Haman hangs from his own gallows

Esther 6

• The night of the first dinner party, the king couldn’t sleep. So he had a servant read aloud from the court record books (v. 1). That would put anyone to sleep.
• He heard about a thwarted plot against his life and Mordecai’s part in saving the king’s life (v. 2).
• Upon realizing that Mordecai had not been rewarded or honored for this, the king called for someone from his court to come immediately to discuss the oversight (v. 3-4).
• Haman “happened” to be there that night; and he was brought before the king to advise how to honor one of the king’s favorite men (v. 5-6).
• Thinking that the king must be speaking about Haman himself, Haman suggests a public honor (v. 7-9).
• The king agrees, and instructs Haman to thus honor Mordecai (v. 10).
• Humiliated, Haman obeys (v. 11).
• Returning home, Haman tells all, only to be advised that now he is in really deep trouble (v. 12-13).
• While they are speaking, messengers arrive from the king to escort Haman to the 2nd day’s banquet (v. 14).

Esther 7

• Asked again what she requests of the king, Esther pleads for her life and the lives of her people (v. 1-4).
• The king learns that Haman has plotted the death of the Jews; and the king storms out of the room (v. 5-7).
• When he returns, the king discovers Haman in a compromising position before the queen, and orders his execution (v. 8-10) on the gallows which Haman had built for Mordecai.

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To bow, or not to bow

Esther 3

• Haman, the Agagite, promoted (v. 1)
• Mordecai, the Jew, refuses to bow before him (v. 2-4).
• Haman plots to destroy Mordecai and all the Jews (v. 5-15)

Esther 4

• Mordecai  grieves publicly over the king’s edict to kill the Jews (v. 1-3).
• Esther learns of Mordecai’s concern (v. 4-7).
• Mordecai encourages her to intercede with the king on behalf of her people (v. 8-9).
• Esther initially protests, but eventually agrees that within three days she will approach the king (v. 10-16).
• Mordecai goes away to pray (v. 17)

Esther 5

• On the third day, Esther does approach the king as she had promised (v. 1).
• Asked by the king what she wants, Esther asks him to join her for dinner, along with Haman (v. 2-4).
• Asked again, at the dinner, what she wants, Esther invites the king and Haman to dinner on the following day (v. 5-8).
• Haman, filled with pride, runs home to tell his wife and family; but along the way he passes Mordecai and the joy is turned to bitterness (v. 9).
• At home, Haman boasts of the day’s honor and asks advice about dealing with insubordinate Mordecai (v. 10-13).
• His wife and friends suggest a public hanging (v. 14).

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Esther married an unsaved man.

Esther 2

• Although free to choose her own attire and adornment for her night with the king, Esther allowed the king’s chamberlain to decide for her (v. 15). Everyone else admired his selection.
• The king desired Esther above all who came before her; and he made her the queen (v. 17). Hmmmm. Why would a virtuous Jew want to be in an adulterous relationship?
• Still Esther has not told anyone about her being a Jew (v. 18-20) because Mordecai had so instructed her.
• Mordecai uncovered a plot to assassinate the king (v. 21). He told Esther; and Esther told the king (v. 22).
• The king determined that Mordecai’s report was true; and the two would-be assassins were hanged; Mordecai was memorialized in the government records of the event (v. 23).

Ezra 10

• A list of the Jews who had married foreign (unsaved, pagan) wives (v. 17-44).
• Among them were, to their shame, priests (v. 18), Levites (v. 23), singers and porters (v. 24).
• Some even had children from these mixed marriages (v. 44).

Meditation Points:

1. Does God really care whom you marry?
2. Does God have the right to say that you should not marry an unsaved person?
3. What influence God have over your marriage?
4. What influence did your parents have over your marriage?
5. Since we are commanded to love our neighbors and our enemies, but we are forbidden to marry the unsaved, it seems obvious that there must be  criteria besides love involved when choosing a husband or wife.

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Bad Marriages

Ezra 8

• Chief operating officers of the returning Jews (v. 1-14)
• All dressed up for church but nobody to lead the service (v. 15-23). Well, go get somebody.
• Wealth committed to the priestly care with a solemn charge. All delivered safe and sound. (v. 24-36).

Ezra 9

• How soon we forget the trouble that our sins have brought us, and we engage in those same sins again (v. 1-2).
• Marriage with the unsaved is not only a bad idea, it is contrary to God’s will (v. 3-4).
• God, I am ashamed of our sin (v. 6).
• We, our kings, and our priests have sinned (v.7).
• Lord, You have been gracious to us (v. 8-9).
• What can I say? We have sinned. We have done what you told us not to do (v. 10-12).
• We have suffered once for having disobeyed You (v. 13).
• And now we have done it again (v. 14).
• God, we have no excuse for our sin. (v. 15).

Ezra 10

• Praying and weeping (v. 1).
• Confession and submission (v. 2-4).
• Three days time in which to settle the matter (v. 5-16).

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