April 19, 2020, Esther 7:1-10 – Posts 1, 2, 3

Rare and beautifully executed Engraved illustration of Esther Before Ahasuerus Biblical Engraving from The Popular Pictorial Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments, Published in 1862. Copyright has expired on this artwork. Digitally restored.

I thought today it would be good to post all 3 of this week’s reflections in a single post.

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April 19, 2020, Esther 7:1-10 – Post 1

I.
This week we look to a woman who while most is often not considered one of the Hebrew prophets does demonstrate she is capable of playing many roles, even when she seems reluctant to do so.

Our reading for the week takes us deep into the story as we focus our attention on chapter 7 of the 10 chapters that constitute the story of Esther.

A read of the first six chapters will help us set the context for what we read this week and help us get a fuller picture of this woman.

In those chapters we see a Queen disposed, a beauty contest to select a new consort for the King, a beauty treatment for Esther, the introduction of Mordecai her cousin and protector (Esther is an ophen), the introduction of Mordecai’s “arch” enemy, Haman, Mordecai’s encouragement of Esther to step up to the task he thinks she is groomed for, Hamen’s plotting, Esther’s call for fasting and prayer, and then her uninvited and dangerous walk into the King’s presence.

Before you read the account in chapter 7, take a few minutes to recall Mordecai’s words to Esther,

“For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.” – Esther 4:14

With those profound and frightening words take you time reading chapter 7 and pay attention to how each person is characterized.

II.
Esther 7:1-10

So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther. On the second day, as they were drinking wine, the king again said to Esther, “What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.”3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have won your favor, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me—that is my petition—and the lives of my people—that is my request. For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have held my peace; but no enemy can compensate for this damage to the king.” Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who has presumed to do this?” Esther said, “A foe and enemy, this wicked Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen. The king rose from the feast in wrath and went into the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that the king had determined to destroy him. When the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman had thrown himself on the couch where Esther was reclining; and the king said, “Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?” As the words left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman’s face. Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, “Look, the very gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, stands at Haman’s house, fifty cubits high.” And the king said, “Hang him on that.” So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the anger of the king abated.

III.
How does each person stand out to you? What do you admire? What disappoints you?

If you had to sum up your opinion of each, how would you do it in two or three sentences?

Do you think the story has a hero or two? A villain or two?

Where is the God of the Hebrew nation? The Hebrew nation is in captivity in a foreign land and to top that off “God” is not mentioned in the account. “MIA – Missing in Action”?

Let’s start here and get back together in a couple of days and see what we have to share.

April 19, 2020, Esther 7:1-10 – Post 2 – ISSL Reflections

IV.
Today I want to pick-up a thread or two from Monday’s post.

In my brief summary of events leading to what we encounter in chapter 7, I mentioned, “Esther’s call for fasting and prayer.” As I reread chapter 4, I see I spoke in error. What we read in chapter 4 is,

“Then Esther said in reply to Mordecai, ‘Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.’ Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.” – Esther 4:15-17

She mentions fasting but not prayer. While it is common, very common, to connect the two, we don’t see that here. And, Esther asks Mordecai to gather the Jews to “fast on my behalf.”

What do you think? Is this Esther being spiritual, self-centered, or covering her bases?

I am not trying to be overly critical of Esther. I am asking us to try to understand where Esther finds herself and pay attention to how she attempts to make sense of the situation and find the “right” course of action.

V.
What might you and I do when we try to find the right path? The buzz word for that is “discernment.”

Are there spiritual practices you fall back on when you have to make choices, hard choices, decide which path to take, determine how to move forward?

Esther says she will fast, her maids will fast and she asks that the Jews of Susa fast for her.

Maybe we need to consider not only the spiritual practices we fall back on, but also consider who we ask to be there for us. Who will we ask to share our struggles? Will we trust they will give themselves to support us?

April 19, 2020, Esther 7:1-10 – Post 3 – ISSL Reflections

VI.
Who was there as Esther “discerned” her path forward?

Mordecai, her guardian, her mentor (another word that is used maybe too often, but to me fits here), one that can speak the difficult word to her. Who, like a Mordecai has been there for you?

She told Mordecai to have the Jews of Susa fast for her. She had a community she could call on to fast (and pray ?) for her. Though she was isolated from them she could call for their support. The community that supports you does not have to be physically right next to you, do they? Yet, they support you as you find your path.

Her maids were in the same residence as her and she asked for their support too. I guess they could be considered part of her “small group” that probably shared many things and had come to know one another. Those who know you well, can be there for you as you seek the future you are to claim.

VII.
I can’t help but wonder – though “God” is not explicitly named in this account, could God be present?

Who of the people that surround Esther mediate God’s presence and direction to her?

This might be time to look around and notice who brings God’s nearness, support, and direction to you?

I think I’ll leave you for the moment and think about that a while as I notice the folks in my life.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}


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