DAY FOUR: A Pleased King
Please carefully read Esther 2:15-18 and answer the following questions.
1. The inevitable day came when Esther was to go before the king. How did she prepare herself, and what demonstrated in the eyes of others that God indeed was with her through this all (v. 15)? What was the historical link in this story (v. 16)?
NOTE: Favor means kindness and grace as well as charm or beauty, pointing out her superiority to the other candidates.[xiii] The nlt indicates that this event took place in December 479 or January 478 BC.
2. What was Ahasuerus’ reaction to this young woman (v. 17)?
NOTE: The king was attracted to (niv) and delighted in (nlt) Esther. The Hebrew word for loved embraces these ideas, but speaks of a passionate love for someone, combining both the heart and the mind, and is a desire to be with or possess the one loved, reflecting either sexual love in marriage, or eroticism and lust.[xiv]
3. How did Ahasuerus celebrate his new queen (v. 18)?
4. As we saw yesterday, and as our memory verse reminds us, God has called us by name and made us His own. This reassures us that no matter what our circumstances are, God is with us and we don’t need to walk in fear and confusion. As we wait for that day when He will come to bring us home as His bride, we too need to be preparing and seeking to do the things that are pleasing to Him. What are some of the things we learn about what delights God’s heart from the following passages?
1 Samuel 15:22; Micah 6:6-8
Proverbs 11:1, 20; 15:8
John 15:7-16
Hebrews 13:15, 16
5. There is coming a day too when our King will rejoice over us as His bride, and celebrate our union with Him ever more! How has God “engaged” us to Himself for now (Ephesians 1:13, 14)? How does Revelation 19:1-9 describe that great day we will be “wed” to Him?
Scripture Memory: Try to fill in the missing words in the blanks below, by memory if at all possible, and then review the passage several times today.
But now, thus says the LORD, who ______________________ you, O Jacob, and He who _______________________ you, O Israel: “_____________________ not, for I have __________________________ you; I have _______________________ you by your ___________________; you are _____________________. Isaiah 43:1 (nkjv)
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© 2005 by Harvest Christian Fellowship. All rights reserved. Written by Thomas Klock for Men’s Bible Fellowship, 2004-2005.
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