Faith That Feels Real: Part 4 - Trusting God in the Hardest Times

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The Listener’s Bible®: NIV Edition

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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
   <div class="book bkEST">
      <div class="chapter ch4" data-usfm="EST.4">
         <div class="label">4</div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Mordecai Persuades Esther to Help</span></div><div class="p"><span class="content">  </span><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="EST.4.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="EST.4.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">But he went only as far as the king&#8217;s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="EST.4.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="EST.4.3"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="EST.4.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">When Esther&#8217;s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. </span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="EST.4.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king&#8217;s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="EST.4.5"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="EST.4.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king&#8217;s gate. </span></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="EST.4.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="EST.4.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king&#8217;s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="EST.4.8"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="EST.4.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. </span></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="EST.4.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="EST.4.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">&#8220;All the king&#8217;s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="EST.4.11"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="EST.4.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">When Esther&#8217;s words were reported to Mordecai, </span></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="EST.4.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">he sent back this answer: &#8220;Do not think that because you are in the king&#8217;s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. </span></span><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="EST.4.14"><span class="label">14</span><span class="content">For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father&#8217;s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="EST.4.14"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="EST.4.15"><span class="label">15</span><span class="content">Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: </span></span><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="EST.4.16"><span class="label">16</span><span class="content">&#8220;Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="EST.4.16"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="EST.4.17"><span class="label">17</span><span class="content">So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther&#8217;s instructions.</span></span></div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
   <div class="book bkEST">
      <div class="chapter ch5" data-usfm="EST.5">
         <div class="label">5</div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Esther&#8217;s Request to the King</span></div><div class="p"><span class="content">  </span><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="EST.5.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king&#8217;s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="EST.5.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="EST.5.2"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="EST.5.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">Then the king asked, &#8220;What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="EST.5.3"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="EST.5.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">&#8220;If it pleases the king,&#8221; replied Esther, &#8220;let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="EST.5.4"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="EST.5.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">&#8220;Bring Haman at once,&#8221; the king said, &#8220;so that we may do what Esther asks.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="EST.5.5"><span class="content">So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="EST.5.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, &#8220;Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="EST.5.6"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="EST.5.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">Esther replied, &#8220;My petition and my request is this: </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="EST.5.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king&#8217;s question.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Haman&#8217;s Rage Against Mordecai</span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="EST.5.8"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="EST.5.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king&#8217;s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. </span></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="EST.5.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="EST.5.10"><span class="content">Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="EST.5.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. </span></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="EST.5.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">&#8220;And that&#8217;s not all,&#8221; Haman added. &#8220;I&#8217;m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. </span></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="EST.5.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king&#8217;s gate.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="EST.5.13"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="EST.5.14"><span class="label">14</span><span class="content">His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, &#8220;Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits,</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">5:14 </span><span class="ft">That is, about 75 feet or about 23 meters</span></span></span><span class="content"> and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.&#8221; This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.</span></span></div>
      </div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
   <div class="book bkEST">
      <div class="chapter ch6" data-usfm="EST.6">
         <div class="label">6</div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Mordecai Honored</span></div><div class="p"><span class="content">  </span><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="EST.6.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="EST.6.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king&#8217;s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="EST.6.2"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="EST.6.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">&#8220;What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?&#8221; the king asked.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="EST.6.3"><span class="content">&#8220;Nothing has been done for him,&#8221; his attendants answered.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="EST.6.3"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="EST.6.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">The king said, &#8220;Who is in the court?&#8221; Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="EST.6.4"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="EST.6.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">His attendants answered, &#8220;Haman is standing in the court.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="EST.6.5"><span class="content">&#8220;Bring him in,&#8221; the king ordered.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="EST.6.5"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="EST.6.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">When Haman entered, the king asked him, &#8220;What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="EST.6.6"><span class="content">Now Haman thought to himself, &#8220;Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?&#8221; </span></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="EST.6.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">So he answered the king, &#8220;For the man the king delights to honor, </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="EST.6.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. </span></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="EST.6.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king&#8217;s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, &#8216;This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!&#8217;&#8198;&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="EST.6.9"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="EST.6.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">&#8220;Go at once,&#8221; the king commanded Haman. &#8220;Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king&#8217;s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="EST.6.10"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="EST.6.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, &#8220;This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="EST.6.11"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="EST.6.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">Afterward Mordecai returned to the king&#8217;s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief, </span></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="EST.6.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="EST.6.13"><span class="content">His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, &#8220;Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him&#8212;you will surely come to ruin!&#8221; </span></span><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="EST.6.14"><span class="label">14</span><span class="content">While they were still talking with him, the king&#8217;s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared.</span></span></div>
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