ChristiansUnite Forums

Brothers and Sisters,

I'm thinking about an idea that I would like to have your opinion about.

How many of you would be interested in telling some Bible stories about people in the Holy Bible?

I'm simply thinking about briefs or stories about many characters, good and bad, in the Holy Bible and what impact they had as a reason for being mentioned in the Bible.

Examples:

Jonah
Absalom
Caleb
David
Moses
Lot
Noah
Abraham
Saul (Paul)
Isaiah
Aaron
Abigail
Ruth
Herod
Deborah
Jacob
Sarah
Rahab
Martha
John
Samson
Jude
Mary
James
Job

Etc., Etc., Etc.

I was just thinking that it might be very interesting for people to put into their own words Bible history about many fascinating people that are interwoven into the Holy Bible for obvious reasons. There are many lessons we can all learn from many of them, and their inclusion in the Holy Bible is just as valid now as it was 2,000 + years ago.

Please let me know if there is any interest in this, especially if you are willing to tell us a Bible story. Some of the stories are associated with what is taught to children, but the message is just as valid for adults in all ranges of Christian maturity.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Ephesians 1:12-14  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

It sounds good to me. I am not much of a story teller, but it can't be to hard with the Bible to back me up.

What a great idea BEP!
Or as Paul Tuttle Sr would say..."what a great idear!

Bronzesnake

Brothers,

I'm going to pray about this and try to tell some Bible stories. I'll try to start it off in General Theology under Bible Characters. I'm thinking this might also help those who are trying to make a decision for Christ. It's amazing that many don't realize that the people in the Bible were real people in the greatest non-fiction masterpiece ever written. They were real and they did live part of the history recorded in the Holy Bible. Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, still lives, and HE is absolute reality.

I just realized that I made a horrible mistake in the sample list I gave. I failed to list JESUS CHRIST, and HIS story is the most precious REALITY in the entire Bible.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Psalms 119:90  Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

Brother Tom, I just came across this thread for the very first time and it never ceases to amaze me how great minds thinks alike  ;D

A few days ago my husband and I watched the movie Esther, this movie has come out in many versions but the one I just watched was the closest one to the Biblical account and I thought to myself that it would be great to share some of the things I learned from reading the Book of Esther and watching the movie.

So if it's ok with you I'd like to start writing a little about Esther.

Let me know if we should use this thread. And I'll start.   :D

Sister I forgot all about this thread. I still think it is a great idea to bring it up and use it for these wonderful stories.

it's easy to forget about some threads but it's never too late to rekindle them, at least while we're still here.  ;D

I'm doing a litle bit of Biblical research right now and will probably start to post some of what I've learned in a little while, I think it would be a good idea if you also add something I might overlook. Waddaya think????

That sounds great to me. It will make for a beautiful Bible study.

Hello Sister Maria,

YES, I still think this is a good idea. I know that we started a thread, but I can't remember how far we got and I can't find it right now. We know that God had a reason in mentioning the men and women of the Bible, and many of those reasons still speak to us today. We see the good and bad of even the greatest men and women of the Bible, and we saw how their relationship with God impacted the highs and lows of their lives. What they learned then - we can learn now. I'm thinking about David right now, but there are many real-life stories in the Holy Bible that speak volumes to the people of today. I think that the most important thing to remember is that the men and women of the Bible, and most specifically JESUS CHRIST, were just as real as we are. AND, I'm giving thanks right now that JESUS CHRIST is alive TODAY AND FOREVER. We who belong to HIM are ALIVE IN HIM FOREVER, and HE is VERY GOD.

I should have just given a short answer - YES, let's do it.  :D

Love In Christ,
Tom

Colossians 3:15-16 NASB  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

A short answer? I'm sorry brother but you don't have that problem. The short answers is my area, too short sometimes.   ;)  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Well let's see.....so far in my research and additional study of the Book of Esther I find some things I didn't know. I always thought for some reason that Mordecai was Esther's uncle.

The story goes that Mordecai was the son of Jair, son of Kish of the tribe of Benjamin, Isreal's youngest son. He was actually Esther's cousin. Her father and mother died when she was very young and he raised her as his own daughter.
When Nebudchadnezzar carried away from Jerusalem the captives who had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, Kish too was taken captive, so apparently Mordecai and Esther were born in Shushan which was a province of the kingdom of king Ahasuerus, this was a very large kingdom from India to Ethiopia, over 127 provinces.

