Discuss Esther 4

Hi Pam. As you know, those Jews that were carried away into Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar remained there until the Persian army, under Cyrus, conquered Babylon. Cyrus was very lenient with the Jews & he gave them permission to return to their homeland. However, only a few did, and others did so over time, under Persian rule. People, like Mordecai & his cousin Hadassah (Esther), were born in captivity & only knew this Babylonian/Persian culture & the Jewish practises that were brought over by their forefathers. So, under Xerxes (Ahasuerus), the story of Mordecai & Esther is given to us. Having mentioned all that, I would think that the Jews living in Persia, who didn't want to return for various reasons (old age, loss of lifestyle/privileges, etc.), continued to perform many of the Jewish practises, as far as they were remembered. Many things would have been forgotten, abandoned, or even inter-mixed with heathen practises, but Israel still maintained their Jewish ancestry and their position before God & sought to follow His regulations.

So, when we read of Esther's call to the Jews of Shushan the palace & her handmaidens to fast ( Esther 4:15-17), I would think that both fasting & prayer were intended (if her helpers were Jews of course). The idea of fasting for the Jew at that time, was linked to deep sense of need & dependence and/or an utter helplessness in the face of calamity (present or anticipated). Also times of mourning, repentance, or a deep spiritual need could prompt fasting & prayer. Of King David we read that he prayed & fasted over his sick child ( 2 Samuel 12:16) coupled with weeping (vv 21,22). And Daniel in Daniel 9:1-19, went a similar way before the Lord with prayer, petition, fasting, in sackcloth & ashes, over the coming destruction of Jerusalem.

Fasting then was a particularly important act of one's seriousness & being cast before the Lord for help. Throughout the fast, this attitude of laying up the matters before God would have occurred.

Some preach fasting as a command because Jesus said "when, thou fastest" Matthew 6:16-21,

Sometimes people & Church congregations fast for closeness with GOD, to feel HIS presence, & clarity on direction from GOD: Matthew 9:15, Mark 2:19,20, Luke 5:34,35, Ezra 8:21,23, Nehemiah 1:4, Nehemiah 1, (in context.), Daniel 9:2-3, 2Corinthians 6:4,5

Fasting & prayer to help deliver people from sin, addiction, mental illness, demonic oppression, Matthew 17:21, (context) Matthew 17:14-21, Mark 9:17-29,

1Samuel 7:3

1Corinthians 7:3-5,

Fasting for deliverance: 2Chronicles 20:1-30, Esther 4:3,16, in context: Esther 3:8-15, - Esther 4, Daniel 6:12-23, Joel 1:14, Joel 2:12,

Fasting in repentance, sometimes even after GOD's judgement : 1Samuel 7:2-17, 2Samuel 12:7-23, (do you think it was easier to except it because he was fasting? While others were perplexed?) 1Kings 21, note 1Kings 21:27-29, Jonah 3:5-10, Joel 2:15,

Also Isaiah 58,

Jesus fasted an extreme fast: Matthew 4:2,

When it says in: Matthew 10:8, Luke 10:9, Mark 16:17-18, can we do these things without fasting?

I believe there are too many scriptures about power in fasting, direction, deliverance & repentance to think lightly of.

Fasting is submission, Romans 13:7, Luke 20:25, Matthew 17:25-26,

Hopefully these are helpful

Rsv bible mark 9:29 & matthew 17:21 have lost "fasting and prayer" that jesus said in kjv are both necessary to cast out evil/ demons.

two satanic worshippers prevailed in 1963 process to leave out "fasting" in rsv.

(note: " *saint joseph's partners" article "the power of fasting".)

john wesley would not ordain a minister into colonial georgia methodist church who was not fasting.

president abe lincoln declared 30 april as usa national day of fasting and prayer.

a few days later a stray confederate bullet hit their commanding general.

in his absence gettysburg was a turn of the civil war in favor of the union of usa.

why are we today not fasting on bread and water on wednesdays ( day of judas' betrayal) & fridays ( the crucifiction), like early christians practiced?*)

fasting is to humble ourselves, like wicked ahab did when elija told him god's judgement on him was all men and women in his kingdom would die. ahab fasted for a week..god spared ahab's people during his rule.

esther 4:16 she and all jews fasted 3 days. god acted.

the king canceled his command that they all jews be killed.

why struggle under evil, pandemic, closed churches, war time attacks?fasting can be developed step by step.

cardiologist, dr. p. jamnadas lectures:"the amazing benefits of "fasting for survival" as he lecture med students at fla. state univ. med school.

(( why not reverse and cure diabetes? 80%of usa is prediabetic.

clear brain fog? reverse cardio vascular disease? reduce waist lines to less than 40 inches?)

this assistant med school professor describes how to, step by step, develop ability to fast.

how about reduce risk of cancer by 70%for life time?

help!!!

lead us in developing ability to fast and pray..., as jesus expects us to do.

lets cast out evil.

why not?

Dear sister

I cannot imagine that I myself found a note under the matress with all my foults written on it, I would really go nuts. Wouldn't you?

