Women in the Bible
Lesson Fourteen: by turtle

Chapter five is an interesting story. It is about Esther going before the king despite the fact she
was not invited. Now it may sound odd that one could not speak to their husband freely. In fact
it may sound odd that one can not speak to their husband without permission. For today
women often speak up and out on everything to their husbands. It is hard to imagine the royal
life in the day of Queen Esther. Often looking at England’s royal history and how king
George the eighth treated his wives makes Esther husband look like a saint, but the truth is
women did not have the freedom in some societies that we in America enjoy. In fact in some
culture women are sometimes still treated like cattle/property. Often terms used to describe one
culture or another is different. Some see it has protecting their women. And in some cases it is
just that a form of protection. When it is not protection is when there is abuse of one’s
authority.

In this story Queen Esther is well liked by the king. In fact I want to believe she was well liked
by him. In fact so well liked that when he seen her in the court he was pleased she had come.
Yet with tradition Esther would still need to show respect by bowing to the king and waiting for
him to hold out his scepter.

Esther 5:1-2 KJV
(1)  Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the
inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal
throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
(2)  And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained
favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So
Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.

Now with much clarity when the king would hold out his scepter in favor he often would see
what brought a person to him. And his wife was no exception in this matter. He was curious of
what he could do for her, since she had come at a time that was forbidden. See when a king
went into solitude, one could not go into his presents. Esther actually was forbidden to do so,
but she went and found favor. It was emergency at hand. Her life and the life of her people were
being threatened. So now the king is requesting what he could do for her.

Esther 5:3-6 KJV
(3)  Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall
be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.
(4)  And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day
unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.
(5)  Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the
king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
(6)  And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be
granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.

Instead of Esther just telling the king what was on her mind, she went about buttering him up. I
do not know a man alive that does not like to be buttered up. It is part of the chase as well as
the courtship of husband and wives. It is the part that keeps marriages interesting. Yet this time
Esther did truly have alternative motive and that was to protect her people. So she invited her
enemy to the feast as well as her husband. Her husband was delighted to attend the feast. And
Haman was even more delighted that the queen had invited him that he went and told his
family. In fact he was so delighted that he decided that he would request to have Mordecai
hung. He figured he would be able to make the request at the feast and had his family make the
gallows for Mordecai to hang on. An old saying for Hamaan would do not count your chickens
before they hatch, yet Haman was determined to hurt Mordecai, just because he would not bow
to him.

Esther 5:7-14 KJV
(7)  Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;
(8)  If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition,
and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare
for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.
(9)  Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw
Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation
against Mordecai.
(10)  Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his
friends, and Zeresh his wife.
(11)  And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all
the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes
and servants of the king.
(12)  Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto
the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with
the king.
(13)  Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
(14)  Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits
high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go
thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused
the gallows to be made.

Now like all good tales the plot thickens. God in his infinite wisdom is always in charge and we
best not forget it. It appears that Mordecai is to meet his doom. Will God deliver. Well I could
continue the story today, but I am not. Reason being like any good story sometimes one has to
let the reality of it sink in. The fact that people often do plot against God’s people. The
devil loves to take aim at the saints. Today that still goes on, but one must remember despite
their circumstance God is in control. Christ will have the victory in our lives no matter what
happens, but to prove the point I am going to allow the study to continue into the next few
weeks chapter by chapter. See one can not even began to grasp this was not done in just a few
hours back then. It was done over a period of time. Just like trials in our own life. Our
problems are often not solve overnight. And so the story will precede next week.