A Lamp Unto My Feet Bible Study Website
Related Articles
RETURN TO SYLLABUS
ESTHER 7
LESSON #08
PRINCIPLES FOR APPEALING TO AUTHORITY
v MEMORYVERSE: PROVERBS 29:2
v READEST 7:1-4 ESTHERS PETITION
Ø DISCUSSION: WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU SEE IN ESTHER IN THISCHAPTER?
§ WE SEE THAT ESTHER WAS WELLLIKED AMONG THE PEOPLE AT COURT.
· THE HEAD EUNUCH GAVE HER FAVOR TOBECOME QUEEN.
· SHE AND MORDECAI TRUSTED THECHAMBERLAIN WITH THE NEWS OF THEIR IDENTITY AS JEWS.
· THE WOMEN AROUND HER FASTED ANDPRAYED WITH HER.
· THE CHAMBERLAIN WHO MENTIONED THEGALLOWS TO THE KING PUTS IN A GOOD WORD FOR MORDECAI.
Ø THE POSITION OF WOMEN IN THOSE DAYS MEANTTHEY HAD NO PERSONAL RIGHTS. FOR A WOMAN TO STAND UP TO ANY MAN WAS UNHEARD OF–REMEMBERWHAT HAPPENED TO VASHTI. ESTHER HAD A GREAT DEAL OF COURAGE TO DO THIS.
§ BUT THEN, SHE HAD NOTHINGTO LOSE FOR THE JEWS WERE TO BE KILLED ON THE 13TH OF ADAR (ABOUT MAR 14), UNLESS SHE COULD CONTINUE TO HIDE HER IDENTITY.
· VS. 4 DIFFICULTY IN TRANSLATION
¨ “ALTHOUGH THE ENEMY IS NOT EQUAL TO THEDAMAGE OF THE KING” = LITERALLY:
Ø “THE MONEY BROUGHT INTO THE TREASURY BYCONFISCATING THE JEWS’ PROPERTY WOULDN’T PAY FOR THE LOSS OF SO MANY SUBJECTS” THEPUNISHMENT OF HAMAN FOR HIS CRIMES WOULD INVOLVE FAR LESS FINANCIAL LOSS TO THE KING THANTHE DEATH OF THOUSANDS OF JEWS.
§ HER APPEAL IS BASED ON THEBEST INTERESTS OF HER AUTHORITY FIGURE.
· WE ALL HAVE PEOPLE IN AUTHORITYOVER US.
¨ IF YOU ARE A WIFE, YOUR HUSBAND IS THEAUTHORITY OVER YOU. IF YOU ARE A YOUNG CHILD, YOUR FATHER IS THE AUTHORITY OVER YOU. IFYOU ARE AN EMPLOYEE, YOUR BOSS IS THE AUTHORITY OVER YOU. IF YOU ARE A CHURCH MEMBER, THEPASTOR IS THE AUTHORITY OVER YOU. THEN THERE ARE THE GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES OVER US.
· FROM TIME TO TIME, WE DISAGREEWITH WHAT OUR AUTHORITY FIGURE IS DOING. THE BIBLE TEACHES OBEDIENCE TO THOSE IN AUTHORITYOVER US. HOWEVER, THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE CANT DISAGREE WITH THEIR DECISIONS ORDISAGREE WITH THE DIRECTION IN WHICH THEY ARE HEADED.
¨ THERE IS A BIBLICAL WAY TO APPEAL TO THOSE INAUTHORITY. THE BIBLE IS FILLED WITH EXAMPLES: ABIGAIL AND DANIEL ARE TWO.
v PRINCIPLES FOR APPEALING TO AUTHORITY:
Ø THEKEY: THE KEY TO SUCCESS IS THE BALANCEBEWEEN OBEDIENCE AND APPEAL. (1SAM25)
§ OBEDIENCEREQUIRES THAT WE KNOW THE WISHES AND GOALS OF OUR AUTHORITY, AND WE MAKE AN EFFORT TO FILLTHEM.
· THEBETTER YOU KNOW THE GOALS OF YOUR AUTHORITY, THE BETTER YOU CAN COOPERATE WITH HIM.
