Catching Up On Books Read

Books by J.R.R. Tolkien: 

Mr. Bliss (had to read it while waiting for:
The Children of Hurin
(which lead to. . .)
The Silmarillion
The Lord of the Rings

    The Fellowship of the Ring
    The Two Towers
    The Return of the King (The R0hirrim are just charging into the Pelennor as war rages before Minas Tirith)

The Peacemaker by Ken Sande

The Well Educated Mind by Susan Wise Bauer

Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray

Four books about tea lent to me by my friend, Dorothy.  Forgot to write down the titles, but didn't forget to write down the recipes!

The Epistles of John by James Montgomery Boice (lent to me by my friend, Carol)

Christ's Call to Discipleship also by James Montgomery Boice (also lent to me by my friend, Carol)

Prayer, by John Owen BUNYAN, not Owen!  (given to me by my friend, Carol)

That's all I can think of for now.  I know I'm missing some.  Maybe there will be a "Catching Up on Books Read II" 

Esther Lesson Six

Esther Study Week 6

Esther 9:16-10:3

Bible Verse to be recited for this week:

Esther 8:17

17 And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.

Est 9:16

The remainder of the Jews in the king's provinces gathered together and protected their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of their enemies; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

Est 9:17

This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. And on the fourteenth of the month they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

Est 9:18

But the Jews who were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day, as well as on the fourteenth; and on the fifteenth of the month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

Why did they assemble for the extra day?

What day did the Jews gain victory over their enemies in the provinces?

Upon what day did the Jews in the provinces rest?

What day did the Jews gain victory over their enemies in the city of Sushan?

Upon what day did the Jews in the city rest?

Est 9:19

Therefore the Jews of the villages who dwelt in the unwalled towns celebrated the fourteenth day of the month of Adar with gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and for sending presents to one another.

Who are these Jews of the villages? Can you figure it out by the day that they rested upon? Why do you think they sent presents to one another?

Est 9:20

And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus,

Est 9:21

to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar,

Est 9:22

as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor.

Why did they send gifts to the poor? What kind of gifts do you think they probably sent?

Est 9:23

So the Jews accepted the custom which they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them,

Why do you think it is important that the writer of Esther mentions that the Jews accepted the custom?

Est 9:24

because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to annihilate them, and had cast Pur (that is, the lot), to consume them and destroy them;

Est 9:25

but when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letter that this wicked plot which Haman had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

Est 9:26

So they called these days Purim, after the name Pur. Therefore, because of all the words of this letter, what they had seen concerning this matter, and what had happened to them,

Est 9:27

the Jews established and imposed it upon themselves and their descendants and all who would join them, that without fail they should celebrate these two days every year, according to the written instructions and according to the prescribed time,

Est 9:28

that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, that these days of Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews, and that the memory of them should not perish among their descendants.

Est 9:29

Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter about Purim.

These verses tell us why the book of Esther was written. Why do you think it is so important to the Jews that there is a written record of this observance? What makes it different from other Jewish religious days and holidays?

Est 9:30

And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews, to the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,

Why is it important that it records that the letters Mordecai sent were words of “peace and truth?”

Est 9:31

to confirm these days of Purim at their appointed time, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had prescribed for them, and as they had decreed for themselves and their descendants concerning matters of their fasting and lamenting.

Est 9:32

So the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim, and it was written in the book.

Est 10:1

AND King Ahasuerus imposed tribute on the land and on the islands of the sea.

What does it mean to impose tribute? Why do you think this was mentioned here and why do you think he imposed this tribute?

Est 10:2

Now all the acts of his power and his might, and the account of the greatness of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?

Est 10:3

For Mordecai the Jew was second to King Ahasuerus, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.

What is pur? What is Purim? Who established it? Why was it made perpetual?

Why is Haman said to be the enemy of all the Jews? (3:10; 8:1; 9:10, 24-25)

Who delivered the people?