You ask for advice for something that is obvious to do. Some things are common sense whether a christian or not.

Since you ask what the Scripture says read Matthew 5:23-25

v23 - Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

v24 - Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

v25 - Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

And the above is for our husbands/wives too. As soon as you found out that your husband had something against you then the first thing you had to do is to go and explain to your husband what happened. Told him that your purpose was good, didn't aim to hurt him. Discuss. Whether your husband is a christian or not it's not right to have secrets from him, at least not serious ones. Dont forget God made us one with our mates. Ephesians 5:30-31.

So what I'd do in your shoes? I would spent a day or two fasting and praying ( Esther 4:16) and then go and talk to my huaband and explain him what happened using the words of wisdom that God gives me. Great advices are also given in the other posts below .

And some more advice. Aren't you in a church? Don't you have a pastror, priest ... that you know, who knows you and your life, and can talk to him about your problems and seek help? It not wise to go around the internet and seek advice since you don't know who is to whom you are talking to.

May God help you out. God Bless you.

Daniel 10:3,

2 Chronicles 20:1-4, Ezra 8:21-22, Esther 3: , Esther 4:1,3,7,8,11,14,16, Isaiah 58:6-14, Jeremiah 36:7-10, Joel 1:12-15, Joel 2:15,

Jonah 3:3-6,

Matthew 6:16-18, Matthew 9:14-15, Mark 2:18-20, Luke 5:33-35,

Sister Rebecca,

Esther 4:1-16

Esther 4:11, (the law was death sentence) with 1 exception) The king hadn't asked to see her for over 30days,

Esther 2:19

Also significant history : Daniel 1:1, They were captives of war

Esther 2:5-7, Esther 2:10, Daniel 9:1, Daniel 6:8, Daniel 6:16-17, Ezra 4:6-24,

Hopefully these are helpful in your study.

Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights. The Bible says that at the end, Jesus hungered. He was drinking water. After 3 days, the body starts breaking down without water.

I was taught that not fasting is sort of a reckless lifestyle. Regular fasting dissolves the glue stuck to the walls in our intestines. Fasting makes the body turn upon itself and "eat" up things that are unhealthy.

I fast to get direction from the Lord. I can do a week. God has helped me make hard decisions; He's given me insight on scripture meanings. I've had visions; word of wisdom; word of knowledge. It depends on what you are praying about prior to the fast.

Fast from food, Feed on the Bible.

However, the hardest fasts are to unplug all media. Put the phone on vibrate for emergencies only. Turn all the noise off. Make joyful song yourself, unto the Lord. You are totally free to hear what the Holy Spirit speaks to your spirit.

Satan doesn't want us to fast. You'd be surprised at all the "emergencies that can spring up." :/

Study how Jesus fought spiritually against Satan on that 40 day fast. How did He do the warfare?

This is how we break strongholds in our lives; or in someone else's life (that we are praying for). I think fasting is private and we don't brag about it or cry over glasses of water, when the family is in the kitchen eating meals. It's as unto the Lord.

If you're diabetic, you can still fast. Take your meds, but don't eat pleasant foods to keep yourself stable. Check your levels. Bouillon is warm and makes the body release the hormone that says you're full.

Fasts over a week: when you end it and begin to eat again, nothing real heavy at first. Your body has to awaken slowly for a few days.

Write down what you learn from the Lord during your fast.

Why fast? A sign of giving to the Lord in hopes for his glory? Going to assume so.

Prayers for purification and to obtain favour in the sight of all who attend to my papers in the Feb, March and April 2021.

Amen

John 3:16 For God so loved he world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

The Bible tells us that we're all sinners & come short of God's Glory (God's perfection) Romans 3:23. And not one of us are righteous - not even one ( Romans 3:10). When we sin against a Holy God, the only payment we can make for our sin is to suffer death (physical death & eternal separation from God) Romans 6:23.

And this was to happen after our first parents, Adam & Eve, sinned against God. But God, in His great Love for mankind, His creation, stepped in with a solution to this sin problem. God can't overlook sin because sin is not from Him but from Satan. And since one way to make payment for sin was for the death of the sinner, the other way, which God planned, was for a substitute to take the place of the sinner. But that substitute had to be pure & perfect, which sinful man could not be (that means man cannot pay for his own sin). The only Substitute that would work for God was to send Jesus, His Son, to make the payment. However, that time was long coming as God had a purpose for withholding Him, so God instituted an animal sacrificial system for His people, Israel, as a temporary measure: so that they would acknowledge their sins & the need to pay for it through sacrifice.

Since that sacrifice was only temporary, at the right time, God sent Jesus to Earth to ultimately give up His Life for us sinners. But every sinner has to accept that offering & put their trust in Him ( John 3:16). So now there is no need for anymore sacrifices as Jesus was the Perfect & only One sent by God. So Jesus' shed Blood & broken Body was necessary to satisfy God for our sins & so we say that "our sins have been remitted" (our sins have been forgiven & removed & we're no longer accounted by God as being punishable ( Romans 3:23-25)); just like a judge on Earth declares a convicted person as no longer guilty & he is free to go. But just as the prisoner still has to pay for any crime he commits later, so a Christian who sins in error is accountable to God & seeks His forgiveness.

why did Jesus shed his blood for us just to suffer and die

how many years did Jesus live and how many days did it take for him to rise from the dead

I agree with the comment made by John Madden from 5 years ago, that the Book, the Scriptures, should be our primary source, and not books that are written about the Bible, to understand what God has said.

