Esther 4 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study
Esther 4 Short Summary:
After Haman’s decree to murder all the Jews in Esther 3, Esther 4 tells of Mordecai’s grief, and his attempt to convince Esther to go to the king of her people’s behalf. Esther was afraid because a person could be killed for entering the king’s presence without a royal invitation. But Mordecai finally convinced her and suggested that perhaps she was elevated to the throne of Persia for this special moment.
Esther 4 Bible Study
WHEN:
538 BC – Cyrus the Great of Persia frees the Jews from their Babylonian captivity.
516 BC – The rebuilding of the Temple is completed in Jerusalem.
483 BC – The story of Esther begins in the 3rd year of Ahasuerus’ reign.
479 BC – Esther becomes queen of Persia.
457 BC – Ezra arrives in Jerusalem.
444 BC – Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem.
KEY CHARACTERS:
King Ahasuerus – Also known as Xerxes. Reigned as king of Persia from 486-464 B.C.
Esther – A young Jewish woman who was chosen by Ahasuerus to become queen of Persia. She was an orphan who was raised by her cousin Mordecai.
Mordecai – A Jew who lived in Susa. He raised Esther after her parents died. Mordecai’s family was brought to Babylonia/Persia when Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, conquered Jerusalem 100 years before these events.
Haman – An Agagite. He was a vengeful man who King Ahasuerus elevated to high authority.
WHERE:
Susa – The capital of the Persian Empire. The location of the palace of Ahasuerus.
OUTLINE:
ESTHER AGREES TO ADVOCATE FOR THE JEWS (4:1-17):
When Mordecai learned about Haman’s plot to kill the Jews, he “put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry” (4:1).
When Esther heard about Mordecai, she sent messengers to him to discover the reason for his distress.
Mordecai gave Esther’s messenger a copy of Haman’s decree and pleaded with her to go to the king and advocate on her people’s behalf.
Esther sent a message back to Mordecai with a serious concern. It was a law in Persia that no one was allowed to enter the presence of the king uninvited. Anyone who went into the king’s inner court without an invitation would be killed, even the queen, unless the king extended the royal scepter to them.
Mordecai was asking Esther to do something that could potentially get her killed.
Mordecai was aware of the risk, but he knew Esther was the Jew’s best chance of survival. He asked her to take the risk for her people’s sake, and suggested that perhaps God had made her queen for this special occasion.
He replied to Esther, “Who knowns whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (4:14b).
In response, Esther sent a final messenger to Mordecai telling him she would accept the responsibility, even if it cost her her life.
She asked Mordecai to gather the Jews of Susa to fast and pray for 3 days. She promised to fast with her attending women, and then to go to the king on the 3rd day.
APPLICATION
Privilege often comes with responsibility.
Luke 12:48b – “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.”
When we receive some kind of privilege, our thought process should be deeper than “Wow, aren’t I lucky to be so blessed,” we need to be asking, “What are my responsibilities now that I have this privilege?”
How can we use the position, the influence, and the resources that God has privileged us with to serve God and to serve others.
A mature Christian is going to do more than just thank God for the privileges of his life, he is going to ask God to help him put those privileges to work.
In Esther 4, we see a young woman who received a great privilege (becoming the queen of Persia), using that privilege to help others. Much was given to her, and she risked much by putting her neck on the line for her people.
