Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Cornerstone Class: Esther 5:1-5


Cornerstone Class Outline for 5/26/19

·         Announcements, praises and prayer requests—Vicki Kerns
·         Greeting:
o   Good morning!
o   Continuing lawn-and-garden adventures
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HNQKB1L

§  Planted tomatoes in the rain
§  Had to pull a bunch of mint
·         Introduction: I’d like to start by reading Isaiah 40:31 NKJV:
“​​But those who wait on the LORD
​​Shall renew their strength;
​​They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
​​They shall run and not be weary,
​​They shall walk and not faint.”
o   Sometimes, instead of waiting for God’s timing, we get impulsive and do something we’re not ready for.
o   Often, an impulsive decision has bad consequences.
o   When Esther decided to risk her life by approaching King Xerxes, she chose to wait three days before actually doing it.
o   She wisely did this so the Jews in Susa could fast and pray for her before she approached the king. These prayers would certainly result in spiritual strength and wisdom from God.
o   Also, this waiting period gave Esther time to plan her strategy on how she would effectively approach Xerxes and make her request.
o   It’s safe to say that Esther waited on the Lord for three days so she would gain inner strength and wisdom before undertaking her difficult task.
·         A quick recap of Esther 3-4
o   Haman, who was Xerxes’ most powerful official, issued an edict that all the Jews were to be annihilated. The edict would take effect in 11 months.
o   Mordecai informed Queen Esther of Haman’s evil plan. Mordecai requested that Esther plead with the king to show mercy to the Jewish people.
o   Esther did not answer yes to Mordecai’s request. She explained that if she approached the king and he didn’t extend the gold scepter, then she would be killed.
o   Mordecai responded to Esther’s hesitancy with more intensity. He told her that she and her family would die if she refused to approach Xerxes. He also said that God would provide another way to deliver the Jews.
o   Esther then said yes and boldly instructed Mordecai to have the Jews in Susa fast for her for three days. Then Esther would approach the king.
·         Let’s read Esther 5:1-5 NIV
1 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. 2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
3 Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”
4 “If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”
5 “Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so that we may do what Esther asks.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared.
·         QUESTIONS on Esther 5:1-5
o   Esther instructed Mordecai to tell the Jews in Susa to fast for three days before she approached Xerxes. This waiting period gave her time to gain wisdom and strength from God—and to develop a strategy. In your own life, how has waiting on the Lord resulted in spiritual strength, wisdom or some other blessing from God?
o   Why do you think Esther also invited Haman to the two banquets?
§  With Haman present, Esther could directly accuse him of being the mastermind behind the plot to annihilate the Jews. If Haman were not present, her accusation would have less impact with Xerxes.
§  “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” Perhaps Esther wanted to size Haman up and get to know him better before unloading her accusation.  
·         Application/Conclusion
·         Closing prayer

Monday, May 20, 2019

Cornerstone Class: Esther 4:1-17


Cornerstone Class Outline for 5/19/19

·         Announcements, praises and prayer requests—Dawn Eden
·         Introduction:
o   Continuing lawn-and-garden adventures
§  Yes! I got most of my backyard burning done yesterday.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HNQKB1L

