Participants: Kelly Mowrer
Series Code: HWAL
Program Code: HWAL000586
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00:15 Hello, and welcome to His Words are Life.
00:17 I'm Kelly Mowrer, and thank you for joining with me today 00:20 to read God's Word together. Before we start, let's pray. 00:23 Dear Lord, as we listen today and read today the story of 00:28 Queen Esther, may those events of long ago bring fresh wisdom 00:34 to what we're facing now. Please send the Holy Spirit to guide 00:38 our thoughts and our ears as we listen. Thank you so much for 00:41 loving us and we love you so much. Amen. 00:44 We had just begun the story when we were last together. 00:47 And in this account King Ahasuerus is giving a great 00:51 feast, and has commanded his wife, queen Vashti, to appear 00:56 and she has refused. And so the king asked his counselors, 01:00 What shall we do with queen Vashti? and one of his 01:04 counselors is giving the king some advice and he's saying, 01:08 We need to make sure that a message goes forth, not just 01:12 in your court to queen Vashti; but to all the kingdom that this 01:18 type of disobedience won't be allowed. And, so the counselor 01:22 has advised the king that a decree be made because queen 01:26 Vashti disobeyed, that she will come no more into the presence 01:29 of the king. We're going to pick it up in the middle of this 01:33 counsel, in Esther, chapter 1, verse 20. 01:37 This is the King James Version. 01:38 And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published 01:42 throughout all his empire, - for it is great - 01:45 all the wives shall give to their husbands honor, 01:49 both to great and small. And the saying pleased the king 01:53 and the princes and the king did according to the word 01:56 of Memucan: for he sent letters into all the king's provinces, 02:00 into every province according to the writing thereof, 02:03 and to every people after their language, that every man should 02:07 bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published 02:10 according to the language of every people. 02:13 Continuing to read in the book of Esther, chapter 2. 02:17 This is the King James Version. After these things, when the 02:22 wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, 02:26 and what she had done, and what was decreed against her. 02:29 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, 02:33 Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king. 02:37 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces 02:41 of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair 02:45 young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of 02:48 the women, unto the custody of Hegai the king's chamberlain, 02:53 keeper of the women; and let their things for purification 02:57 be given them. And let the maiden which pleaseth the king 03:02 be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; 03:06 and he did so. Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain 03:11 Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of 03:15 Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; 03:17 who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity 03:21 which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, 03:25 whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 03:28 And he brought up Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle's 03:33 daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, 03:36 and the maid was fair and beautiful; 03:39 whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, 03:42 took for his own daughter. So it came to pass, when the king's 03:45 commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens 03:49 were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, 03:51 to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto 03:56 the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. 04:00 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him 04:05 and he speedily gave her things of purification with such things 04:09 as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be 04:13 given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her 04:16 and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. 04:20 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: 04:24 for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it. 04:28 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's 04:32 house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her. 04:36 Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to the king 04:41 Ahasuerus, after that she had been 12 months, according to 04:45 the manner of the women, (for so were the days 04:48 of their purifications accomplished, to wit, 04:51 6 months with oil of Myrrh, and 6 months with sweet odours, 04:56 and with other things for the purifying of the women;) 04:58 Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever 05:03 she desired was given her to go with her out of the house 05:06 of the women, unto the king's house. In the evening she went, 05:10 and on the morrow she returned into the second house 05:14 of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's 05:18 chamberlain, which kept the concubines. She came in unto the 05:22 king no more, except the king delighted in her, 05:25 and that she were called by name. Now when the turn of 05:28 Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, 05:32 who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in 05:36 unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai, 05:40 the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, 05:42 appointed. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all them 05:47 that looked upon her. So Esther was taken unto the king 05:52 Ahasuerus into his house royal in the 10th month, 05:55 which is the month Tebeth, in the 7th year of his reign. 05:58 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained 06:04 grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; 06:07 so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her 06:12 queen instead of Vashti. Then the king made a great feast 06:17 unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; 06:22 and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, 06:26 according to the state of the king. And when the virgins 06:29 were gathered together the 2nd time, then Mordecai sat in the 06:34 king's gate. Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her 06:39 people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the 06:42 commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up 06:46 with him. In those days, when Mordecai sat in the king's gate, 06:52 two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those 06:57 which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand 07:01 on the king Ahasuerus. And the thing was known to Mordecai, 07:05 who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified 07:09 the king thereof in Mordecai's name. And when inquisition 07:13 was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were 07:16 both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the 07:20 chronicles before the king. We're continuing with Esther, 07:24 chapter 3, and this is the King James Version. 