Esther

Esther 5: The golden scepter

Begin in prayer

Before we read how Esther stands before the king, let us come near to God in prayer. Ask Him to show us the King who never turns away a sinner who comes, and to open our hearts to Him.

Our soul has waited for Yahweh. He is our help and our shield.

Psalm 33:20

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You turn the hearts of kings, and lead us to Jesus, through whom sinners come near to You. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

On the third day Esther puts on her royal clothing and stands in the inner court of the king's house. When the king sees her, she finds favor, and he holds out the golden scepter. Esther touches the top of it, and the king offers her even half of the kingdom. She asks only that the king and Haman come to a banquet, and then to a second one the next day. Haman leaves glad, until he sees Mordecai at the gate, who does not stand or move for him. At home he boasts of his riches and his rank, and his wife and friends tell him to build a gallows fifty cubits high.

As you read Esther 5, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God gives Esther favor with the king, while proud Haman builds a gallows for Mordecai.

On the third day, the day her people finish fasting, Esther puts on her royal clothing and stands in the inner court (verse 1). Anyone who stood there uncalled could be put to death, unless the king held out the golden scepter (Esther 4 verse 11). When the king sees Esther, she finds favor, and he holds out the scepter (verse 2). The chapter says only that Esther found favor, and Proverbs 21 verse 1 says the LORD turns a king's heart wherever He wants. She asks only for a banquet, then for a second one the next day (verses 4 to 8). Haman leaves glad, until Mordecai will not stand for him (verse 9). At home he boasts of his riches, yet says they mean nothing while Mordecai sits at the gate (verses 11 to 13). His wife and friends tell him to build a gallows fifty cubits high, and Haman has it made (verse 14). Esther's delay leaves one more night before the second banquet, and on that night the king cannot sleep (Esther 6 verse 1).

How does Esther 5 show us that God gives Esther favor with the king, while proud Haman builds a gallows for Mordecai?

The king holds out the golden scepter to Esther.

Esther stands in the court with no promise that the king will receive her (verse 1). He sees her, she finds favor, and he holds out the scepter (verse 2). She cannot make this happen, and Proverbs 21 verse 1 puts the king's heart in the LORD's hand. Esther had to hope for a scepter. Everyone who trusts Christ may come near to God, because He opened the way (Hebrews 10 verses 19 to 22).

Esther waits, and asks for a banquet first.

The king offers her up to half of the kingdom, and she asks only for a banquet (verses 3 and 4). At the banquet she is offered the same again, and she asks for one more day (verses 6 to 8). The chapter does not say why she waits. Esther makes her plans, and Proverbs 16 verse 9 says the LORD directs a person's steps.

Haman has riches and honor, and still builds a gallows.

Haman boasts of his riches, his many children and his place above the princes (verse 11). Then he says all this means nothing while Mordecai sits at the gate (verse 13). The gallows is fifty cubits high, and a cubit is about the length of a forearm. His wife and friends tell him to build a gallows, and he does (verse 14). Jesus asked what it profits a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul (Mark 8 verse 36).

Memorise

When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter.

Esther 5:2

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what holds me back from coming to Jesus, who welcomes sinners?

Esther “stood in the inner court” and waited to see whether the king would hold out “the golden scepter”. She touched the top of it, and she lived. For a moment, a whole people hung on the king's hand.

Everyone who trusts Jesus has something better than a scepter. Our sin keeps us out of God's presence, and we could never earn a way in. So Jesus came and died for His people on the cross, paying all that was needed. He rose again, and He now stands before the Father for those who trust Him. The door is open, and no sinner who comes in His name will be turned away.

So come to King Jesus. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Him. Every sinner who comes to Him is forgiven.

Parent's note

Tell your children that Jesus is the King who welcomes sinners, and that every child needs Him. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. In verses 13 and 14 Haman builds a gallows, so please explain what it was for in your own words.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He opens the way to Himself, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without defect and blameless before him

Colossians 1:22

Lord God, thank You that Jesus opened the way to You. Please help each child to turn from sin and trust Him, and bring our family near to You. Teach us to wait for Your time, and to trust You when we are afraid. Amen.