Lesson Seven Reversal of Fortune Esther 7 Men s Inductive Study For Such a Time as This Studies in the Book of Esther

Lesson Seven Reversal of Fortune Esther 7 Men s Inductive Study For Such a Time as This Studies in the Book of Esther Introduction: God uses, through His providence, the ungodly as well as the godly to perfect His will and purpose for every situation. God in this story used a couple of backslidden Jews (Mordecai and Esther) for the purpose of saving His people. As the story continues we see Mordecai and Esther making a new commitment to God and His promises. In last weeks lesson God used Zaresh the wife of Haman to prophecy his death. As Christians we know that hatred for another slowly chokes the life from the one who is unrestrained by it. This hatred for the Jews was Haman s downfall. As believers we know the freedom that is experienced by loving His Word. In the Gospel of John, John 8:32 Jesus said And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." NKJV Are you set free from hatred s hold over you by knowing the truth through God s Word? Indeed you are free if you love His Word. No doubt this love for God s Word is what set Mordecai, Esther and the Jews free. As this main act concludes here in chapter 7 Esther has scheduled a banquet of wine for king Ahasuerus and Haman. For the third time the King asks Esther for whatever she desired, up to half the kingdom. How does Esther approach the king? What is the reaction of the king to Esther s accusations toward Haman? As we have learned Ahasuerus made a decree at Haman s urging to kill all the Jews in Persia. What must the king be thinking as he becomes enraged over the news of Haman s deceitful actions towards him? As the king returns from his tirade out in the garden court where does he find Haman? Could this be the king s way out of taking back his decree to annihilate the Jews? If so what could be the train of thought king Ahasuerus is entertaining regarding the posture of Haman over his Queen? It is interesting to note that Esther and Moses were very influential in their respective communities. Each of them requested the same thing of the leader of the empire they were serving. 1,000 years earlier Moses begged for the lives of his people the Jews when he said to Pharaoh Let my people go Exodus 7:16 NKJV. Was Esther s plea any different for her people? As mentioned before God orchestrates the choices and decisions that each person makes, good or bad, to bring glory to Himself. It seems that history does repeat itself or is it man repeating himself in his disobedience to God. Praise God that during these times of disobedience He raises up godly men and women to overcome Satan s impact on God s people. At the start of our studies in Esther we touched on the Scripture passage in Exodus 17:14 and Deuteronomy 25:17 19 regarding God s command to kill all the Amalekites. In 1 Samuel 15 Saul disobeyed God to kill all the Amalekites, God brought down judgment upon Saul leaving the prophet Samuel to kill king Agag. Even so a remnant still remained. We see Esther victorious through God by ultimately having Haman put to death on the very same gallows that Haman had built for Mordecai a reversal of fortune. Mordecai and Esther were set free no doubt by remembering the truth of Gods Word. And for us, John 8:31 32 says, " If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Amen! NKJV Inductively Speaking: Every lesson contains an introduction to the current week s study. Each introduction is written so that the student of Scripture can get a sense of what may be revealed from the current week s passage. Obviously this is not an exhaustive coverage of the text but through some prayerful meditative thinking it can be used to prompt the reader as to what the Spirit may reveal in that week s lesson. Memory Verse: Proverbs 21:31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But deliverance is of the LORD. NKJV 1

Day One Text: Begin this week s lesson by reading the passage. Hint: (Read the passage repeatedly, prayerfully, thoughtfully, meditatively and patiently) Esther 7 So the king and Haman went to dine with Queen Esther. 2 And on the second day, at the banquet of wine, the king again said to Esther, "What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!" 3 Then Queen Esther answered and said, "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request. 4 For we have been sold, my people and I, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. Had we been sold as male and female slaves, I would have held my tongue, although the enemy could never compensate for the king's loss." 5 So King Ahasuerus answered and said to Queen Esther, "Who is he, and where is he, who would dare presume in his heart to do such a thing?" 6 And Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!" So Haman was terrified before the king and queen. 7 Then the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden; but Haman stood before Queen Esther, pleading for his life, for he saw that evil was determined against him by the king. 8 When the king returned from the palace garden to the place of the banquet of wine, Haman had fallen across the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, "Will he also assault the queen while I am in the house?" As the word left the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. 2

9 Now Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, said to the king, "Look! The gallows, fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good on the king's behalf, is standing at the house of Haman." Then the king said, "Hang him on it!" 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's wrath subsided. NKJV 3

Day Two I. Observation Finding the literal facts or most obvious details of the passage. Hint: (Begin observation by asking the questions who, what, where, when, why, and how.) Verses 1 6 4

Observation Continued: Verses 7 10 What Did God Say? Highlight the overall observation concerning this chapter. 5

Day Three II. Interpretation Discovering the lessons or meaning of God's instruction to His people. Hint; (Try to place yourself with these people, in their circumstances, at this time of Bible history.) Verses 1 6 6

Interpretation Continued: Verses 7 10 What Did God Mean? Highlight God s main lesson for those people in this chapter. 7

Day Four III. Application Applying the lessons and meaning of God's instructions to His people. Hint: (Apply the lesson or lessons you found in the interpretation section in the form of a question.) Verses 1 6 8

Application Continued: Verses 7 10 What Did God Tell You? Highlight the main application for yourself. 9

Day Five Word Studies: In this portion of the lesson we will take a closer look at one or two key words in the chapter. You will need to have your tools or resources at hand. (Such as: more than one Bible translation, a dictionary or Bible dictionary, concordance, atlas, and encyclopedia) If you don t have all of these, simply use what you do have to enrich your learning, To do some digging on your own; start with your dictionary (or Bible dictionary) and then look up the references to add to your understanding. If you have additional resources, you may want to keep digging. (You may want to make notes in the Notes and Insights section.) After you ve completed the investigative process, write a definition in your own words. Your investigation in today s lesson will lay the groundwork for deeper discoveries in subsequent lessons, so be as thorough as you can. Adversary: Esther 7:6 And Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!" So Haman was terrified before the king and queen. NKJV Dictionary definition: What does the Bible have to say? 1 Kings 11:25 Psalm 74:10 Write your own definition: Gallows: Esther 7:10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's wrath subsided. NKJV Dictionary definition: Esther 2:23 Esther 7:9 Write your own definition: 10

Day Six Summation Sentence: A simple personal statement about what God has shown you from this passage. Notes & Insights: Prayer Requests: 11