07:26 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son 07:32 of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat 07:36 above all the princes that were with him. 07:39 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, 07:42 bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded 07:46 concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence 07:51 Then the king's servants which were in the king's gate, 07:55 said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's 07:59 commandment? Now it came to pass when they spake daily unto him, 08:04 and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, 08:08 to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: 08:10 for he had told them that he was Jew. And when Haman saw 08:15 that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, 08:18 then was Haman full of wrath. And he thought scorn to lay 08:22 hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people 08:26 of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews 08:30 that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, 08:33 even the people of Mordecai. In the first month, that is, 08:38 the month Nisan, in the 12th year of king Ahasuerus, 08:41 they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, 08:47 and from month to month, to the 12th month, that is 08:50 the month Adar. And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, 08:55 There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed 09:00 among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; 09:03 and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they 09:08 the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit 09:12 to suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written 09:17 that they may be destroyed: and I will pay 10,000 talents 09:22 of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of 09:26 the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries. 09:29 And the king took his ring from his hand and gave it unto Haman 09:33 the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. 09:36 And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, 09:40 the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. 09:43 Then were the king's scribes called on the 13th day of the 09:47 first month, and there was written according to all that 09:49 Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the 09:52 governors over every province, and to the rulers of every 09:55 people of every province according to the writing thereof 09:58 and to every people after their language; in the name of king 10:02 Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring. 10:06 And the letters were sent by posts unto all the kings 10:09 provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews 10:16 both young and old, little children and women, 10:19 in one day, even upon the 13th day of the 12th month, 10:24 which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them 10:26 for a prey. The copy of the writing for a commandment 10:30 to be given in every province was published unto all people, 10:34 that they should be ready against that day. 10:36 The posts went out, being hastened by the king's 10:39 commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. 10:43 And the king and Haman sat down to drink; 10:46 But the city of Shushan was perplexed. 10:50 Continuing the story in Esther, chapter 4. This is the 10:53 King James Version. When Mordecai perceived 10:57 all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on 11:02 sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, 11:05 and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; 11:08 And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter 11:12 into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. 11:15 And in every province, whithersoever the King's 11:18 commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning 11:20 among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; 11:24 and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 11:27 So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it 11:31 her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; 11:34 And she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his 11:38 sackcloth from him: but he received it not. 11:41 Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, 11:45 whom he had appointed to attend upon her, 11:48 and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, 11:52 and why it was. So Hatach went forth to Mordecai 11:56 unto the street of the city which was before the king's gate 11:59 and Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, 12:03 and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay 12:06 to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. 12:08 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was 12:12 given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, 12:15 and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she 12:17 should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, 12:21 and to make request before him for her people. 12:23 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. 12:27 Again, Esther spake unto Hatach and gave him commandment unto 12:32 Mordecai; all the king's servants and the people of the 12:35 king's provinces, do know that whosoever, whether man or woman 12:40 shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not 12:44 called, there is one law of his to put him to death, 12:47 except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden 12:51 sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called 12:54 to come in unto the king these thirty days. 12:56 And they told to Mordecai Esther's words. Then Mordecai 13:02 commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thy self that 13:06 thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. 13:09 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time at this 13:14 time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance 13:18 arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's 13:21 house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art 13:26 come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Then Esther bade 13:30 them return Mordecai this answer, Go gather together 13:35 all the Jews that are present 13:37 in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat 13:40 nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens 13:45 will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, 13:49 which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. 13:55 So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther 13:59 had commanded him. - We're continuing in Chapter 5. 14:04 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her 14:08 royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house: 14:10 over against king's house: and the king sat upon his royal 14:14 throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the 14:17 house. And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen 14:21 standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight: 14:24 and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in 14:28 his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top 14:32 of the sceptre. When we come together again, 14:35 We'll continue the story of Esther. Until then may God 14:38 keep us all. Goodbye |
Revised 2014-12-17