SECOND TRUTH: Beauty on the inside is what counts.
1PE 3:1 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
NOTE: This does not say we should not braid our hair or wear jewelry or make up, but that our real beauty is of our inner self, namely evidence of the Holy Spirit.
Difference between my mother and Ruth Miller
About Mordecai and Esther (read vs. 19-20)
1.Mordecai was influential, possibly wealthy with a seat by the King’s Gate. (Tevya, “If I were a rich man, I’d have a seat by the eastern gate.”)
2.Esther was obedient. Will, honors us by shaving and cutting his hair before coming home. Aug.-Nov. hadn’t cut his hair. It gladdens our hearts. Jesus said: “If you love me you will do as I command.” (Jn.14:15)
THIRD TRUTH: Obedience to God and our husbands is important.
NOTE: Me and Karen in FL. If Neil had told me not to go.
-Mordecai discovers plot to kill king and reveals it in time to save the king. The events are written down in the book of Chronicles.
GOD’S HAND IN THIS CHAPTER: That Mordecai was in a position to overhear the plot and that the events were recorded. Neither was necessary.
Chapter 3. Read vs. 1-6
DISCUSSION:
NOTICE: The king had commanded everyone to bow down to Haman.
Describe Haman.
Why will Mordecai not bow?
Why won’t Haman take action against Mordecai?
RESULT: Haman against all Jews.
Read: vs.8-11 Haman manipulates Ashuerus.
DISCUSSION: What does this tell us about Haman? Ashuerus?
Next verses Describe what was done
-The date all Jews would die. By lots (Purim=lots)
-Scribes sent out the 13th day of the first month (the day before Passover). Jews to be killed the 13th day of last month. (The day before they were to choose their lambs for slaughter for the Passover sacrifice.) Gave everyone 11 months to get ready.
GOD’S HAND IN THIS CHAPTER: It was no accident that nearly a full year was the “Luck” of the lots for the rest of the story to unfold.
Chapter 4 Reaction: from all the Jews, “Fasting, weeping and wailing, many lay on sackcloth and ashes. Including Mordecai.
FASTING: MT 17:14 And when they came to the multitude, a man came up to Him, falling on his knees before Him, and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic, and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 “And I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.” 17 And Jesus answered and said, “O unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once.
MT 17:19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you. 21 [”But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”]
Eternal Truths in Esther - The Joy of Purim
2nd and 3rd Truths