Hadassah (meaning: myrtle, joy) was Esther's real name.

to be cont.

Reference Scripture so far:

Es 1:1 ¶ Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this was the Ahasuerus who reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from India to Ethiopia),

Es 1:2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the citadel,

Es 2:5 In Shushan the citadel there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite.

Es 2:6 Kish had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been captured with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.

Es 2:7 And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.

(Note: Much of this information is from non-Biblical resources and instead comes from Jewish resources such as the Midrash and the Megillah. )

We see in the Est 2:7 that Esther had two names. According to Jewish records there was a purpose for both of these names as there is with the name of Mordechai. The name Mordechai in Aramaic consists of two words: "mera dachya," a spice that diffuses fragrance only after it has been processed. Hadassah stems from the word "hadas," myrtle. Esther was similar to the hadas in that she had a deep olive-green complexion. We also know that the leaves of this plant have a very sweet fragrance that can only be released when the leaves are bruised and crushed. As a matter of fact, some people use the crushed leaves for spices during Havdalah [on Saturday night]. Just like the hadas, which is only fragrant when it is bruised and crushed, so too was Esther's potential brought out to its fullest by her hard life. The name Esther is related to the word "hester," meaning hidden, indicating the fact that she hid her Jewish ancestry.

Others think that her name Esther was derived from the Median name Astra which also means myrtle.

Either way the names hold a meaning true to her character and situation.


Est 2:7  And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.

My two cents will involve the Book of Esther as being an unusual book of contrasts. Just the first few verses offer tremendous contrasts. Examples:

There is a lack of Godly practices in the Book of Esther, and Esther's moral and ethical conduct is in question. One could make many observations about dietary laws, mixing of Jews and Gentiles, and other questionable practices that lead to one contrast after another. We start with a big question about the festival and the origin of the festival. Some of the conflicts continue to this day.

Israel has been in disobedience to God, and a main character is an avowed enemy of Israel and God. 1 Samuel 15:30, Exodus 17:16

Most specifically, the biggest question for the Book of Esther is where is God worshiped or obeyed, and what part does God have in the lives of the main Characters. It's a fascinating book that leads to many references. "one-hundred and twenty-seven provinces" becomes another example of contrasts when compared to Daniel 6:1 that refers to 120 (missing 7 - a perfect number).

I couldn't sleep so I'm back.  :D

Notice too the not once in the Book of Esther is God mentioned.

We see here that the book begins with king Ahasuerus celebrating a feast that lasted 180 days in all

Es 1:3 that in the third year of his reign he made a feast for all his officials and servants-the powers of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces being before him-
Es 1:4 when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his excellent majesty for many days, one hundred and eighty days in all.
Es 1:5 And when these days were completed, the king made a feast lasting seven days for all the people who were present in Shushan the citadel, from great to small, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.

The purpose for this feast was to show off his great riches. Here was a man who had rule over 127 provinces and yet had no rule over his own soul.

Sister Maria,

I'm thinking about some rest, but I think that I want to stay up for a few more minutes. I was just thinking about how God might fit in for Esther. We see throughout the Old Testament times where Israel disobeyed God and were out of fellowship for the things that God wanted for them.

Think about this for a minute. For Esther, maybe God was out of sight and out of mind, but is the same true in reverse for God? NO! God is ever faithful. Is this one of the things that God wants us to see about Esther? I think so.

God had a purpose for Esther, she was chosen by God to save the Jews from genicide at the hands of Haman. As we continue the study we will find out all that God had planned and prepared o spare His people. Our God is ever faithful and never goes back on His Word, it is impossible for God to lie, but that's another Bible study topic.

Mordecai had apparently been raised with some knowledge of the One and Only True God, and seemingly raised Hadassah in fear of the Lord, for they knew to fast and pray to the True God. So perhaps God was not totally out of the minds of the Jews, thoguh they may have been living in Susa. I believe that it was Mordecai who told Hadassah to call herself Esther ( meaning hidden; secret) to keep the king and his servants from knowing she was a Jewess

Sister, I think that you hit the main point here. If Esther maintained her original name or the Jewish life the King would have known that she was a Jewess. This then would not have met the desires of God to have the Jews saved from complete destruction. This also was sufficient to maintain the blood line to Jesus.

