Question for Group Discussion based on Mark Scott’s Bible lesson for July 14, 2024
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1. Name something you were instructed to do that was extremely difficult. Talk about it.
Ask two people to read aloud Esther 4:1-17, one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Then ask a third person to briefly summarize the passage.
2. Esther 3 details how King Xerxes honored Haman and ordered the royal officials to bow down to him. Mordecai refused. Upon learning Mordecai was a Jew, Haman plotted to kill all of the Jews.
• Why do you think Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman? Would Mordecai have bowed down to King Xerxes?
• Describe how pride has been an integral part of the book of Esther to this point.
3. What term best describes King Xerxes?
• Gullible? Stupid? Lazy? Ignorant? Some other descriptor? (Share and support your description.)
4. The edict to kill and annihilate the Jews was shared throughout the provinces. Jews everywhere, including Mordecai, tore their clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes. The Jews mourned, fasted, wept, and wailed (v. 3). What does it say about Queen Esther’s existence that she was unaware of this edict?
5. Mordecai instructed Esther to go to King Xerxes “to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people” (v. 8). Esther, through a courier, told Mordecai that doing such a thing could result in her death. Mordecai responded to Esther with his immortal words in verses 13–14. His message had three key points/sentences:
• Restate each of Mordecai’s three sentences more directly. (Example from sentence one: “Your mailing address will not save you. If you do nothing, you will die along with the rest of the Jews.”
6. Esther finally was convinced that she must go to the king. Famously, God is not mentioned by name in the book of Esther. But how do verses 15 and 16 give a clear indication of Esther and Mordecai’s reliance on God?
7. Esther was willing to die—and even break the law—to try to save her people (v. 16).
• Name some other heroes from the Bible who were willing to die rather than betray God or their faith in him.
8. Based on our study and discussion, complete the sentence: “I will . . .”
For Next Week: Read and reflect on Esther 7:1—8:8. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts and the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.
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