Ding, dong, the witch is dead!

Esther 8-10

This is a continued study... if you are just joining, I suggest you go back and start with "Traditional Families."

Context
"Previously, in The Book of Esther..."
Haman, arch-enemy of the Jews, is dead!
But... before his death, he sent out an edict - stamped with the king's signet ring - ordering the destruction of all the Jews in Persia on the thirteenth of Adar. And orders signed by the king cannot be revoked - even by the king.

Listening to God
Pick and choose from the following:

Esther asks the king to revoke Haman’s earlier letter, which allowed the Jews to be killed on the 13th of Adar. But the king “can’t” undo any edict written in his own name. So, instead, a new letter is written authorizing the Jews to kill all their enemies on the same day.

• Do you think Esther wanted the death of her enemies?
• Is this kind of self-defense ever appropriate? If yes, then why does Jesus allow his own crucifixion and tell us to “take up our cross?” If no, then what should we do when brutally attacked?
  
• Why “can’t” the king undo his edict? Does the law outweigh every other consideration?
  
• How much authority does God give us to do things in Jesus’ name (the name of the king)? When we say we are praying in Jesus’ name, does that mean we really are? What else might be required?
  

Jews still celebrate the feast of Purim, with “feasting and gladness, … sending gifts of food to one another and presents to the poor” (9:22). People sometimes dress up as characters from the story and act out the melodrama. How do you plan to celebrate Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas this year? What kind of changes might you have to make in order for holidays to be true times of gladness and community, rather than the harried frenzy encouraged by our current society?

Miscellaneous Meanderings
I was on the Wesley canoe/camping trip yesterday and this morning. Sorry for the delay on Esther, but it is good to take time to enjoy God's creation!

Dig Deeper at Textweek.