Esther Reading Plan – W7D4
Check out all the previous Esther readings here.
Esther Reading Plan | Week 7 | Day 4
Prayer
As you begin your time with God, where you are sitting or standing, put out your hands with your palm facing up. Ask God to speak to you from His word; to give you encouragement and strength for this day.
Bible Reading: Psalm 34:1-12
Read these verses three times slowly.
I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Reflection & Questions
This week we’re reflecting on Esther’s courage in going before the king. “If I perish, I perish,” she said.
Today and tomorrow, we are going to read and reflect on Psalm 34. This is a psalm of King David when he escaped from the clutches of an enemy king. There are many phrases here that Esther could well echo:
- “I sought the Lord and he answered me.”
- “He delivered me from all my fears.”
- “He saved him out of all his troubles”
Did David still have troubles? Sure. But God had come through in a big way, and when this happens it’s as if we are walking on air. Troubles feel like nothing. David bursts out in praise! And he wants us to join him. “Glorify the Lord with me,” he says. ““Taste and see that the Lord is good,” he says.
If your heart is downcast today or full of fear, take refuge in God. Seek him. He will deliver you. If you have been delivered, praise him! And share your story with others that they may too glorify Him!
- What phrase from Psalm 34 do you need to hold onto today?
- How has God delivered you in the past? Praise Him for that today.
Prayer
Pray in response to today’s reading.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
Prepare to Meet with Jesus
Go to your quiet place. When there are no devices around that will distract you, take a deep breath. Blow it out slowly. Do that again. And do it one last time. Ask God to help you read and understand.
Bible Reading: Esther 5:5-8
Read these verses three times slowly.
“Bring Haman at once,” the king said to his servants. “Then we’ll do what Esther asks.”
So the king and Haman went to the feast Esther had prepared. As they were drinking wine, the king asked Esther the same question again. He said, “What do you want? I’ll give it to you. What do you want me to do for you? I’ll even give you up to half of my kingdom.”
Esther replied, “Here is what I want. Here is my appeal to you. I hope you will be pleased to give me what I want. And I hope you will be pleased to listen to my appeal. If you are, I’d like you and Haman to come tomorrow to the feast I’ll prepare for you. Then I’ll answer your question.”
Reflection & Questions
It is not clear why Esther did not tell the king what was going on at this first feast. However, it ends up being important to the story that he does not hear about Haman’s plot until the next day. It seems like Esther may have been listening to God and He may have been helping her think of what to do next. She asks him to come to dinner the next night and he agrees.
There are times when we are not able to know what is the best thing to do. If we ask God, listen, watch, and wait for His direction, He will help us know what to do. When He talks to us, it is not usually in a voice like other people use. He gives us thoughts, He helps us think of ideas, and He gives us peace about the right decisions. If we practice listening and doing what God wants, it gets easier to figure out.
- Have you ever had a hard time deciding what was the right thing to do?
- Have you ever asked God to help you make a hard decision? Did it work?
Pray
Thank God that He helps us with hard things. Think about something that is hard for you to decide. Ask Him to help you. Listen quietly for a few minutes (or seconds). If you do not get an idea about your decision right now. Keep it in mind. When you think about what to decide, ask God to help. Wait and see if he helps you think of a good thing to do.
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
