May 14 (Friday 19:30 pm - 22:30 pm)
Story of Esther
A long time ago, King Xerxes ruled over the mighty land of Persia. When he needed a wife, his servants searched the land for the most beautiful women. They brought these women to the palace so the king could choose his bride. A woman named Esther was chosen. She was good and wise and very beautiful. But she was an Israelite. A kind relative named Mordecai had adopted Esther as a child, and raised her as his own daughter. He warned her not to tell anyone she was an Israelite.
When King Xerxes saw Esther, he was very pleased! He set the royal crown on her head, and she became his wife and queen. Then the king gave a big party to celebrate! Mordecai often sat by the palace gates to hear how Esther was doing. One time, he overheard men plotting to kill the king. Mordecai warned Esther, and she told the king. The bad men were arrested, and Mordecai's good deed was written in the king's record book.
Later on, a powerful man named Haman became angry at Mordecai. Haman knew that Mordecai was an Israelite, and he encouraged King Xerxes to make it legal to kill all Israelites. Esther knew this law meant that she too must die. "I will do all I can to change this," she said to Mordecai. " Even if it means that I am killed. Please ask my people to pray for me." And Mordecai did.
Esther wanted to speak to the king. When King Xerxes saw her, he asked, "What can I do for you, dear Queen? I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom." She invited him and Haman to a banquet as her guests. At the banquet, she asked them both to come to a banquet the next day as well. The next day, King Xerxes and Haman came to another fine banquet. "Now, tell me, my Queen, what is your request?" said King Xerxes. "What can I give to you?"
Dear King," said Esther. "If you are pleased with me, I beg you to spare my life. And also spare the lives of my people. If we were to be sold as slaves, I would not have bothered you, but it seems unfair that we are to be put to death." The king asked who would do this to her, and she told him it was Haman. The king ordered Haman to be hung that very same day. Esther and her people were safe!
Discussion Questions:
1.Do you thunk God puts people in places to accomplish His goals? Do you think that God can use you?
2.What makes Esther so special?
3.Esther was willing to risk her life to help her people. Would you be wiling to do the same if it was necessary?
以斯帖的故事
很久以前, 波斯王朝有位亞哈隨魯王, 他令各省徵選美女進宮, 好立為后. 結果王選擇其中有位既聰明貌美又善良的女子 - 以斯帖為妻. 她從小被末底改所收養, 他養父待她一如親生女兒, 也自小就告誡她切不可告訴別人她是以色列族人(猶太人).
當亞哈隨魯王初次見到以斯帖時, 非常喜愛她, 就娶她為妻並把冠冕戴在她頭上, 為她舉行盛大喜宴, 同時立她為后. 末底改常臨近王宮並打聽以斯帖的行徑. 有一次他恰好偷聽到, 宮中僕役想要謀害國王, 於是就通知以斯帖, 請她轉告國王要小心. 國王很快查明後, 將相關人等全部逮捕入獄. 末底改因救了國王, 逐在歷史中留名.
隨後不久, 末底改因此得罪朝中權貴 – 哈曼, 他知道末底改是以色列族人, 逐慫恿亞哈隨魯王立下法律以殺害以色列族人. 以斯帖知道若此法一過, 她和其他以色列族人必將難逃一死, 所以她告訴養父, 她將盡所有力量去勸阻亞哈隨魯王, “也許我會因此而先死” 她說, 希望末底改可以聯合其族人為她祈禱.
以斯帖想法靠近亞哈隨魯王, 王看見她就問: 親愛的王后, 我能為妳做什麼嗎? 縱使要我的半壁江山, 我也會給妳. 以斯帖不動聲色的設宴邀請王與哈曼同席, 席間王又問她何所求, 她說請王同哈曼明日再赴宴, 到時她就會說出她的請求. 第二天, 王同哈曼又出席了她的宴會. 王又再問說: “親愛的王后, 請妳告訴我, 希望我可以賞賜妳什麼?”
以斯帖說: 親愛的國王, 您若喜愛我, 我只求您赦免我和我族人的死罪, 如果我們被賣為奴僕, 那我也沒得話說, 但是無緣無故的要把我們族人全部殺光, 對我們是一件很不公平的事. 王說:竟有此事, 是誰要謀害妳們呢? 以斯帖指著哈曼說就是這個惡人. 王逐下令逮捕哈曼並把他處以吊刑. 王同時也赦免了以斯帖和她的族人.
課後討論:
1.你認為 神的旨意: " 天生我材必有用 ",(在適當的時.地, 做適當的事) 對你來說適用嗎?
2.為何以斯帖她在聖經裡能佔有一席之地?
3.以斯帖冒生命危險解救了自己和族人的性命, 同樣的時空背景下, 如果你是以斯帖, 你會這麼做嗎?
(經文參考: Esther 舊約以斯帖記 http://www.bbintl.org/bible/b5niv/b5nivEst1.html )
(Those who came: Monica, Eileen, Eric, Cuttle, Sharon, Tom, Rachel)
