Queen Esther (Part 2)

A STORY OF COURAGE, HOPE & TRUE HEROISM

A LESSON BY: TAM WALLS

THE JEWS MOURN In every province, whithersoever

the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, weeping, and wailing. Many were in sackcloth and ashes. Mordecai put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and bitter cry. Esther’s maids told her of Mordecai’s anguish which caused Esther to exceedingly grieve.

THE JEWS MOURN Esther sent raiment to clothe Mordecai and to

take away his sackcloth but he received it not. Esther than asked Hatach, a chamberlain, to go unto Mordecai and find out why he was he was in a state of mourning. Mordecai informed Hatach of all that had happened to him and how Haman promised to pay the king for the Jews, to destroy them.

MORDECAI SEEKS HELP Mordecai also gave Hatach a copy of

the decree certified by the king to show it unto Esther and charged that she should go unto the king to make supplication unto him for the Jews. Hatach reported to Esther all the words Mordecai had spoken. Esther found herself in a very difficult situation because no one, not even she being queen, could enter into the king’s court unless they were called by the king. Doing so would result in one being put to death.

MORDECAI SEEKS HELP After it Esther’s response was

reported to Mordecai, he quickly reminded Esther that she herself was in danger, even though she was queen. Mordecai said that if she did not act on behalf of her people, help for the Jews would come from somewhere else but she and her father’s house would be destroyed altogether. Mordecai concluded by stating that Esther was put in the position of queen to be a advocate for her people.

ESTHER GIVES AN ORDER Hearing all that Mordecai had said,

Esther instructed Mordecai to gather all the Jews that were present in Shushan and fast three days. No food or drink night and day. Esther and her maidens would also do likewise. Esther also resolved in herself that she would go before the king to make supplication to him for her people and concluded by stating “If I perish, I perish.” Mordecai than went his way and did all that Esther commanded him.

ESTHER FINDS FAVOR Now it came to pass on the third day,

that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house. King Ahasuerus was sitting upon his throne when he saw Esther standing in the court. Esther found favor in the sight of the king therefore, he held out to her the golden sceptre that was in his hand. Esther drew near and touched the top of the sceptre.

ESTHER FINDS FAVOR The king asked Esther what was her desire and

that it would be given unto her, even half of the kingdom. Esther requested that the king and Haman attend a banquet that she had prepared for them. At the banquet, the king asked Esther again what was her desire and Esther responded by asking that the king and Haman attend a banquet the next day. There she would tell the king her desire.

HAMAN FULL OF PRIDE Haman was quite merry as he

left the first banquet until he saw Mordecai in the king’s gate. Mordecai did not stand up or move for Haman which filled Haman with much fury. Nevertheless, Haman controlled himself and continued home. Once he arrived home, he called over his friends and his wife Zeresh.

HAMAN FULL OF PRIDE Haman began to brag about his

new promotion from the king as well as about the glory of his riches. Haman filled his wife and friends in on the fact that Esther had invited him to join her and the king at a banquet and that tomorrow, he only was chosen to attend another banquet with the king and queen. Yet, Haman still wasn’t satisfied because Mordecai, the Jew, sat at the king’s gate.

ZARESH’S ADVICE Zaresh, seeking to comfort

her husband, told Haman to build gallows of fifty cubits high. At the banquet, Haman was to speak to the king and have Mordecai hanged. Zaresh’s words pleased Haman and he gave commandment that the gallows be made.

THE KING CAN’T SLEEP The night before the second

banquet, the king could not sleep therefore he commanded that the book of records be read before him. It was recorded how Mordecai spoiled the plot of the king’s two chamberlains and their attempt to slay the king. Ahasuerus inquired as to what honor Mordecai had received for such a great deed but found that nothing special had been done.

HAMAN’S PRIDE At the same moment, Haman was

walking thru the kings court prepared to talk to the king about hanging Mordecai. When Haman came in unto the king, the king asked Haman what should be done for a man that the king desires to honor. Haman, being puffed up with pride, thought the king was referring to him. Haman told the king that such a man should be given royal apparel, the horse that the king rides upon as well as the royal crown.

MORDECAI HONORED Haman continued by stating that one of the king’s

most noble princes should array the man to be honored and bring him on horseback through the streets proclaiming before him. All that Haman said pleased the king. The king told Haman to make haste and take the apparel and the horse and do all that he said to Mordecai the Jew! Haman arrayed Mordecai and brought him on horseback thru the city proclaiming before him.

MORDECAI HONORED Mordecai was brought again to the

king’s gate however, Haman, feeling defeated, returned home mourning with his head covered. Haman told his wife and his friends all that had happened to him and how he had to bestow honor unto Mordecai. Haman was told by his wife and friends that if Mordecai was of the seed of the Jews, Haman would not prevail against him but surely fall before him. While they were yet speaking, the king’s chamberlains hasted to bring Haman to the banquet Esther had prepared.

HAMAN’S DOWNFALL At the banquet, the king asked

Esther again what was her desire and that it would be granted unto her even to the half of the kingdom. Esther responded by asking that the king spare her life as well as the life of her people. She went on to explain that they were sold and are set to be destroyed. Perplexed, the king asked Esther who was it that sought to do such a thing. Answering, Esther told the king it was Haman. Haman immediately filled with fear.

HAMAN’S DOWNFALL In his wrath, the king left the

banquet and went into the palace garden. Haman, knowing that death was at his heels, began to plea for his life and he fell on the bed where Esther was. Returning from the garden, the king saw Haman on the bed, and angrily asked Haman was he attempting to force the queen. At that very moment, Haman’s face was covered by one of the king’s chamberlains.

HAMAN’S DEATH Harbonah, one of the king’s chamberlains, told

the king that Haman had commanded gallows fifty cubits high be built for Mordecai to be hanged on. King Ahasuerus told the chamberlain to hang Haman on the gallows instead. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s anger abated.

THE END!

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