Those who live by the sword, die by the sword.

Esther 5-7

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..."
Esther, a young Jewish girl, has been chosen by King Xerxes of Persia as his queen. Her uncle Mordecai uncovers a plot to assassinate Xerxes and his information saves the king.
Mordecai refuses to bow down before Haman, the king's right hand man. Haman becomes enraged and decides to slaughter all the Jews in Persia. He casts purim (lots) to determine the best day for the deed. Haman convinces Xerxes to write an irrevocable proclamation: all Jews throughout Persia will be killed on the 13th of Adar (11 months hence).
Mordecai learns the news and suggests to Esther that she plead with the king on behalf of her people; she reminds Mordecai that to go before the king without being asked generally results in the death penalty. Mordecai says "who knows? Maybe you were made queen for such a day as this." Esther agrees and asks the Jews of Susa to fast for three days to help her prepare.

Listening to the writer
Make sure you follow the story line as you read. (Again, this is typically much easier in a newer translation). The pace picks up as we move to the climax. So do the “coincidences.”

Listening to God
Spend as much or as little time with the following ideas as you like:
Esther risks her life for her people by going before the king without his request. What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever made on behalf of others? Might God be calling you to bigger risks?

Esther’s two meals helps build tension into the story, but also is politically a wise move—she is clearly manipulating the king. Is manipulation of others ever appropriate? When? How much? What makes the difference between “good” and “bad” influencing of others?

Haman plans good for himself (he thinks he is going to get the King’s honorific treatment), but Mordecai gets the good treatment instead. Haman plans evil for Mordecai, and ends up hanging on his own gallows. Jesus said “Those who take the sword, will perish by the sword.” We tend to enjoy it when (other) people’s evil plans backfire. Does this happen often? Is God involved behind the scenes, or is it built into the way things work, or is it just plain luck? Do we expect our own plans to backfire? Why or why not?

Although wicked Haman is dead, the story isn’t over: remember, the King’s edict cannot be overturned, so the Jews are still scheduled for destruction. But Haman’s wife has already given away the end of the story (6:13). Is this Jewish confidence well-placed trust in God, or simply nationalistic pride? Are the “coincidences” of timing really God working behind the scenes? Are they written in to the story by the artistic license of the story teller? Or are they just historical randomness?

Dig Deeper at Textweek.