WEBVTT - Esther 5

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<v Speaker 1>Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your

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<v Speaker 1>walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Study Headquarters

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<v Speaker 1>dot com. You're listening to the Chapter a Day Audio Bible.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm John Stangi, and today we're in Esther chapter five,

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<v Speaker 1>and we'll be reading from the English Standard version. On

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<v Speaker 1>the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and

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<v Speaker 1>stood in the inner court of the King's Palace in

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<v Speaker 1>front of the King's quarters, while the King was sitting

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<v Speaker 1>on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the

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<v Speaker 1>entrance to the palace. And when the King saw Queen

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<v Speaker 1>Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight,

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<v Speaker 1>and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that

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<v Speaker 1>was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the

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<v Speaker 1>tip of the scepter, and the King said to her,

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<v Speaker 1>what is it, Queen Esther, what is your request? It

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<v Speaker 1>shall be given you even to the half of my kingdom.

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<v Speaker 1>And Esther said, if it pleased the King, let the

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<v Speaker 1>King and Haman come today to a feast that I

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<v Speaker 1>have prepared for the King. Then the King said, bring

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<v Speaker 1>Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked.

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<v Speaker 1>So the King and Haman came to the feast that

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<v Speaker 1>Esther had prepared, and as they were drinking wine after

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<v Speaker 1>the feast, the King said to Esther, what is your wish?

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<v Speaker 1>It shall be granted you, and what is your request,

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<v Speaker 1>even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.

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<v Speaker 1>Then Esther answered, my wish, and my request is if

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<v Speaker 1>I have found favor in the sight of the King,

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<v Speaker 1>and if it please the King to grant my wish

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<v Speaker 1>and fulfill my request. Let the King and Haman come

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<v Speaker 1>to the feast that I will prepare for them, and

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<v Speaker 1>tomorrow I will do as the king said. And Haman

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<v Speaker 1>went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But

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<v Speaker 1>when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he

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<v Speaker 1>neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with

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<v Speaker 1>wrath against Mordecai. Nevertheless, Hamon restrained himself and went home,

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<v Speaker 1>and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zaresh,

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<v Speaker 1>and Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches,

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<v Speaker 1>the number of his sons, all the promotions with which

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<v Speaker 1>the king had honored him, and how he had advanced

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<v Speaker 1>him above the officials and the servants of the king.

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<v Speaker 1>Then Hayman said, even Queen Esther, let no one but

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<v Speaker 1>me come with the king to the feast she prepared.

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<v Speaker 1>And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with

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<v Speaker 1>the king. Yet all this is worth nothing to me

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<v Speaker 1>so long as I see Mordecai, the Jew, sitting at

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<v Speaker 1>the king's gate. Then his wife Zaresh and all his

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<v Speaker 1>friends said to him, go gallos fifty cubits high be made,

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<v Speaker 1>and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai

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<v Speaker 1>hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the King to

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<v Speaker 1>the feast. This idea pleased Haman, and he had the

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<v Speaker 1>gallows made. Let's pray, Lord, we thank you for your word,

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<v Speaker 1>and we thank you for the privilege of being able

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<v Speaker 1>to look at it together today. And Lord, as we

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<v Speaker 1>look at this portion of scripture, we can see how

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<v Speaker 1>filled with conceit Haman truly was, how he loved himself,

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<v Speaker 1>how he hated Mordecai, but how he esteemed himself in

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<v Speaker 1>his own eyes and in the eyes of his friends. Lord,

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<v Speaker 1>we could see how it grated on him that Mordecai

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<v Speaker 1>wouldn't bow and wouldn't tremble before him, and how he

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<v Speaker 1>conspired to have Mordecai killed. Likewise, Lord, we can see

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<v Speaker 1>esther come before the king, recognizing that in doing so

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<v Speaker 1>she was risking her life. By your grace, the king

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<v Speaker 1>showed her favor. He extended the scepter, and she was

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<v Speaker 1>allowed to walk in before him and live. Lord. We

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<v Speaker 1>know that this gives us a picture of a spiritual

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<v Speaker 1>reality that you have orchestrated, that we are allowed to

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<v Speaker 1>come before your throne, that you extend the scepter and

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<v Speaker 1>welcome us into your presence on the basis of the

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<v Speaker 1>work of your son Jesus Christ, who took our sin

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<v Speaker 1>upon himself, and now through faith in him, were cleansed,

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<v Speaker 1>were made righteous, and were welcomed into your presence. Lord.

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<v Speaker 1>We're grateful for this reality, and we're so thankful for

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<v Speaker 1>your favor that you bestow upon us. Lord. We're grateful

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<v Speaker 1>for your presence with us today, and we commit this

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<v Speaker 1>day to your care. And we pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.