Preliminary Events Leading To Protection Series

Introduction: This book shows the Provident Hand of Almighty God on behalf of His People. This is seen in the entire book. The Lord’s name is never mentioned in this book. This book is a good example of the saying “What man proposes, God disposes.” I mentioned in a previous message that these people were practical atheists.

I recalled a humorous story that happened in the life of Brother Roloff. He was preaching in this one place. A little boy was playing with his dog. Brother Roloff asked the child what kind of dog he had even though he could tell it was a mutt. The little boy told him that it was a German police dog. Brother Roloff asked the boy if he was sure. The little boy told him he was sure because he was undercover. That is like these people. They may have been God’s chosen people but they must have been undercover.

There are several people who I read after, who believe the key verse in this book is Esther 4:16.

“Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.”

But I think the key is found in Esther 4:14.

“For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Both are important but suppose Esther had not been there for such a time as this. The Jewish people would have spared in another way but this was the way My Father planned.

We are living in interesting times. We have seen one of the most interesting hurricane seasons in recent history. We see the agenda of the radical homosexual community trying to shape America in a different way. It is said that the homosexual community only makes us about 2% of the total population of the United States. Yet they want to dictate to us their values. I understand from my reading that the divorce rate is down. But that is not a good thing. More people are just living together without the benefit of marriage. Children who are just one set of parents are rarity. God has us here in this time frame for such a time as this.

In this first chapter, we see what happens when the party fails. Did any of the events that will occur catch the Lord off guard? NO! NO! NO! Ten thousand times NO! Has it occurred to you that nothing occurs to the Lord? Nothing catches the Lord off guard. He never says, “I did not see that coming”.

The LORD always plans ahead. You and I plan ahead for vacations, jobs that need to be done, schoolwork, and a host of other things. There would be a major move to wipe out the whole Jewish race. In these chapters we see God making advance plans to save His nation from extinction.

I. THE KING’S SHOW Vs. 1-9

“Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:) That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him: When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days. And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace; Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble. And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king. And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure. Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.”