The One Year Chronological Bible - Week 38 Reflection Questions

Week 38 (Sept. 14-20): Ezra 4:6-23; 6:14-10:44, Esther, Nehemiah 1:1-10:39

As you read through these passages of the Bible, reflect upon these questions individually, through journaling, in pairs, or in small groups...

1. (9/14) In Ezra 6, we read of the completion of the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem and the dedication that took place.  What would be a modern parallel to this event and what significance would this event have held for the people?
2.The story of Esther is familiar to many of us.  How does reading it in the context of Ezra inform or shape your reading of this story?
3. Describe King Xerxes.  How does he compare to other kings in the Bible?  How does he compare to modern rulers in our world?
4. Queen Vashti was commanded by the king to appear before the people and the nobles, but she refused.  What do you imagine her reason for refusing was?  The king's advisers instruct him on what he must do. What motivation for their advice is evident in their response?
5. Esther 1 tells of King Xerses' celebration.  Where else have we read of a king throwing a party with a lot of wine and then making poor choices?  What are the similarities and differences?
6. The advisors suggest to the king that the banishment of Queen Vashti will cause all the women to respect their husbands.  How does this jive with our understanding about respect and what it means?
7. What similarities and differences to you notice between Esther in the harem and Joseph in prison?
8. What do you imagine it was about Esther that caught the king's attention?
9. What was Mordecai's motivation for getting involved and reporting the plot against the king?
10. Why do you imagine Haman was honored by the king?
11. Mordecai's request of Esther put her life on the line.  He asked her to do what he could not do.  And yet Mordecai was confident of the Lord's deliverance with or without her.  How do we balance God's choice to use us with the unstoppable God to act?
12. (9/19) Queen Esther could have requested up to half the kingdom then and there.  Why did she request that the three of them have dinner together?  After the first dinner, she could have made her petition.  Why two dinners?
13. Haman had much and he boasted of this.  But he was not content without one thing, Mordecai bowing.  What one thing holds us back from being content?
14. The king chose to honor Mordecai and sought Haman's advice.  Haman's pride blinded him.  When have you been blinded by pride?
15. Esther did not request the death of Haman, but only her life and the lives of her people.  Yet Esther also did not seek to spare Haman.  How does this fit with a New Testament understanding of mercy and grace?
16. The king issued a counter edict to allow the Jews to defend themselves and balance the scales.  Was the Jewish response a balanced response or did they tip the scales in a different direction.  How so?
17. 


 May the Lord bless and shape us through our individual reading and corporate study of His word this year.