Preschool
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 9:10
God Spares His People
Memory Verses
Primary
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Proverbs 9:10
Junior
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Proverbs 9:10
Background Scripture: Esther 8
Lesson Scripture: Esther 8:3-6, 10-17
Introduction
God has always made a way to save and deliver his people. In his providence, He places individuals in certain places at certain times to fulfill his plan. Even when hope seems gone, God creates a way to save us. May we look to Him and pray, remembering his promise to deliver us when we need help. God is ready to fight our battles, and like the Jews in this lesson, restore our joy and gladness.
Key Verse
Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear (Isa. 59:1).
Lesson Scripture
Esther 8:3 And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.
4 Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,
5 And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king’s provinces:
6 For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?
10 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus’ name, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:
11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,
12 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
13 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
14 So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.
15 And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
16 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
17 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.
Studying the Lesson
Although God’s name is never mentioned in the book of Esther, it is apparent that the Jews of Shushan sought his intervention when they fasted for three days. Queen Esther sent the message to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).
For the pagan Persians, every royal decree of the king was considered irrefutable and unchangeable and was to be obeyed by all his subjects—the king’s rule was the law of the gods. Even though the law to destroy the Jews was written according to the laws of the Medes and Persians, rendering it unchangeable, their prayers were answered when God’s people fasted and prayed. Esther risked her life by going not once but twice before the king uninvited (Esther 5:1-2; 8:3). She was not content with the destruction of Haman; she was intent on saving her people. Without any direct mention of his name, God’s chosen people were granted a stay of execution through the wisdom and humility of Esther.
Esther was tactful in her approach to the king. She began with the customary form of address she had in previous requests (Esther 5:8; 7:3). But now, adding a personal reference to the king’s feeling toward her, she places herself in complete submission to him.
Since Haman had fallen, his policy could be reversed without affecting the king’s dignity. Queen Esther did not make the king responsible for the plot but laid it to Haman’s account, who was now dead and discredited. She bore herself with delicate grace and a skillful deportment that was given by God and used to his purpose, and the heart of this heathen king was moved to grant clemency to the people of God.
The Book of Esther records the Feast of Purim’s institution and the statute of its perpetual observation. This book was read at the Feast of Purim to commemorate the great deliverance of the Jewish nation brought about by God through Esther.
Practical Truths for Today
As queen, Esther interceded for her people, pleaded for their lives, and became a symbol of that which Jesus does for all humankind. God used Esther, an orphaned Jewish maid, to intercede for her people. How do we mediate for others today?
God overshadowed the king and caused him to grant favor to Queen Esther. He gave Mordecai and Queen Esther a plan for the Jews to defend themselves. Their deliverance would be on the same day that the earlier decree had condemned them to be killed. Now they were privileged to use force against their enemies and protect the places they lived. Even though Ahasuerus was a ruthless ruler, God used him to save the Jews. This teaches us to respect those whom God has set up as authorities, even though some things they do are evil. Esther’s example teaches us to be brave and gentle, to use our abilities for good purposes, and to make the cause of the oppressed our own.
Esther proved to have a godly, teachable spirit, showing quiet strength. Her willing obedience and demeanor were quite likely noticeably different from those around her. Although she had been elevated to the position of queen, she remained respectful and humble in difficult and troublesome circumstances, even when dealing with those who were contrary. No complaint is recorded about Esther; rather, we read she won the favor of those around her as she maintained a positive attitude coupled with humility and a determination to lean on God. God accomplished his will through the favor the king bestowed upon her, which ultimately saved her people. As we follow Esther’s example, we can have the assurance that God is in control of the affairs of men even when we suffer unfair treatment. Who knows but that God has put us in such a place as we are for good and that he has called us for service in such a time as this? We can trust God’s providence.
In the lesson scripture, Esther was going the second time to the king with the same courage and submission of the first time. With a true commitment in which she was ready to endure any evil and dare any danger, she took her life in her hands when she sought an audience of King Ahasuerus uninvited. One author says, “Nothing in literature is nobler than her quiet words, which measure her danger without shrinking, and front it without heroics: ‘If I perish, I perish!” 1 With our love set on God, we can have this same courage and submission.
Article Eighteen of Thirty-Three Articles of Faith states, “This church of God has existed on the earth from the beginning of the world, either in greater or in smaller numbers, secretly or openly, and shall thus continue unto the end of the world, and Christ will be with her, with His Spirit, always.” It is a comfort to know that the church fathers, even in times of great persecution, believed God would spare his church and that it would continue unto the end of the world. We believe and trust that God will always make a way for us no matter how dark the world becomes.
Questions
- What are some of the ways that God has spared his people throughout history?
- What are ways to prepare for the trials that undoubtedly lie ahead of us?
- Is there a personal experience of how God has spared you? Did this increase your faith in God’s providence?
- How do we learn to follow the light and direction we have been given, even if it may seem uncustomary?
- 1 Alexander Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).