This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&handling) for each page to:
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Genesis through 2Kings are
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ESTHER
CHAPTER 5
1 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
3 Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.
After requesting that the people be praying and fasting for her, Esther approached the king.
4 And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.
5 Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6 And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.
Esther didn't immediately reveal the real problem. She knew it was best to first be in a more intimate setting than in the king's court.
7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;
8 If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king hath said.
9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.
10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.
11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
12 Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.
13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and tomorrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.
Esther had the king's full attention. But for some reason she was not yet willing to reveal her REAL request. She invited both Haman and the king to return the next evening for another supper.
CHAPTER 6
That night, God gave the king a restless time, and he couldn't sleep. He was up much of the time, and got someone to read the "chronicles" (or history of the king) to him.
4 And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
5 And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.
6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?
Just then, Haman came into the court. He was also getting an early start on the day (for quite another reason - his was pride).
7 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,
8 Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:
9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou has spoken.
Therefore, Haman suggested putting the person on the king's special horse, and let that person be "paraded" through the streets with a proclamation of his worthiness.
11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
12 And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.
Haman did do what the king commanded, but then he ran home ashamed. He told his family and friends how AWFUL it was!
14 And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.
And just as Haman was considering how events had turned awfully against him, a servant came reminding him that it was almost time to be at the banquet with Esther and the king. Please continue in Bible Study with us.
Before she went, she made sure she was dressed appropriately. When the king saw her, he held out the sceptre toward her to ensure her safety.
The sceptre was a SYMBOL; a symbol of authority and power. The sceptre was used to describe the coming Christ in Genesis 49:10. And in Hebrews 1:8 the Bible says Christ rules with a "sceptre of righteousness."
Jesus Christ is the emblem of God's power, authority and righteousness. And He is held out to ALL those who will come to God.
Not only did Ahasueras hold out the sceptre to Esther, but he asked her what she wanted.
She invited the king and, at special request, Haman to come to a special supper.
The king commanded Haman to be sure and prepare and attend.
When they had come to the supper, the king reiterated his 1st statement. He was quite willing to grant ANY request Esther made; even 1/2 of the kingdom!
We would ordinarily think that Esther was AFRAID, and that she was only "putting off" the confrontation.
But we must remember, she had requested sincere prayer concerning this matter. She was being led by the Spirit of God. And God was not yet READY for the confrontation. One more day was needed to prepare Haman to his fullest before his "bubble were burst," so to speak.
OH! Haman was so PROUD! Even though he saw Mordecai and Mordecai did not bow, he wasn't upset!
He went home bragging about how he alone was invited to the supper with the king and queen! What a memorable occasion for him!
Little did he know the REAL TRUTH:
"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."(Proverbs 16:18)
Upon Haman's boasting of his special recognition, his wife and friends suggested that he go ahead and build the gallows on which to hang all the Jews.
He lived in pride and he lived by pride.
1 On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.
2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
3 And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.
In that reading, he was reminded of Mordecai's good deed of saving his life from a plot. Ahasueras wanted to know what reward had been given Mordecai. But the scribe who read found NOTHING had been done!
The king, having been up half the night, was getting an early start on the day's work. And he was contemplating what he would do to reward Mordecai.
Both men had something weighing heavily on their minds. See here how God works in the affairs of men to complete His purposes.
When Ahasueras wanted to know how to "honor" someone, Haman was thinking only of himself. He had plenty of money, and he had a good life. But he wanted prestige, honor, recognition.
Now Haman received a great SHOCK!
The king told him to do that very thing for MORDECAI!
God had worked a MIRACLE!
Now the man whom Haman hated more than any, and was "despised in his eyes," was LIFTED UP!
At this point, Mordecai becomes a typification of Christ.
"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53:3)
"The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee,.." (Isaiah 60:14)
The thing which Haman had wanted for HIMSELF, was now given to the man whom he despised most!
Friends, in the end, all honor and glory will be given to Jesus Christ! And all those who have worshipped SELF above Him, shall be proclaiming His glory; but they shall be suffering a GREAT FALL!
They recognized the situation. The realized that Haman had received and would receive a GREAT FALL!
My friends, when people worship self more than Jesus, they will, at the end of life, have health and wealth and power and prestige all turn AGAINST them!
And then God will call! Life will be OVER; and they will face JUDGMENT!