In the Bible, women were never 'ordained' to any position in the Church, since the Church pattern is meant to follow the pattern of creation ( 1 Corinthians 11:3). However, we do see instances of women serving in the Church though not in the formal way of being appointed to the position as Elders are appointed. Examples such as Romans chapter 16, where Phebe, Priscilla & Mary are seen as having been helpful to the Church body or to Paul himself. Phebe particularly is spoken of as a 'servant of the Cenchrean Church' where she served in some way. However, Paul didn't allocate a title to her, as he spoke of deacons in Philippians 1:1 & 1 Timothy chapter 3, to which he was referring to men fulfilling that role.

So in my understanding, that although women were never given a position of 'deaconess' in the early Church, their contribution to the life & ministry to the Church was well reported of & greatly appreciated. And after all, the position or work of a deacon was essentially to carry out the 'other types of work' that would free up the apostles ( Acts 6:1-6), & no doubt later, to help the elder/pastor by performing these other duties. In their desire to allocate titles to every one that has an 'official duty' to perform, many Churches today have appointed both deacons & deaconesses to fulfil this need. This may not be altogether wrong, if the main reason for doing so, is for the serving the Body of Christ & being useful in building her up.

Never men only

Hang out till Chris drops in. He can better answer this.

IS a woman suppose to be ordain as a deacon

why is it necessary to have a firm handle on our spiritual identity?

You can google for more info on the region at the time she lived. I saw no population totals.

It was interesting to read.

How many people lived in Shushan when queen Ester called a fast.

Russell Rose on Hebrews 13:17. In Titus 3:1 and Romans 13:1 we are told to be good citizens. However, that doesn't mean we have to tolerate tyranny. God has given us the ability to govern. In the US, for example, men, guided by God and Biblical principles, put that ability to work and developed the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. As long as the people in charge of government implement its precepts properly, we ought to form a part of it, support the government and work to improve it.

However, when governments, and that also applies to churches and other organizations, depart from those principles, it is up to us to point it out, speak up and rectify it. See Nehemiah 9:27 and Esther 4:14. Christ worked within the established Roman and religious rules in Israel. However, He also pointed out the contradictions that existed within the religious order of the Jews. Christ wasn't a revolutionary, because He came with a Mission. His Mission was not Social Reform. His Mission was the total defeat and annihilation of death, corruption, evil, pain, suffering and idolatry (exalting other things in place of God).

Gregory, you are correct that God's Name is not mentioned in the Book of Esther. And of course, the Jews, as in any era of their history, had some who obeyed God & others who didn't. However, you are correct in your observations by reading through the Book, that the evidence of God's Plan was very evident & being performed & His people were ultimately freed from their enemies ( Esther 9:22).

It is often pointed out the book of Esther never mentions God or prayer insinuating that the Jews were not close to God. But in ch4: 1- 3 Mordecai and the Jews put on sack clothe and ashes, weeping, wailing, and fasted. All of these Old Testiment Jewish practices used to appeal to the God of Israel for help. Esther herself fasted 3 days before addressing the king regarding the plight of her Jewish kindred. Who do you think they all were seeking help from? It becomes obvious that God was very much part of their Jewish life. If not stated in words, then clearly implied.

How explain to Catholics that communion is NOT eating n drinking Jesus' body and blood I have shown In 6:63 flesh profit nothing, my words are spirit

What happened with Queen Esther, Haman’s plan to Obliterate Jewish Nation. Hitler: The more things change; the more they stay the same; at present much worse. Nations: Kingdoms: Organizations: Cults: Movements: you name it are all plotting to do same, and even worse to the Jewish Nation. God and Israel’s enemies determined to make plans work. Israel no PEACE for Centuries: Why Israel? GODS CHOSEN!

Verse 13~Mordecai told Esther that just because she was the queen did not mean that she would escape. This matter meant life or death for Esther and all the Jews. Esther could use her royal position as a way to plead in behalf of her people.

Verse 16~Esther gave her word that she would go into the king. Esther kept her word and as a result she saved herself and her people.

Esther Was a Courageous woman of God! She had No doubt what our God can do! Sadly to say many dont believe or have the Faith to Be Strong, because they dont know God's WORD! GOD gives favor! She fasted and Prayed and God Answered! Its not being taught from the pulpit, People are not being discipled...Joshua said several time "Be Courageous..."

We have a commandment to stand up, like Ester, for our persecuted family of believers. Go on missions to poor countries, helping Christians. May the USA again, be one nation under God, ready to cease evil slaughter of Christians. What shall God think and do if we stand idle as our brothers die? May God unite our country under his guidance, Amen. Kurt.