Esther petitions for her life

The Book of Esther Chapter 7

At the Queen's banquet, drinking wine, the king asked Esther again to tell him what she wanted and he would give it to her. She said her petition was that her life and the lives of her people would be spared. Because she and her people had been sold to those who would kill, slaughter and annihilate them. She further said that if they were only sold as slaves, she would remain quiet and not bother the king.

The king was angry and demanded to know who would kill her and her people. Esther replied that the wicked Haman is the enemy. Haman grew pale and frightened before the king and queen. Then the king jumped to his feet in rage and went into the palace garden. But Haman stayed behind and pleaded for his life with the queen. In despair he fell on the couch where Esther was reclining, just as the king returned from the garden. The king roared that Haman would assault the queen in the palace before his own eyes. As soon as the king spoke, his attendants covered Haman's face, signaling his doom.

Then Harbona, one of the king's eunuchs said that Haman had set up a gallows that stood 75 feet tall in his own courtyard, to use it to hang Mordecai the man who had saved the king from assassination.
And the king ordered Haman hanged on the gallows and the king's anger was pacified.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: A veil was placed over the face of someone condemned to death because Persian kings refused to look upon the face of a condemned person.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Haman was hanged on the gallows he built for someone else. Proverbs 26: 27 teaches that if you set a trap for others, you will get caught in it yourself. Queen Esther was very clever and patient in waiting for Haman to hang himself (so to speak). She remained calm and did not get weepy and hysterical. She planned her banquet carefully and planned her speech to the king carefully. Did you notice that Haman had no chance to reply to her charges. He knew he was doomed. Esther represents the best of us, the quiet Christian who offers proof and backs it with honor. God stood by her, just as he stands by all of us when we are righteous.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother whose cancer has returned and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who made it six years with cancer but may now go home with hospice in her final days.
Pray for my cousin Diane who had total mastectomy surgery for breast cancer.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and for the doctors who have difficulty diagnosing his other symptoms.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.