Joy Everlasting
The story of Esther describes how
God delivers his people and their joy that follows. The setting for Esther is
the mid-fifth century B.C. in the kingdom of Persia (modern Iran). God operates
behind the scenes to save His people from an evil plot against them. Although the
Book of Esther never specifically mentions God, the reader can plainly see Him
at work through what appear to be coincidences and chance events.
·
Read Esther 3:1-6. Why does Haman hate Mordecai
and the Jewish people so much?
·
What point does Mordecai make in 4:12-14 as he
appeals to Esther for help?
·
What turning point occurs in the middle of the
book (6:1-3)?
·
Why did the Jewish people celebrate Purim? How
did they celebrate (8:15-17; 9:20-22)?
·
Would the Persian Jews have celebrated so
joyfully if they had not learned about the earlier edict against them?
Out of all the chaos the Jews could have dwelled on, they found joy and put their focus on remembering the joy that came after they were redeemed. God has a plan and a path for us all. Even through the chaos of our own lives, when we think there is no joy to come, we must not loose faith in the one who had already won the battle for us. My joy comes from the Lord. His mercies are new every morning. (Ps.30:5)
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