§ APPEAL REQUIRESTHAT WE KNOW THE STANDARDS OF GOD, AND WE DECIDE UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL WE VIOLATETHEM WHATEVER THE CONSEQUENCES.
· THE BETTER YOU KNOW GODSSTANDARDS, THE MORE ACCURATELY YOU CAN DRAW THE LINE BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG.
Ø HOWTO FRAME AN APPEAL TO SOMEONE IN AUTHORITY:
§ 1. YOU MUST BE IN RIGHTSTANDING WITH A SUBMISSIVE ATTITUDE.
§ 2. YOU MUST HAVE A RIGHT BASISFOR YOUR APPEAL.
· CONSIDERHIS REPUTATION.
¨ WILLIT DAMAGE HIS REPUTATION TO CHANGE HIS MIND?
¨ WILLIT DAMAGE HIS RIGHTFUL POSITION OF AUTHORITY?
¨ WILLIT VIOLATE HIS ULTIMATE GOALS?
§ 3. YOU MUST APPEAL AT THE RIGHTTIME, AND IN GODS PERFECT TIMING.
· YOUMUST FIRST SEPARATE YOUR APPEAL FROM YOUR EMOTIONS.
¨ YOUDO THIS IN PRAYER, PLACING YOUR FAITH IN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD. THIS LOWERS YOUREXPECTATIONS.
· NEVERMAKE YOUR APPEAL BEFORE YOUR EXPECTATIONS ARE BALANCED.
· CHOOSETHE PERFECT TIME FOR YOUR APPEAL.
¨ CAREFULLYCHOOSE A TIME WHEN YOUR PERSON IN AUTHORITY CAN CONCENTRATE ON IT.
¨ CHOOSEA TIME WHEN YOU ARE STILL WILLING TO SACRIFICE FOR IT.
§ 4. WHEN YOU APPEAL, YOU MUSTGIVE ACCURATE INFORMATION.
· NEVERLIE OR EXAGERATE THE TRUTH TO MAKE YOUR APPEAL MORE ATTRACTIVE.
§ 5. YOU MUST HAVE THE RIGHTATTITUDES OF GENUINE LOVE, LOYALTY, AND A SERVANT’S SPIRIT.
· IFYOU DO NOT HAVE A SERVANTS SPIRIT, YOUR AUTHORITY WILL THINK YOU ARE:
¨ QUESTIONINGHIS AUTHORITY.
¨ TRYINGTO TAKE OVER HIS POSITION OF AUTHORITY.
¨ DENYINGHIS POSITION OF AUTHORITY.
§ 6. YOU MUST USE THE RIGHT WORDSIN YOUR APPEAL.
· ITHELPS TO WRITE OUT YOUR APPEAL FIRST.
· CHECKTHE WORDING OF YOUR APPEAL SO THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE WORDS THAT MIGHT TRIGGER A NEGATIVERESPONSE.
· THENPRACTICE SAYING IT.
§ 7. YOU MUST DISPLAY A RIGHTRESPONSE TO YOUR APPEAL IF IT IS REJECTED.
Ø DISCUSSION: HOW DO YOU THINK ESTHER DID IN USINGTHESE PRINCIPLES?
v READ EST 7:5-8 THE KINGS RESPONSE:
Ø WHAT DOES THE KING UNDERSTAND FROM WHATESTHER HAS TOLD HIM?
§ 1. HER LIFE IS THREATENED.
§ 2. THE LIVES OF HER PEOPLEARE THREATENED.
§ 3. MONEY HAS BEEN PAID FORTHIS PLOT.
§ 4. THE COST TO THE KINGDOMWILL BE GREATER THAN IF THE KING PUNISHED THE EVIL ONE WHO ARRANGED THE PLOT.
Ø THE KING INQUIRES WHO IS BEHIND THE EVILPLOT. ESTHER NAMES HAMAN.
Ø THE KING WAS SO ANGRY AT THE INTRIGUE THATTHREATENED HIS KINGDOM. HE LEFT THE QUEEN ANDHAMAN ALONE IN THE ROOM WHILE HE WENT INTO THE GARDEN TO THINK. WHEN HE RETURN ED TO THEROOM, HAMAN WAS PLEADING WITH THE QUEEN. HOWEVER, HAMAN, NOT THINKING, CAME TOO CLOSE TOTHE QUEEN.
