Queen Esther of Persia

Queen Ester saved the Jewish people from destruction and Jesus saves us from our sins and gives us eternal life.

Bible Text:

Esther chapters 1 to 10.

Age Group:

Preschool to Grade 2.

One day, King Ahasuerus of Persia gave a great feast, and after eating and drinking for several days he commanded his wife, Queen Vashti, to appear before him.  But, Queen Vashti refused to come to the king and he was very angry, and so the king started to look for a new queen.  At that time there lived in Persia a Jew named Mordecai, who had been taken captive with many other Jews and brought to Persia from Jerusalem.  Mordecai had adopted his young cousin Esther and was taking care of her as his own daughter.

Esther chosen as Queen:

Esther was one of the women chosen to go before the king, for she was lovely and gentle.  When King Ahasuerus saw Esther, he chose her to be his queen, not knowing she was a Jewess.  So Esther went to live in the palace while her uncle Mordecai kept watch outside the palace gates, to make sure that she was all right.   One day, while he was sitting at the gates, Mordecai overheard a plot to kill the king.   Mordecai told Esther of this plot and she then told the king and they saved the king's life.  For this, the king loved Esther even more.

Evil Haman's Plot:

King Ahasuerus made a man named Haman to be his second-in-command over all the kingdom of Persia, not knowing that Haman was wicked.  And when all men bowed down to Haman because they feared him, only Mordecai refused to bow down.  This angered Haman so he he planned to kill Mordecai and the Jewish people.  Haman yhen went to the king and told him that there were people living in the Persian kingdom who did not keep the king's laws.  By lying to the king, he received permission to destroy all the Jews.  And so he sent an order to all the governors, that all the Jews were to be killed on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month.

Esther Reveals the Plot:

When Mordecai learned of Haman's terrible order, in great sorrow he sent a message to Queen Esther begging her to ask the king to stop this evil order.  Esther, though fearing for her life, prayed for three days, and then went to King Ahasuerus.  She did not tell the king about this, but asked him to come to a dinner she wished to give for him and Haman.  On the next day Esther made a second dinner for the King and Haman.  During the dinner, the king said to her, "What is your request, Queen Esther? It will be granted to you even to half of my kingdom!"  Queen Esther replied, "If I have found favour in your sight, please save my life and that of my people."  The king was shocked and exclaimed, "Who is he that would destroy you?"  Esther answered, "This wicked man Haman!"

The People are Saved:

The king was furious and ordered Haman be hanged.  And so they hanged Haman on the very gallows he had prepared to kill Mordecai the Jew.  And then the king sent for Mordecai and gave him Haman's job as the king's second-in-command over all the kingdom of Persia.  And the king made a law cancelling Haman's evil order.  And where there had been mourning and weeping in the land, there was now great joy and celebrations, for Mordecai and Queen Esther had saved the lives of all the Jews in Persia.

And Queen Esther urged the Jews to keep two days every year to celebrate their being saved from being killed, and it is celebrated with today as the Festival of Purim.  And we celebrate Easter each year as the time when Jesus died and rose to life again.  He died to pay the price for all the bad things we have done, and if we ask Him into our hearts, He will give us everlasting life and a home in Heaven.  Can you imagine what joy and singing there will be in Heaven when we get there?

God bless!

Copyright © 2007 Sharon Children's Ministries