Accessing the Scriptures
God’s Earthly Servants
by
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Esther 4 Ritual in place of Intimacy
If you have some Bible study under your belt, you will quickly sense there is something missing in this chapter. There is no prayer! Not one is crying out to God for deliverance.
Evil has stuck its ugly head up and the Hebrew people are aware they are in great danger of being murdered by the tens of thousands. But religious ritual of sack cloth and ashes is substituted for cries for mercy. We can safely say they believe in God, but they are oblivious to the need to turn to Him in a crisis situation.
Suffice to say, the same situation exist today. There are far more believers than there are prayer warriors.
Read Esther 4:1-8 1) We have learned in earlier chapters that when a law was made and sealed by the king, even he couldn’t undo the law.
a. If you had the power, what law would you make that would be unalterable? Explain:
b. Is there a present law you would permanently set aside today? Explain:
2) Compare Mordecai’s actions (v. 1) with Daniel’s action in Daniel 9:3-11, 17-18.
3) What was Queen Esther’s response to Mordecai making a spectacle of himself throughout the city of Susa? (v. 4)
4) What was it that Hannah did that Esther did not do? See 1 Samuel 2:1-10
5) To understand what was troubling Mordecai to be making such a spectacle of himself within the city, Esther sent a messenger to gain additional information. What did Mordecai tell Esther’s messenger concerning the Jews? (v. 8)
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About the Book
John Pennington is a retired Oklahoma music educator. Performing as a professional musician, he was a member of the Oklahoma City Symphony and the Oklahoma City Lyric Theater Orchestra. Following his teaching years, he owned and operated retail music stores in New Mexico. Retiring a second time, John became active in the Community Bible Study Chapter in Albuquerque where he and his wife, Mary, chaired a couple’s class. He served as an assistant teaching director for the Community Bible Study in Murrieta, California. Relocating to North Texas in 2005, the couple established residential Bible study groups in two HOA communities, which continue to the present.
John began writing Bible studies upon relocating in North Texas. His studies generally avoid topical subjects, focusing more on front-to-back studies of each book of the Bible. The simplicity of the studies are instrumental in ensuring attendees to return year after year.
While in California, John became involved with choral music and served as conductor of the Colony Chorale in Murrieta, California. He has served as a church choir director in McKinney, Texas, and is currently an active member of the Stonebriar Community Church Sanctuary Choir of Frisco, Texas.
About the Author
John Pennington is a retired Oklahoma music educator. Performing as a professional musician, he was a member of the Oklahoma City Symphony and the Oklahoma City Lyric Theater Orchestra. Following his teaching years, he owned and operated retail music stores in New Mexico. Retiring a second time, John became active in the Community Bible Study Chapter in Albuquerque where he and his wife, Mary, chaired a couple’s class. He served as an assistant teaching director for the Community Bible Study in Murrieta, California. Relocating to North Texas in 2005, the couple established residential Bible study groups in two HOA communities, which continue to the present.
John began writing Bible studies upon relocating in North Texas. His studies generally avoid topical subjects, focusing more on front-to-back studies of each book of the Bible. The simplicity of the studies are instrumental in ensuring attendees to return year after year.
While in California, John became involved with choral music and served as conductor of the Colony Chorale in Murrieta, California. He has served as a church choir director in McKinney, Texas, and is currently an active member of the Stonebriar Community Church Sanctuary Choir of Frisco, Texas.