·         I’d like to start by reading a quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer from his book Life Together:
“He who loves his dream of a community more than the Cristian community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter, even though his personal intentions may be ever so honest and earnest and sacrificial.”
o   Bonhoeffer was critical of what he called a “wish dream,” the idea that genuine Christian community is this blissful, idealized experience.
o   He said it’s a good thing for Christians to be disillusioned by “the unhappy and ugly aspects” of the Christian community.
o   Disillusionment is beneficial because it forces us to discard our unrealistic expectations for the church so we can face the reality of ourselves and other Christians.
o   Genuine fellowship can happen when we abandon our “wish dreams” for the church and accept our brothers and sisters with all of their warts and blemishes.
o   I was once saddled with this idealistic view of Christian community… 
·         A quick recap of Esther 2 and 3
o   Esther became queen
o   Haman was promoted as King Xerxes’ most powerful official
o   Haman became enraged when Mordecai refused to kneel before him
o   Xerxes gave the signet ring to Haman, giving him the power to destroy all the Jews in the Persian empire.
o   Haman issued an edict that all the Jews are to be annihilated. The edict would take effect in 11 months.
·         Let’s read Esther 4:1-5 NIV
1 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. 3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
4 When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.
·         QUESTIONS on Esther 4:1-5
o   Verse 3 says, “…there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.” How did this response of the Jewish people to tragedy reveal God in this book where God isn’t directly mentioned?
§  Fasting, weeping and wailing are prayers of mourning and repentance to God
§  Dressing in sackcloth and ashes also reflect desperate prayer to God
·         Let’s read Esther 4:6-11 NIV
6 So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.
9 Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”
·         QUESTIONS on Esther 4:6-11
o   Mordecai instructs Esther to enter the king’s presence on behalf of the Jewish people. This marks the moment of truth for Esther. In verse 11, how willing to risk her life does Esther appear to be at this point?
§  As queen, Esther was living a life of luxury. She might not want to give up the good life all that easily. She resists sacrificing her life.
o   Thirty days is a long time for a king and queen to be apart. What are some possible reasons the king has chosen not to see Esther?
§  His passion for Esther may have cooled
§  Perhaps he’s tired of her
§  Perhaps he’s angry with Esther
§  Perhaps he wants her to approach him so he can have a legal excuse to have her killed
·         Let’s read Esther 4:12-17 NIV
12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.
·         QUESTIONS on Esther 4:12-17
o   Esther’s hesitancy to say yes caused Mordecai to use more intense persuasion. He basically told Esther that if she refused to approach Xerxes, “…then relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” What attribute of God is evident in these words of Mordecai?
§  God’s providence
§  J. Vernon McGee defines God’s providence as follows: “Providence is the means by which God directs all things—both animate and inanimate, seen and unseen, good and evil—toward a worthy purpose, which means His will must finally prevail.”
o   Esther’s words in verse 16 are likely the most significant words in the book. What character traits do you see in Esther, based on her decisive statement?
§  Courage
§  Honor
§  Sacrifice
o   Also in verse 16, what does Esther say that implies the activity of God?
§  Fasting is a form of prayer to God
§  Esther is asking Mordecai and the Jewish people to fast and pray that God will bless her efforts at persuading Xerxes
·         Application/Conclusion
·         Closing prayer

Monday, May 13, 2019

Cornerstone Class: Esther 3:5-15


Cornerstone Class Outline for 5/12/19

·         Announcements, praises and prayer requests—Joe or Vicki Kerns, or Dawn Eden
·         Introduction:
o   Continuing lawn-and-garden adventures
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HNQKB1L