Acoording to research I did in MH Comentary, Mordecai asked Haddash (Esther) not to reveal her kindred; probably because the Jewish people were in captivity.

MHC

  Here is an instance of Esther's obsequiousness to Mordecai, that she did not show her people of her kindred, because Mordecai had charged her that she should not, Es 2:10. He did not bid her deny her country, nor tell a lie to conceal her parentage; if he had told her to do so, she must not have done it.  But he only told her not to proclaim her country. All truths are not to be spoken at all times, though an untruth is not to be spoken at any time. She being born in Shushan, and her parents being dead, all took her to be of Persian extraction, and she was not bound to undeceive them.

cont.

Esther was shown favor by the king's chamberlain.

MHC

 Her preferment. Who would have thought that a Jewess, a captive, and orphan, was born to be a queen, an empress! Yet so it proved. Providence sometimes raiseth up the poor out of the dust, to set them among princes, 1Sa 2:8.

 The king's chamberlain honoured her (Es 2:9), and was ready to serve her.  Wisdom and virtue will gain respect. Those that make sure of God's favour shall find favour with man too as far as it is good for them. All that looked upon Esther admired her (Es 2:15) and concluded that she was the lady that would win the prize, and she did win it.

The king himself fell in love with her. She was not solicitous, as the rest of the maidens were, to set herself off with artificial beauty; she required nothing but just what was appointed for her (Es 2:15) and yet she was most acceptable. The more natural beauty is the more agreeable. The king loved Esther above all the women, Es 2:17. Now he needed not to make any further trials, or take time to deliberate; he is soon determined to set the royal crown upon her head, and make her queen, Es 2:17. This was done in his seventh year (Es 2:16) and Vashti was divorced in his third year (Es 1:3); so that he was four years without a queen. Notice is taken,

So far I believe God used Esther for His purpose that was to deliver His people, not necessarily from Susa or captivity, but from certain death, total annihilation, genecide. God had promised Abraham by Himself, (because there was no one greater) that His covenant would last forever.

If the Jewish nation had been annihilated, than God's covenant with Abraham would not have held up. It is impossible for God to lie, and every word that proceeds out of His mouth shall come to pass. His Word is Immutable, it can never be changed.

So God's purpose for Esther was to use her as His tool to save the Jewish nation. Now think about it; the size of this kingdom was extremely large 127 provinces, if all the Jews had been slaughtered as was Haman's intention, would any Jews have escaped?

Amen sister. God is wonderful and nothing not even the devil can come in the way of His plans.

Brother, God used Esther and Mordecai both to deliver His people. Notice, Mordecai according to Jewish tradition had every right to take Haddasah (Esther) as his wife, but instead he chose to raise her as his own daughter.

So tender were his affections towards Esther that he spent day and night outside the gate.

MHC

 How tender he was of her, as if she had been his own child (Es 2:11): he walked before her door every day, to know how she did, and what interest she had.  Let those whose relations are thus cast upon them by divine Providence be thus kindly affectioned to them and solicitous for them.

By thus doing Mordecai was able to find out about the plot against king Ahasuerus' life. And he was able to deliver a warning to the king. This put him in a position to be highly favored by the king later on.

If Mordecai had chosen to take Esther as his wife, she would have not been taken to the king to take for a wife. For only virgins were being chosen.

Note too that after the king's anger he seemed to want a reconcilement with Vashti

MHC

 The extravagant course that was taken to please the king with another wife instead of Vashti. Josephus says that when his anger was over he was exceedingly grieved that the matter was carried so far, and would have been reconciled to Vashti but that, by the constitution of the government, the judgment was irrevocable--that therefore, to make him forget her, they contrived how to entertain him first with a great variety of concubines, and then to fix him to the most agreeable of them all for a wife instead of Vashti.

Es 2:1 ¶ After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus subsided, he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what had been decreed against her.

Es 2:21 ¶ In those days, while Mordecai sat within the king's gate, two of the king's eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, became furious and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.

Es 2:22 So the matter became known to Mordecai, who told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai's name.

Es 2:3 "and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to Shushan the citadel, into the women's quarters, under the custody of Hegai the king's eunuch, custodian of the women. And let beauty preparations be given them.

Es 2:4 "Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti." This thing pleased the king, and he did so.

Es 2:16 So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

Es 2:17 The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

Can I get some feedback??????