Ø THE KING WAS ANGRY WITH HAMAN FOR BEING SOCLOSE TO THE QUEEN; THIS WAS FORBIDDEN. WHETHER HE THOUGHT HAMAN, IN HIS PRIDE, WASFORCING HIMSELF ON HER IS NOT CLEAR. OR PERHAPS HE THOUGHT HAMAN WAS ATTACKING THE QUEEN.
§ “AS THE WORD WENT OUTOF THE KING’S MOUTH, THEY COVERED HAMANS FACE” (8) = AS THE KING SPOKE THEWORDS OF DEATH TO HAMAN, THE GUARDS RUSHED IN AND COVERED HIS HEAD WITH A CLOTH. THIS WASA PRACTICE AMONG THE GREEKS AND ROMANS.
v READ EST 7:9-10 JUSTICE FOR HAMAN
Ø NOTICE IT IS NOT ESTHER THAT MENTIONS WHATSHOULD BE DONE TO HAMAN. THE KING IS REMINDED THAT HAMAN HAS BUILT A GALLOWS TO HANGMORDECAI, WHOM THE KING JUST HONORED FOR SAVING HIS LIFE.
§ THE GALLOWS (5:14)
· 50 CUBITS HIGH = 75 FEET HIGH
¨ THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE HEIGHT. ONE COMMENTATORTHOUGHT IT WAS AN EXAGGERATION, WHILE ANOTHER THOUGHT IT MUST HAVE BEEN ON THE TOP OF ABUILDING AND THE HEIGHT WAS MEASURED FROM THE GROUND.
Ø AT ANY RATE, IT WAS IN A POSITION SO THAT ALLWOULD BE ABLE TO SEE IT FROM A DISTANCE.
Ø HAMAN IS HANGED ON HIS OWN GALLOWS. WHATHAMAN SOWED, HE REAPED. HOWEVER, ESTHERS BIG PROBLEM IS NOT YET SOLVED.
v SPECIAL NOTE: THERE ARE TWO ACROSTICS SPELLING OUT THE NAME OF GOD IN THIS CHAPTER.
Ø REMEMBER THAT THESE ACROSTICS CAN BE SEEN INTHE ORIGINAL HEBREW AND NOT IN ANY ENGLISH TRANSLATION. HOWEVER, TO UNDERSTAND THEM, WENEED TO SEE THEM SPELLED OUT IN SOME KIND OF ENGLISH FORMAT.
§ EST 7:5 SPELLS EHYH FORWARD WHICH IS THE NAMEGOD USED AT THE BURNING BUSH WHEN MOSES ASKED GOD, WHO SHALL I SAY SENT ME?GOD TOLD HIM TO SAY, I AM HAS SENT YOU.
| WHERE |
| DWELLETH |
| THE ENEMY |
| THAT DARETH |
· E, H, Y, H WOULDSPELL FORWARD IN HEBREW IS THE NAME FOR GOD THAT MEANS, I AM.
§ EST 7:7
| EVIL |
| TO |
| FEAR |
|
DETERMINED |
· JHVH IN HEBREWSPELLED FORWARDS MEANS LORD IN ENGLISH.
HOMEWORK
ESTHER 8
v APPLICATION FOR EST 7
Ø WHAT CHARACTER QUALITIES DID ESTHER HAVE THATYOU FIND LACKING IN YOUR OWN CHARACTER?
Ø PRAY AND ASK GOD TO HELP YOU DEVELOP THESEQUALITIES. REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU PRAY THIS KIND OF PRAYER, GOD ANSWERS BY SENDING THEOPPOSITE INTO YOUR LIFE SO THAT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THE POSITIVE QUALITY. FOR EXAMPLE: IF YOU PRAY FOR PATIENCE, GOD SENDS TRIALS THAT TRY YOUR PATIENCE. THIS ISTHE OPPORTUNITY GOD GIVES YOU TO REACT IN A MORE POSITIVE WAY.
v PREPARATION FOR EST 8
Ø READ EST 8:1-17
§ WHAT WAS THE CONTENTS OFTHE SECOND DECREE?
§ WHY DO YOU THINK WOMEN ANDCHILDREN WERE INCLUDED?
v MEMORY VERSE: PSALMS 41:11