§  My attempt at burning the big pile thwarted by LRAPA’s burn ban
·         I’d like to start by reading 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
o   God allowed Paul’s thorn in the flesh so that Paul would stay humble and dependent upon God
o   In my own life, I’ve found that I don’t experience God’s strength or victory unless I first experience and recognize my weakness. Basically, apart from him, I can do nothing.
§  John 15:5 says,I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
o   Esther had to first approach Xerxes in complete vulnerability and weakness in order to save her own life and the lives of the Jewish people. Fortunately, Xerxes extended the gold scepter and Esther experienced victory.
o   Our greatest example of weakness turning into victory was Jesus death on the cross. His seeming defeat was turned to victory when He was raised from the dead.
·         A quick recap of Esther 2:19-3:4
o   Esther became Xerxes new queen, having replaced the deposed Queen Vashti.
o   She continued to keep her Jewish identity secret from Xerxes, as Mordecai had instructed her.
o   Mordecai uncovered a plot to assassinate Xerxes
o   Xerxes promoted Haman to the highest government position, second to the king
o   Mordecai repeatedly refused to bow to Haman
o   Mordecai revealed his Jewish identity to the royal officials, who would then tell Haman, a hater of the Jews. 
·         Let’s read Esther 3:5-9 NIV
5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. 6 Yet having learned who Mordecai's people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai's people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes. 7 In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur (that is, the lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.
8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, "There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king's laws; it is not in the king's best interest to tolerate them. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king's administrators for the royal treasury."
·         QUESTIONS on verses 5-9
o   From childhood, Haman probably was taught the bloody history between Israel and the Amalekites, and he was likely raised to hate the Jews, especially those from the tribe of Benjamin. If you were to dialogue with an anti-Semite today, how would you persuade them to change?
§  If they were willing, I’d share the Gospel with them
§  If they claimed to be a Christian, I’d ask them if they knew Jesus was a Jew. Also, most of the early disciples were Jewish.
o   When Haman approached Xerxes about his evil plan, what information did Haman withhold from the king?
§  He didn’t mention that his anger toward Mordecai was the motive behind his plan to annihilate the Jews. 
§  He didn’t mention that the “certain people” were Jewish.
·         Let’s read Esther 3:10-15 NIV
10 So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11 "Keep the money," the king said to Haman, "and do with the people as you please." 12 Then on the thirteenth day of the first month the royal secretaries were summoned. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman's orders to the king's satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples. These were written in the name of King Xerxes himself and sealed with his own ring. 13 Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king's provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. 14 A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day. 15 The couriers went out, spurred on by the king's command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered.
·         QUESTIONS on verses 10-15
o   Why do you think Xerxes was so apathetic and unquestioning about Haman’s evil plan?
§  Xerxes believed Haman’s scenario about the troublesome “certain people.”
§  The king may have believed this was a good way to prevent a more serious future rebellion
§  The king had a tendency to allow his officials to dictate policy. For example, officials previously manipulated Xerxes in his decision concerning Queen Vashti’s insubordination
o   By giving the signet ring to Haman, Xerxes showed complete trust in Haman. What errors in leadership were reflected in Xerxes by placing so much power in the hands of Haman?
§  A good leader should never allow a subordinate to have carte blanche power
§  A good leader should always question his officials about major policy decisions
o   What leadership lessons can we learn from Xerxes bad example?
§  A good leader shouldn’t pass laws forcing respect from the people
§  A leader should care for the people
§  Tyranny results in the oppression of the people
§  A good leader should be aware of the details of major policy decisions
§  A good leader should be humble
§  A good leader should value honesty and integrity
§  A good leader needs to be a good judge of character
o   In verse 15, what do you think is meant that “the city of Susa was bewildered.”?
§  I think this meant that many, perhaps the majority of the population, were sympathetic toward the Jews and were horrified by Haman’s edict.
·         Application/Conclusion
·         Closing prayer

Sunday, May 5, 2019

Cornerstone Class: Esther 2:19-3:4


Cornerstone Class Outline for 5/5/19

·         Announcements, praises and prayer requests—Joe or Vicki Kerns, or Dawn Eden
·         Introduction:
o   My attempt at burning the big pile 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HNQKB1L

