Week of December 4th Esther 9-10

Triumphant Deliverance

Esther chapters 9 & 10

For next week, we will begin a new study called "God's Amazing Book".  This study will take us all over the Bible, to see the consistent themes thread throughout this holy text.  Even if you have studied the Bible for many many years, this is wonderful to take a step back and see the Bible as one whole unit.  It is our prayer that you'll find this study to be rewarding and insightful.

Next week, December 11th, we will have a wonderful Christmas pot-luck of sorts, just after class from 12-1ish.  Each of you has the opportunity to bring a dish to share.  We've signed up in our discussion groups, so see or email your discussion leader if you have questions about what to bring.

We will also take up donations to give to a new church plant in Kentish Town and to the HTSC homeless shelter.  We've heard that the homeless organization that the HtB plant at St. Lukes in Kentish town urgently need new or gently used clothes, etc (new mens socks, new underclothes, new/used backpacks, new/used thermos).
Please consider bringing items in to donate.

Now, onto this past week's study!!
Our study of Esther comes to a close.  What a dramatic change of events we have seen in these last few chapters!
The tables have turned.  
This expression means taking the place of your opponent.  And in chapter 9, when the date arrives for the planned genocide originated with Haman's anger towards Mordecai arrives, the Jews defend themselves and actually, over the course of 2 days, kill 300, 500 and 75,000 of their opponents.  
Unfortunately today the Jews are still constantly threatened.  But here, God intervened and a new decree had been passed allowing them to fight - it was now a day when the Jews could legally fight and kill those who would seek to harm them. And as we read in the passage 9:1, ‘on this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them... the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand over those who hated them.’  The ultimate table turner is God.  In all our circumstances, and in the ultimate gift of Jesus, He turns the tables for us.  Do you have any area where the enemy has been gaining what looks like a sure victory? Thank God that He is able to turn the tables and bring hope from despair and life out of death. It is written above that in those days, through the ‘turning of the tables’, the fame of Mordecai increased greatly throughout the realm. We also see Haman's sons brought to justice, all of them are also killed, per Esther's request.

After the battles came the rest and celebration!  And Mordecai proclaimed that this event will forever be celebrated, and indeed it is today, called Purim.  It is celebrated in the month of February or March. 

Celebrations are important religious events!!  As Christians, and at this most important time of the year, how will you and your family make Christmas a religious celebration more so than a consumerism celebration?  

To recap Esther, one commentator (I. Gordon) writes:

 A nasty villain and a wicked plan... a beautiful queen and position of power... a decree of death and a city perplexed... a sleepless night and an enemy exposed... an annihilation averted and a victory gained. To be honest there is far too much to sum up with a few words. But in it all we have seen the hand of the invisible God moving providentially on behalf of His people. And, like any good story, sometimes it was only at the very last minute! But move He did. 

I loved learning from Esther!!  

I think there is so much more to discover, and I look forward to studying it again in the future.

Some final questions:

Write down and record the times in your life that God has turned a negative situation into a positive one, and keep this record in a safe place to add to as God continues working in your life!

How can you renew the importance of celebrating the Christian religious holidays throughout the year?  What might you start as a new tradition, religious in nature, in your home for Christmas this year?