Pageant Queen with a Purpose, #26 Continued blessing. Because of all that has happened, there are continuing blessings for Mordecai. Read Esther 9:1-10. On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand over those who hated them. The Jews assembled in their cities in all the provinces of King Xerxes to attack those determined to destroy them. No one could stand against them, because the people of all the other…

Pageant Queen with a Purpose, #25 Hope. The Jews now had hope where before they had nothing. Read Esther 8:15-17. Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a large crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple; and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. For the Jews there was light and gladness and joy and honor. In each and every province and in each and every city, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree arrived, there was gladness and joy for the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many among the peoples of the…

Pageant Queen with a Purpose, #24 The right to fight back. Esther knew that they could not change the decree that had already gone out giving people the right to try and kill the Jews. However, she and mordecai came up with another solution. Read Esther 8:4-14. The king extended the golden scepter to Esther. So Esther arose and stood before the king. Then she said, “If it pleases the king and if I have found favor before him and the matter seems proper to the king and I am pleasing in his sight, let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the…

Pageant Queen with a Purpose, #23 Still a problem. While we saw yesterday that the king addressed the problem with Haman, Esther still has a problem that she needs to bring before the king. Read Esther 8:1-3. On that day King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews, to Queen Esther; and Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had disclosed what he was to her. The king took off his signet ring which he had taken away from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman. Then Esther spoke again to the king, fell at his feet, wept…

Pageant Queen with a Purpose, #22 Irony. Haman had determined to destroy the Jews all because of Mordecai, yet he is hung on the very gallows that he built to hang Mordecai on. Read Esther 7:5-10. Then King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who would presume to do thus?” Esther said, “A foe and an enemy is this wicked Haman!” Then Haman became terrified before the king and queen. The king arose in his anger from drinking wine and went into the palace garden; but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm had been determined against…

Pageant Queen with a Purpose, #21 Please give me my life. Esther finally tells the King exactly what is going on and what was so important that she was willing to risk her life to come before the king. Read Esther 7:1-4. Now the king and Haman came to drink wine with Esther the queen. And the king said to Esther on the second day also as they drank their wine at the banquet, “What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done.” Then Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in…

Pageant Queen with a Purpose, #20 The fall. Mordecai has been honored instead of hanged. Haman is beside himself with anger. His fall has begun. Read Esther 6:11-14. So Haman took the robe and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.” Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried home, mourning, with his head covered. Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, “If…

Pageant Queen with a Purpose, #19 You know what you get when you assume something? Well, apparently Haman didn’t. Read Esther 6:4-10. So the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace in order to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had prepared for him. The king’s servants said to him, “Behold, Haman is standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” So Haman came in and the king said to him, “What is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?” And Haman said…

Pageant Queen with a Purpose, #18 It’s never too late to show gratitude. Read Esther 6:1-3. During that night the king could not sleep so he gave an order to bring the book of records, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. It was found written what Mordecai had reported concerning Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who were doorkeepers, that they had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. The king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” Then the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”Esther 6:1‭-‬3 NASB1995https://bible.com/bible/100/est.6.1-3.NASB1995 The king can’t sleep so he…

Pageant Queen with a Purpose, #17 Satisfied. What does it take for us to feel satisfied? Read Esther 5:9-14. Then Haman went out that day glad and pleased of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate and that he did not stand up or tremble before him, Haman was filled with anger against Mordecai. Haman controlled himself, however, went to his house and sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh. Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the number of his sons, and every instance where the king had magnified him and how he had promoted him above the princes and servants…