Can you think of any other Jewish men who, like Mordecai, gained authority, influence, and honor in the service of a foreign King?

These lessons were written for elementary aged students.  You can find all of the Lessons in Esther here.

Esther Lesson Five

Esther Study Week 5
Esther 8:1-9:15

Bible Verse To Be Recited this week:
Proverbs 2:10-12
10 for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you,12 delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech,


Est 8:1  
On that day King Ahasuerus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her.
Why do you think that the King gave Esther Haman’s property?
Est 8:2  
And the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
Why do you think that the king gave Mordecai the ring?  Who has the power all of a sudden?
Est 8:3  
Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews.
Why do you think that Esther waited until this point to finally talk to the king about averting Haman’s plan?
Est 8:4  
When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther,
Est 8:5  
Esther rose and stood before the king. And she said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king.
Est 8:6  
“For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?”
Why does Esther ask for another order to be written?  Why doesn’t she just ask the king to dismiss Haman’s decree?
Est 8:7  
Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he intended to lay hands on the Jews.
Est 8:8  
“But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king's ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked.”
Why do you think that the King doesn’t write his own decrees?
Est 8:9  
The king's scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language.
Who actually wrote the new decree?  Why do you think it was Mordecai and not Esther?  Why was it important that the decree be written “to each province in tis own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language?  Look at Haman’s decree in Chapter 3, verse 12. What do you notice that is different?
Est 8:10  
And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king's signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king's service, bred from the royal stud,
Again, what do you notice that is different from the last time a decree was sent out by Haman?  Why is that important?
Est 8:11  
saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, and to plunder their goods,
Notice that the Jews are allowed to plunder.  What does it mean to plunder?
Est 8:12  
on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.
See Haman’s decree Esther 4:12-15 What do you notice about this day?
Est 8:13  
A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies.
Est 8:14  
So the couriers, mounted on their swift horses that were used in the king's service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king's command. And the decree was issued in Susa the citadel.
Why were they in a hurry?  Why was the decree issued in Susa, the citadel, too?  (Read verse 15 and compare to verse 3:15)
Est 8:15  
Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.
What is the significance of the royal robes?  Why do you think the people of Susa rejoiced?
Est 8:16  
The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor.
Est 8:17  
And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.
Now, think about this for a minute. Why are the people rejoicing already?
Chapter 9:1-15

Est 9:1  
Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's command and edict were about to be carried out, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them.
What are some of the ways God has totally reversed things in favor of the Jews?
Est 9:2  
The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could stand against them, for the fear of them had fallen on all peoples.
Est 9:3  
All the officials of the provinces and the satraps and the governors and the royal agents also helped the Jews, for the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them.
Who is helping the Jews now?  Why?
Est 9:4  
For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces, for the man Mordecai grew more and more powerful.
Where did Mordecai receive his power from?  What kind of power did Mordecai desire? Compare that to the desires of Haman.
Est 9:5  
The Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and did as they pleased to those who hated them.
Who did the Jews kill and destroy?  
Est 9:6  
In Susa the citadel itself the Jews killed and destroyed 500 men,
Est 9:7  
and also killed Parshandatha and Dalphon and Aspatha
Est 9:8  
and Poratha and Adalia and Aridatha
Est 9:9  
and Parmashta and Arisai and Aridai and Vaizatha,
Est 9:10  
the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, but they laid no hand on the plunder.
Why do you think they didn’t plunder their enemies?  They were given permission but verse 7 says they did as they pleased against their enemies. What does that say about their motivation?
Read 1 Samuel 15:17-19 and compare the differences, both in what happened and in the outcome.
Est 9:11  
That very day the number of those killed in Susa the citadel was reported to the king.
Est 9:12  
And the king said to Queen Esther, “In Susa the citadel the Jews have killed and destroyed 500 men and also the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces! Now what is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what further is your request? It shall be fulfilled.”
Est 9:13  
And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the Jews who are in Susa be allowed tomorrow also to do according to this day's edict. And let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows.”
Why do you think Esther asked for another day of killing? Why do you think she asks for the ten sons of Haman to be hanged when they are already dead?
Est 9:14  
So the king commanded this to be done. A decree was issued in Susa, and the ten sons of Haman were hanged.
Est 9:15  
The Jews who were in Susa gathered also on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and they killed 300 men in Susa, but they laid no hands on the plunder.
They laid no hands on the plunder.  This is the third time this was stated.  Why do you think this is important?

