Esther- "Such A Time As This."

Esther - Such a time as this!

Thesis: Esther became a hero because she responded to the call on her life to become an intermediary for the people of Israel.

Video Clip of Simon Birch in pastor’s office.

Point: “God made each of us special. He didn’t do that to show off, but because he has a special plan for each of us, whether we believe in him or not. We are his instruments when we allow him to move us the way he desires” (Belknap, 61).

Background on the book of Esther:

The most important words of the Bible are missing in this book, “The name of the Lord!” God is never mentioned in the text. He is inferred but never mentioned by name!

This historical narrative takes place during the reign of Ahasuerus (Xerxes I) 486-465 B.C. This specific event is believed to have occurred in his third year reign which was 483 B.C.This time frame fell between Ezra 6 & 7. This book is believed to have been written by Ezra or Mordecai for the Persian historical records. (One reason why God’s name is not mentioned but definitely inferred.)

The primary teaching of this book is the concept of God’s Divine Providence. The book also reveals how the Jewish Festival of Purim (lots) originated. Thus, Esther is considered the Purim scroll.

The Festival of Purim is considered a minor holiday. It is one of the most joyous festivals though in the Jewish year. Purim is one of only two festivals commemorating an event taking place in the post-biblical period and the only one that occurred during the Diaspora. This Jewish Festival even today teaches how God intervenes to avert a terrible calamity to the Jewish nation, it promotes the triumph of good over evil, and the victory of the Jewish people over their enemies. (Eckstein, 130).

This Festival was inaugurated by Queen Esther, and Mordecai and was to be celebrated annually on the 14th day of the 12th month, Adar (130).

The name of the book, "Esther" itself relates the message of this book. Her name means, "Hiddenness". Since the name of God does not appear in Esther and the very name Purim denotes "lots" which reflects the capriciousness of events to mere chance. The point becomes clear though, when you observe the book’s teachings. These coincidences of events form an inescapable pattern of Redemption and reveal that even though God’s name is not mentioned, He is at work in every action and event in Esther and in history. (Eckstein, 134).

Eckstein notes "Nachmanides, along with other Jewish thinkers, suggests that there are two basic categories of miracles - those which are supernatural and which transcend and defy the laws of nature, such as Purim, in which God’s redemptive actions take place through nature in the course of normal events." (134)

Therefore, Purim celebrates God’s miraculous hidden way of working through the natural process. This means through our 4 primary characters in Esther. It’s important to note that they all had their own wills and desires, and even though they were all doing their own thing, God was at work orchestrating a miracle for the Jewish nation through the events of life. Note what Morgan states, "They all went their own way, had their own will. They were left absolutely to work out their own purposes. Yet, while they were absolutely free to work out their own will, the sphere of the operations of will is God, and they could not escape Him." (276)

Key Text: Esther 4:14

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

Introduction: She was where God wanted her and she responded as directed by the Lord and the result was she saved 1,000’s of lives. Esther responded appropriately to her God given opportunity to rescue her condemned nation. Two questions pop into my mind as I read the story of Esther and discover how she was ready to be used by the Lord “For such a time as this!”:

Do you believe God has a specific purpose and plan for your life?

How can you prepare and be ready when God wants to use you?

T.S. Let’s now look at our four main characters in Esther to discover how God works all things out to His glory and how God has a plan for your life and what character traits you need to have to be used by God.

I. Our first character in this historical account was King Xerxe’s.

a. What would you say were Xerxes’ priorities? What did he value? (See, for instance, 1:4-15, 22:, 2:2; 6:1-3; 8:8.)