Day 230 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – Esther 1:1–3:15; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; Psalm 35:17-28; Proverbs 21:19-20
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My Tongue Shall Speak of Thy Righteousness
I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
Psalm 35:18
And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness And of thy praise all the day long.
Psalm 35:28
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The King Asks for Counsel
The book of Esther begins with king Ahasuerus throwing a banquet to show off his wealth. He requests queen Vashti to come so that he can show her off, and she refuses. The king is furious and asks his wise men for counsel regarding Vashti and her disobedience.
And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not. Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king’s princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.
If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.
And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
Esther 1:16-21
Search for a New Queen
The king did as counseled. Over time, his anger waned, and he became lonely. His counselors suggested that he find a new queen, and they suggested he bring in the fair, young virgins of the kingdom to prepare them for his search. The king was pleased with this and the search began and Esther was brought to the palace.
So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.
Esther 2:8-9
Esther was brought to the palace and gained favor with Hegai, the keeper of the women. But as her Uncle Mordecai instructed her, she didn’t let anyone know that she was Jewish.
Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
Esther 2:10
Esther Becomes Queen – Mordecai Overheard a Plot
When it was her turn to meet the king, Esther didn’t ask for special privileges or gifts. She went before the king, and the king was pleased and loved her. He selects her the new queen. A grand celebration begins.
Meanwhile, Mordecai sat at the king’s gate and overheard two eunuchs plotting to assassinate the king. He lets queen Esther know of the plot. She tells the king and lets him know this information came from Mordecai. The men were found guilty and hanged, and all the details of this specific event were written in the book of the Chronicles.
Haman is Promoted – Mordecai Refuses to Bow to Him
King Ahasuerus promoted Haman and commanded his servants to bow before this man. Mordecai refused, and when the people questioned him, he let them know he could not bow to anyone because he was a Jew. It got back to Haman that Mordecai not only refused to bow but that he was a Jew, and Haman was enraged. He developed a plot not only to kill Mordecai but all of the Jewish people.
Justification to Kill the Jews
Haman goes to the king and justifies why Mordecai and all Jews needed to be killed. The king agrees, gives Haman his signet ring (his authority), and he also gives him the funds to do as he pleased. In others words, the king tells Haman to make it happen.
And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries. And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy. And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
Esther 3:8-11
The People Mourn – The King and Haman Celebrate
Haman sends letters out to all the provinces that on a certain day of the twelfth month, all Jews will be killed. Confusion and mourning cover the land as the king and Haman sit down and have a drink together.
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Precious Treasure and Oil
There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man spendeth it up.
Proverbs 21:20
There is precious treasure and oil in the house of the wise [who prepare for the future], But a short-sighted and foolish man swallows it up and wastes it.
Proverbs 21:20 AMP
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I Hear that There be Divisions Among You
Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
1 Corinthians 11:17-22
In Remembrance of Me
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Let A Man Examine Himself
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
1 Corinthians 11:27-34