·         A quick recap of Esther 2:1-18
o   King Xerxes authorized a kingdom-wide search for a new queen.
o   A huge beauty pageant took place where the participants were forced to participate. Esther was one of them.
o   After 12 months of beauty treatments and special diets for the contestants, Xerxes selects Esther to be the new queen. She replaces the deposed Queen Vashti.
o   Xerxes throws a huge banquet in celebration of his new queen and proclaims a holiday throughout the empire. 
·         Let’s continue by reading Esther 2:19-23 NIV:
19 When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. 20 But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.
21 During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 22 But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. 23 And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king. 
·         Historical context:
o   When it says that “Mordacai was sitting at the king’s gate,” it likely meant that he was there in an official capacity.
§  Scholar Karen Jobes writes, quote: “Mordecai happened to overhear a plot to assassinate Xerxes while he was ‘sitting at the gate.’ This phrase refers to holding an official position in the court. The gate entering into the walled palace complex was a large building in which legal, civil, and commercial business was transacted.” Unquote.
o   So, Mordecai could do his job, hear the latest news, uncover plots and keep an eye on his daughter’s well-being. 
·         QUESTIONS on verses 19-23:
o   Esther and probably Mordecai were keeping secret their “family background and nationality….” Although the text doesn’t explicitly say so, they had likely blended into or assimilated some of the Persian culture. As modern-day Christians living in a secular culture, how do we partake in aspects of the culture without compromising our faith?
§  Don’t participate in those aspects of the culture that violate scripture.
§  Be led by the Spirit
§  Listen to your conscience
o   Normally the king would have quickly rewarded someone who uncovered an assassination plot. However, Mordecai was passed over. We know that he would be rewarded later, thus turning the tables on Haman’s plot. This delay was certainly due to God’s providential timing. Have you received blessing or answered prayer from God, but in a delayed fashion? How so?
o   Why did God delay your answered prayer or blessing?
o   The two plotters were impaled on poles. Does anyone have a Bible that describes the execution differently?
§  Some translations describe it as being hung from the gallows. 
·         Let’s read Esther 3:1-4 NIV 
1 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king's gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor. 3 Then the royal officials at the king's gate asked Mordecai, "Why do you disobey the king's command?" 4 Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore, they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai's behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.
·         QUESTIONS on verses 1-4
o   The text doesn’t tell us why Mordecai refused to kneel before Haman. Why do you think Mordecai refused to kneel?
§  Perhaps Mordecai was upset because Haman had had been promoted as Xerxes’ top official. Mordecai may have felt slighted by not being rewarded when he had reported the assassination plot.
§  Perhaps Mordecai felt that the Torah prohibited him from kneeling to any human. He could only kneel before God.
§  Perhaps Mordecai knew that Haman was extremely antisemitic and so he refused to kneel before an enemy of the Jews.
·         There was age-old hostility between Israel and the Agagites (named after an Amalekite king, Agag). This animosity dated back to the days of Moses, when Israel battled the Amalekites. Remember the battle in Exodus 17 where Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hands so that the Israelites would keep winning?
In Exodus 17:15-16, Moses prophesied a perennial conflict between Israel and the Amalekites:
“15 Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. 16 He said, ‘Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the LORD, the LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.’”
·         Many years later, King Saul, a Benjamite like Mordecai, was commanded by God to kill all the Amalekites, their livestock, and their king, Agag. Saul disobeyed God by allowing Agag and the best livestock to survive. Samuel ended up killing Agag. Many Amalekites escaped, and the feud would continue. (1 Samuel 15) 
o   If Mordecai had foreseen the consequences of not kneeling before Haman, do you think he would have kneeled?
§    I think Mordecai would have kneeled. He would have placed the welfare of the Jewish people above his own humiliation.
§ Most of the class felt like Mordecai would have knelt.
o   Why do you think Mordecai told the royal officials that he was Jewish? (v. 4)
§    Perhaps this was an error in judgment on Mordecai’s part. In his anger against Haman, Mordecai may have blurted out this key bit of information to the officials.
§    As an employee sitting at the gate, perhaps Mordecai thought the officials would hold the information in confidence. Perhaps Mordecai thought these officials were to be trusted. 
·         Application/Conclusion 
·         Closing prayer

Sunday, April 28, 2019

Cornerstone Class: Esther 2:12-18


Cornerstone Class Outline for 4/28/19

·         Announcements, praises and prayer requests—Joe and Vicki Kerns
·         Introduction:
o   Good morning! I hope you’ve enjoyed the sunny weather. I’ve been trying to get out for a couple hours per sunny day to get yardwork and gardening done.
·         Quick review. Two weeks ago we covered Esther 2:1-11
o   Following the advice of his advisors, King Xerxes began a search for the most beautiful woman in the empire to be the new queen. This would be accomplished through a giant beauty pageant where the contestants were forced to participate
o   We were introduced to Mordecai and his adopted daughter Esther. They were part of the Jewish remnant from the Babylonian exile who remained in Persia, rather than return to Israel.
o   Esther was “taken to the king’s palace” where she was placed in the king’s harem as a contender for queenship. She began 12 months of beauty treatments and a diet of special foods 
·         Let’s read Esther 2:12-18 NIV:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HNQKB1L
12 Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. 13 And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. 14 In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name.
15 When the turn came for Esther (the young woman Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. 16 She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
17 Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 And the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.
·         QUESTIONS on verses 12-18
o   Physical beauty was the main requirement to become Xerxes’ queen. Today, women experience more pressure than men to maintain an attractive appearance. Why does the culture expect women to enhance their physical appearance more than men?
o   Why don’t men feel as much pressure to look good?
o   According to the Torah (Deut. 7:3), Jews were not allowed to marry Gentiles. Why didn’t Esther refuse to become queen to Xerxes, a Gentile?
§  As long-term exiles, Mordecai and Esther may have blended in with the Persian culture, so strict adherence to the Torah might not have been a priority for them.
§  There are many examples of OT heroes of the faith who had significant flaws. Abraham, David, the judges
o   As modern-day Christians living in a secular culture, how do we partake in aspects of the culture without compromising our faith?
§  Don’t participate in those aspects of the culture that violate scripture.
§  Be led by the Spirit
§  Listen to your conscience
·         Application/Conclusion
·         Closing prayer