Behind The Scenes Series

INTRODUCTION

OPENING SLIDE

• Today we begin a new four-week series from the book of Esther.

• This four-week series explores the story of Esther. Through understanding the book’s backstory and context, we can see that Esther is not a fairy tale but an understanding of how God can work behind the scenes with imperfect people in a hostile environment.

• The Book of Esther is set during the Persian Empire, under the reign of King (A HAS YOU AIR US) Ahasuerus, commonly identified with Xerxes I.

• The story revolves around a Jewish woman named Esther who becomes queen of Persia and uses her position to prevent the annihilation of her people.

• Esther, an orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, is chosen to be queen after the previous queen, (VASH TIE) Vashti, is deposed for defying the king.

• Meanwhile, the king's advisor, Haman, becomes enraged when Mordecai refuses to bow to him and convinces Ahasuerus to issue a decree to destroy all the Jews in the empire.

• Through her courage and strategic thinking, Esther reveals her Jewish identity to the king and exposes Haman's plan.

• As a result, Haman is executed, Mordecai is promoted, and a new decree allows the Jews to defend themselves.

• The deliverance of the Jews is celebrated annually during the festival of Purim, which commemorates the events of the book.

• The Book of Esther is notable for not explicitly mentioning God, yet themes of divine providence and justice are central to the narrative. It highlights courage, identity, and the importance of standing up for one’s people.

• The Book of Esther is unique in the Bible because God's name is never explicitly mentioned.

• Yet, His presence and power are undeniably evident throughout the entire narrative.

• It’s a story that perfectly illustrates how God works, often unseen, to accomplish His sovereign will.

• So, have you ever watched a play or a movie and been captivated by the story unfolding on screen?

• You see the actors, the dramatic events, and the climactic moments.

• But what you often don't see is the immense amount of work happening "behind the scenes"—the writers, directors, set designers, costume artists, lighting technicians, and countless others who make it all possible.

• Their work is crucial, yet largely unseen by the audience.

• In life, we often feel like we're just seeing the "front stage" events.

• We experience the daily routines, the challenges, the joys, and the uncertainties.

• Sometimes, it feels like chaos, or like things are happening purely by chance.

• But what if I told you that even in the seemingly random, the mundane, or the difficult moments of our lives, there is a Master Director, a Divine Hand, working tirelessly "behind the scenes"?

• Today, we'll look at the opening chapters of Esther to uncover three ways God works "behind the scenes" even when we are unaware.

Esther 1:1–3 NET 2nd ed.

1 The following events happened in the days of Ahasuerus. (I am referring to that Ahasuerus who used to rule over 127 provinces extending all the way from India to Ethiopia.)

2 In those days, as King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa the citadel,

3 in the third year of his reign he provided a banquet for all his officials and his servants. The army of Persia and Media was present, as well as the nobles and the officials of the provinces.

SERMON

MAIN POINT 1 SLIDE

I. God is at work in the unlikely places.

• When you think of God at work, you may usually think of God working in His church or, back in the Old Testament, through the nation of Israel.

• Maybe we picture God working in holy places?

• The book of Esther shows us that God works in the most unlikely places.

UNLIKELY PLACES SLIDE

• The setting of the book of Esther is anything but holy.

• The setting of the book takes place in the Persian Empire, the most powerful empire of its day.

• The king was Ahasuerus, or in the Greek translation, Xerxes.

• In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, he is called Artaxerxes.

HISTORICAL TIMELINE SLIDE

• He was born around 519 BC and reigned from 487 to 465 BC.

• If you ever watched the movie The 300, Ahasuerus (Xerxes I) is the same king that the story of Esther is a part of.

• The book of Esther begins in 483 BC (Esther 1:1), during the third year of Xerxes reign.

• Xerxes I led the massive Persian invasion of Greece and faced the legendary stand of the Spartan 300 at Thermopylae in 480 BC.

• Esther becomes queen in the 7th year of Xerxes reign (Esther 2:16).