Bible Study “To Be Brave and Thankful”
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
This reading is set during the Persian Empire (539-333 BCE). Queen Esther stands up for her people to King Ahasuerus at Mordecai’s urging. She stands up for her Jewish faith and the result is an edict that allows Jews to assemble and defend themselves. This leads to a great celebration that the Jews observe through Purim. Purim celebrates the liberation of the oppressed and this festival meal forbids mourning during its remembrance.
The Book of Esther is popular with members of the Jewish faith because it gives a historical account of their plight during the Persian Empire. Queen Esther, a Jew, chose to speak up for her people after her father urged her to. The daughter of Mordecai, Esther, is the former Queen’s replacement, chosen through a contest. Esther refuses to bow to the second in command, Haman. Haman wants King Ahasuerus to kill all Jews. Mordecai encourages Queen Esther to stand up for her people. King Ahasuerus favors Queen Esther and he honors her plea for her life and that of the Jewish people. Haman is hung where he had hoped Mordecai would be hung. A new edict is signed by King Ahasuerus that allowed the Jewish people to assemble and defend themselves. This led to the creation of the Jewish Holy Day, the festival of Purim. This festival is still celebrated in the present day. This Holy Day for the Jewish community is one of celebration and allows for fun filled days and noise making. In observance of Purim, the Book of Esther is read at the synagogue and noise is made every time Haman’s name is mentioned. This is believed to help eradicate his name. Purim helps Jews celebrate their unity as a people. This Holy Day also includes the care of those less fortunate. Jews are asked to give money or food to needy people. In addition, Jews send food as gifts to their friends. Lastly, Purim is celebrated among family and a large feast is included.
Opening Prayer: Thank you Lord, for Queen Esther’s bravery. Through her example, we see that you want us to be brave and to help others. We are thankful for Esther’s people and their gratitude for her bravery. In God’s name we pray, Amen.
Please open your Bibles to Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 and read or read the scriptures below.
Esther 7:1-6,9-10; 9:20-22
Haman Impaled
7 So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, 2 and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”
3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. 4 For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.[a]”
5 King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?”
6 Esther said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!”
Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen.
9 Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits[a] stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.”
The king said, “Impale him on it!” 10 So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided.
Purim Established
20 Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, 21 to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar 22 as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
Reflection Questions:
- When is a time that you have been brave?
- Who are some people that you and your friends might be able to help?
After you have finished reading the verses, think about some of the possible places in your local area that you would give money or food to help needy people (a food bank, a low income senior citizens housing complex). Think about a few friends that you would gift food to if they celebrated Purim like the Jewish people. Also share this story with your family during dinner tonight.
Click here for the young learner’s lesson
Videos (Click on the words or url)
Overview: Esther - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JydNSlufRIs
The Book of Esther – Full Movie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRNxmA0hG1U
Activities:
Cornucopia: Thanksgivings
The cornucopia is a symbol of abundance and nourishment. The fall and Thanksgiving season is one where we are encouraged to focus on the abundance we have.
- 4 paper plates (the cheap flimsy ones are the best)
- Brown paint and paintbrush
- Scissors
- Newspaper circulars from the grocery stores
- Stapler (or just use strong glue)
- Glue
- Hole punch (or just use scissors)
- Yarn, ribbon, or cord for hanging
- To begin, take the four paper plates and overlap them slightly, as shown below. For the last paper plate beneath and to the right, place it slightly higher than the others.
- Staple the four plates together (adults should help here). One well-placed staple should do the trick. Or, you can glue or tape the plates together.
- Using the scissors cut out the cornucopia’s “tail” by cutting the very last plate on the bottom of the stack, the plate to the right. See the picture below and use this as a guide. Teachers, if you are doing this as a school project, you can always cut a bunch of the paper plate “tails” ahead of time. With cheap paper plates you can stack several and cut them at the same time.
- Paint the entire paper plate cornucopia brown, and it dry well.
- Cut out fruits and vegetable from the grocery store circulars or magazines. Glue on the foods to the center plate of the cornucopia.
- Using a hole punch or scissors, make two holes in the top and thread yarn through these for hanging.
Click on the following websites to see an example of the “Cornucopia made with paper plates”. https://www.crafts-for-all-seasons.com/paper-plate-cornucopia.html
Word Search: https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/2795586/to-be-brave-and-thankful/
Esther Decoder: https://sermons4kids.com/esther_the_brave_queen_decoder
Prayer: Thank you, Lord for all of our neighbors. Help us to be friendly to those that are not like us and to be helpful to those that need a hand. You created all of us in an equal manner and we need your guidance to return to that. In God’s name we pray. Amen