    Bible Verse to be Memorized for next week:  Esther 8:17
17 And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.

These lessons were written for elementary aged students.  You can find all of the Lessons in Esther here.

Esther Lesson Four

Last Week’s Bible Verse to Recite:
    Bible Verse:  Psalm 94:21-22
21 They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. 22 But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.

Chapter Six

Est 6:1   
On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king.
Why do you think the king could not sleep?  Was this a mere coincidence?
Est 6:2   
And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.
Read Esther 2:21-23
Est 6:3   
And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king's young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”
Est 6:4   
And the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for him.

It was morning by this time.  What do you think about the timing of the discovery of the record of Mordecai’s having saved the king?  Was this “just a coincidence?”  How about the king asking who was in the court? Another coincidence?

Est 6:5   
And the king's young men told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.”
Est 6:6   
So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?”
(notice that the King has concealed the identity of the one who was to be honored.  Compare this to Esther 3:8—who was concealing then?)
Est 6:7   
And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor,
Est 6:8   
“let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown is set.
Est 6:9   
“And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.’”
Do you remember the story of David and Jonathan?  (1 Samuel 18:1-4)  (significance of clothing. . .)
What did Haman seek above all else?
Est 6:10   
Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew who sits at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.”

Est 6:11   
So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.”
The honor that Haman wanted for himself was given to the one he hated the most.
Est 6:12   
Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered.
Est 6:13   
And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.”
This is a strange thing for his wife to say to him.  Remember, Haman was an Amalekite.  Why do you think she said this to him about the Jewish people?  Can you think of any Bible stories that support the idea that the Jewish people cannot be overcome?  
Est 6:14   
While they were yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared.

Chapter Seven

Est 7:1   
So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther.
Est 7:2   
And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, “What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.”
Est 7:3   
Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request.
Est 7:4   
“For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.”
Esther tells the king that “we have been sold.”  Read 3:9 and 4:7.
She also uses the words, “destroyed, killed, annihilated” just like it the decree.  Why doesn’t the king remember that?
Then she mentions “the loss to the king.”  What did Esther know was the thing that the king most sought after?  To what interest of the King did she appeal?
Did it take faith for Esther to make her request to the King?  Why?
Est 7:5   
Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who has dared to do this?”
Est 7:6   
And Esther said, “A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.
Should the king have been surprised?  (Read Esther 3:8-11)  
Est 7:7   
And the king arose in his wrath from the wine-drinking and went into the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm was determined against him by the king.
Why do you think the King left the banquet?  Why did Haman beg for his life from the Queen and not the King?
Est 7:8   
And the king returned from the palace garden to the place where they were drinking wine, as Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. And the king said, “Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?” As the word left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman's face.
Look at verse 6:12—Haman covered his face in shame, now his face is covered in judgment.
Est 7:9   
Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, “Moreover, the gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman's house, fifty cubits high.”
Est 7:10   
And the king said, “Hang him on that.” So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated.
Did he think for himself?  Has he ever done anything at all without consulting other people?  Who did he listen to before?  Who is he listening to now?
Lets discuss the way God providentially acted to bring about His plan in this situation.

Next Week’s Bible Verse to Memorize:  
Bible Verse:  Proverbs 2:10-12
10 for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you,12 delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech,

These lessons were written for elementary aged students.  You can find all of the Lessons in Esther here.