For Such a Time

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Fellowship—Snacks or a meal (10 minutes or more)

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In pairs or threes, recall a time when something happened that was just the right thing at the right time. Do you (or did you) attribute this to good fortune? To coincidence? To God’s action?

Group Dialogue (about 30 minutes). Read Esther 7:1-6, 9-10 and 9:20-22.

• In this passage, Haman is caught in the deadly trap he has prepared for Mordecai, Esther’s guardian. The groundwork of the story occurs in earlier chapters. Be prepared to summarize these main points for the group; or ask the group members to recall as much of the story as they can; or write out the salient events, one item to an index card, and have group members use them to build the storyline.

The Main Points:

The Jews are in subjugation to the Persians. Esther, a Jew, is beautiful, smart, discreet; and one of the king’s harem. Queen Vashti defied the king, and he banished her. The king chose Esther from among the women in his harem to attend him; she found favor with him, and he made her queen without realizing she was Jewish. Mordecai, Esther’s cousin, was a minor official in the court. He raised Esther as his own when she was orphaned. Mordecai overheard a covert plot to assassinate the king. He told Esther, and Esther reported it to the king, in Mordecai’s name. The would-be assassins were executed, and this event was included in the king’s annals. Meanwhile, Haman was elevated in the ranks of the king’s court, and most people, except Mordecai, bowed down to him. Haman planned his revenge, not only on Mordecai, but on all Jews for this slight, and he planned to have them all executed by royal decree. Mordecai, though, was to be hanged on the special gallows Haman had built. Mordecai discovered this plot and asked Esther to intercede. For her to approach the king without invitation placed her in mortal danger, but Mordecai, pointing out her unique position and opportunity, said that perhaps she “had come to royal dignity for just such a time as this” (4:14). She did intercede and saved Mordecai and all her people.

• It appears that the king has a habit of granting extravagant requests without considering the consequences. The first time, he agreed to have all the Jews executed. The second time, he decided to rescind his decree (and that didn’t end well for Haman). From Esther’s viewpoint, we see the juxtaposition of whimsy or carelessness with “just such a time” fortuitousness. Ask: “How does your viewpoint affect the notion of ‘just such a time’?” Have you been on both sides—a windfall to you, but a disappointment to someone else, or vice versa? What happened? How did it feel?
• When “such a time” benefits us, we are more prone to assume that it’s God’s doing. How do you see God acting in the world? We may ask, “Why me?” when things are disappointing or contrary to our wishes, but do you ask, “Why me?” when something good happens?
• Haman plotted and schemed and manipulated, using his position to work out his deadly plans until it all fell apart, and he was hanged on the gallows he had specially built for Mordecai. We are taught that “God will out”; eventually God will make things right for the innocent. What is your experience with this? What is to be done while awaiting God’s justice? How do you deal with the suffering of the innocent?
• This passage from Esther demonstrates that lying, manipulation, and other ungodly behavior will come to a bad end. This is echoed in a passage from last week’s lesson, James 4:2-3: “You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly…”. By contrast, this passage from Esther, as well as James 5:16b: “The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective,” asserts that right intervention is godly and successful. What makes a prayer “wrong” or “right”? What makes it powerful and effective? How can you tell?
• In Esther 9:20-22, we read about how the Jews established the custom of celebration for deliverance from enemies (The Feast of Purim). In James 5:13-16, we see recommendations for dealing with suffering (and joy). In groups of two or three, brainstorm a list of occasions for celebration, then create your own short liturgy for these. Invite each group to share their creation.

Prayer (5-10 minutes) Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes) End with this prayer, followed by the Lord’s Prayer:

God of Grace and God of Power, you have formed us for this hour. We pray that we will embrace the challenges that you place before us, striving to do your will in all things. Amen.

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Diana Hynson is a retired elder, living in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. She has served in local churches, as an editor at The United Methodist Publishing House, and as Director of Learning and Teaching Ministries at Discipleship Ministries. She teaches Sunday school to a lively group of older adults who still enjoy learning.