22:41,920 people as when they said booster grams as well. Like Adam curry 367 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:45,250 says it's a wonder if any of this stuff works. So anyway I 368 00:22:45,250 --> 00:22:48,730 don't think it came in but no big deal. Thank you so very much 369 00:22:48,730 --> 00:22:51,160 though for the thought. We'll love it if you would like to 370 00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:54,790 send a value for value donation in appreciation for this show. 371 00:22:54,790 --> 00:22:57,850 If you've received any value from it, this is the place to go 372 00:22:59,980 --> 00:23:00,190 Jingle: Lifespringmedia.com/support 373 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:04,530 Steve Webb: I'll thank you and I believe that God will bless you. 374 00:23:09,090 --> 00:23:13,590 If you have not yet gone over to Lifespringmedia.com slash Ignite 375 00:23:13,620 --> 00:23:18,150 and cast a vote, time will be up shortly. I haven't paid any 376 00:23:18,150 --> 00:23:21,510 attention to Podcast Awards and well over a decade. But since 377 00:23:21,510 --> 00:23:24,210 the Lifespring! 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If you have a comment or a question for me go 397 00:24:42,330 --> 00:24:45,390 to comment dot Lifespringmedia.com or send an 398 00:24:45,390 --> 00:24:48,600 email to Steve at Lifespringmedia.com dot com. 399 00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:00,480 My thanks to the team Sister Denise Michael Haner Scott 400 00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:03,930 Snider, Jason Paschall in SR Brittaney for their generous 401 00:25:03,930 --> 00:25:07,650 donations of time and talent. Thanks to SR N and Lester for 402 00:25:07,650 --> 00:25:10,830 helping to make this episode possible. and beloved, thank you 403 00:25:10,830 --> 00:25:14,070 for your time. I do not take it for granted and I look forward 404 00:25:14,070 --> 00:25:17,490 to seeing you tomorrow. Until then, may God bless you richly. 405 00:25:17,670 --> 00:25:19,890 My name is Steve Webb. Bye. 406 00:25:21,870 --> 00:25:24,300 Announcer: Vote at Lifespringmedia.com slash 407 00:25:24,330 --> 00:25:25,740 Ignite. Do it now. 408 00:25:27,900 --> 00:25:29,850 James Cooper: All the programs in the Lifespringmedia.com 409 00:25:29,850 --> 00:25:33,330 family are made possible by the generous gifts of people like 410 00:25:33,330 --> 00:25:33,570 you.