DAY TWO: An Unexpected Invitation
Please carefully read Esther 5:3-5 and answer the following questions.
1. Esther found favor with Ahasuerus (was lifted up in his sight with grace[1][iii]) because of this bold step. What did he ask this brave woman (v. 3)?
2. What was her unexpected request in view of the seriousness of what she had done (v. 4)?
NOTE: An important “hidden” picture of God in Esther can be found in verse 4. The initial letters of each word of the phrase “Let the king...come today” spell out YHWH, Yahweh, the divine name of God! [1][iv] Indeed, let Yahweh come today!
3. We don’t know the thoughts of Ahasuerus at this strange request, whether he was shocked, laughed to himself, or if he thought, ‘A banquet! Bring it on! Yeah, I can get into those!’ We do know though that he felt there was something else going on behind this by what we’ll read tomorrow. What was his response to Esther’s request (v. 5)?
4. The witness of Esther to the king by her bold steps of faith to approach him like this must have truly touched him. Remember, she hadn’t told him her background, but lived in a godly way before him. The world is looking for Christians to truly live out what we say we believe, and as we stand up by faith, it speaks to them. What are some ways we can be a living witness of Christ to those in our sphere of influence?
Matthew 5:13-16
1 Thessalonians 4:8-12; Colossians 4:5, 6
1 Peter 3:1, 2 (the principle also applies to husbands with non-believing wives)
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 without faith it is impossible to _______________________ Him, for he who comes to God must ___________________ that He is, and that He is a _______________________ of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6, nkjv
Click here for Day 3
© 2005 by Harvest Christian Fellowship. All rights reserved. Written by Thomas Klock for Men’s Bible Fellowship, 2004-2005.