the Jews rebelled against God by serving other gods and God punished them by having them carried into captivity. The Northern Kingdom of Israel was carried into captivity by Assyria followed by Southern Kingdom - Judah which was carried into captivity by the Babylonians.
This wasn’t the end of the story for Israel, because God had a plan of salvation for them. His intention was to bring them back from captivity and the book of Esther gives us a glimpse of God’s plan of salvation.
In fact, God had in mind a much larger plan of salvation than just bringing the Jews back to their homeland, you see, God planned all along that a savior would be born in Bethlehem to a Jewish family, and that that child would grow up to be the savior of the world. His name - JESUS.
In order for Jesus to be born to a Jewish family in Bethlehem, God had to release the Jews from their captivity and bring them back to their homeland.
The account of Esther begins in 483 B.C. some 37 years before Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls.
King Xerxes was throwing a big party that lasted 6 months.
His kingdom was expansive – ranging from India to Northern Africa, and he was entertaining all the VIPs from the 127 provinces that he ruled.
At the end of this opulent display of wealth, he had a final 7 day party. He then ordered queen vashti (beautiful) to come before him so he could show off her beauty. She had it all the looks the position but she refused
The King banished her from his presence forever
His palace officials were quick to offer a solution – a beauty contest. They would round up the most beautiful and desirable virgins in his kingdom and he could have his pick of a new Queen. Well, for some reason that idea really appealed to the king, so he told them to get on it right away.
Esther’s Hebrew name was Hadassa which means myrtal.
Her parents died when she was young and her cousin, a Jewish noble named Mordecai from the tribe of Benjamin raised her like his own daughter.
As the Miss Persia talent search progressed, Esther was selected as one of the contestants because of her beauty.
She was pampered, given special food and beauty treatments – she had a complete makeover.
When her time came to be considered by the King – he was so impressed with her that he made her the Queen.
Esther and mordecai were at one time the lowest class in society, poor, without a home hated but God hada plan
Esther chapter 3 :
3:1 King Xerxes honored Haman (magnificent) son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.
3 Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, "Why do you disobey the king’s command?" 4 Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.
5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. 6 Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.
8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, "There is a certain people dispersed and scattered among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom whose customs are different from those of all other people and who do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will put ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury for the men who carry out this business."
10 So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11 "Keep the money," the king said to Haman, "and do with the people as you please."
13 Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews-young and old, women and little children-on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. 14 A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day.
15 Spurred on by the king’s command, the couriers went out, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered.
Another pattern that emerges is the Devil’s desire to destroy the Jews. Why did Satan work so hard to destroy the Jews?
He tried to kill all the baby boys in Egypt – Why? Because he knew a type of a savior was going to be born – that savior (small “s”) was Moses. The Devil likes it when people are in bondage to him. The children of Israel were in bondage in Egypt and he loved it. It was a precursor to hell.
God had other plans, and he miraculously delivered Moses from sure death, and he went on to lead the Jews out of slavery.
Then Satan started working overtime to try to spoil God’s plans for the Jews. Satan was successful in tempting the first generation of Jews that escaped from Egypt, because none of them were allowed to enter the promised land because of their rebellion and lack of faith.
Again Satan tried to destroy the Jews when he led them into the rebellion of idolatry and witchcraft for which they were exiled to Assyria and Babylon.
And now, Satan hatched a plan to kill the entire population of Jews. We shouldn’t be surprised because Jesus said of Satan that in John 10:10, “that he comes only to steal and kill and destroy; But I have come that you may have life, and have it more abundantly.”
Satan knew that if he could wipe out the Jews, he would spoil God’s plan of salvation for the world.
How can that be? Look, no where in the book of Esther is Satan mentioned, but when you study the footprints you can plainly see his handiwork. By the way, Esther doesn’t mention God either, but as you will see God was definitely at work to bring salvation to His people.
Do you recall that King Herod ordered all the baby boys born in Bethlehem during the time of Christ’s birth to be killed. Who do you suppose put that idea in his head? Hmmmmm?
Satan thought he was finally successful the day they nailed Jesus to the Cross at Calvary. Oh, was he in for a surprise!
Historically, Satan has tried to eliminate both Christians and Jews. He was highly successful during the middle ages and more recently with the Jewish holicost in Nazi Germany.
Listen, Satan hates God’s people. He wants nothing better than to kill you, rob you and destroy your soul.
Satan has a plan for your life – his plan is to stop you from achieving God’s intended purpose for your life.
Don’t let him do it! Which leads us to our 3rd lesson from the Book of Esther: You have a choice.
You have a choice to make. A choice of faith which involves risk or a choice to do nothing (which also has a risk – the risk of loosing it all).
Lets read Esther chapter 4:
Est 4
4:1 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. 3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
4 When Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.
6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to urge her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.
9 Hathach went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 "All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king."
12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 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?"
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."
Mordecai was right, Esther had indeed been chosen for just this time. She would be the instrument through which God would bring salvation to his people.
It would require faith in action on her part. It would require risk on her part. People were going to die if she didn’t act.
Listen, you are just like Esther today. People are going to die if you don’t act!
If you don’t put your faith in action, if you don’t take a risk, people are going die a thousand deaths in an eternity called hell.
Queen Esther made a decision to lay her life on the line to save her people.
What are you willing to die for?
Are you willing to give everything up for Jesus? Really?
Just how big of a thing is it to ask you to give up some of your time to serve the Lord?
The American Protestant Church has been closing 2,500 churches a year for the last ten years. And it’s not just the mainline denominations, evangelical churches are loosing as well.
Est 5:1 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the entrance of the house.
3. Clothed with SCARLET, with BLOOD (Prov. 31:21).
4. Clothed with SILK and PURPLE, or royalty (Prov. 31:22)
5. RIGHTEOUSNESS and FAITHFULNESS (Isa. 11:5).
6. The beautiful garments of STRENGTH (Isa. 52:1-3).
7. The garment of PRAISE (Isa. 61:3).
8. Garments of SALVATION (Isa. 61:10).
9. Clothed upon with POWER from on high (Lk. 24:49).
10. The ARMOR of LIGHT (Rom. 13:11-14).
11. INCORRUPTION and IMMORTALITY (1 Cor. 15:53-54).
12. The NEW MAN, a new creation (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10-12).
13. LOVE, the bond of perfectness (Col. 3:14).
14. The WHOLE ARMOR of God (Eph. 6:10-18).
15. Clothed with HUMILITY (1 Pet. 5:5).
Est 5:1 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
Est 5:2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
Est 5:3 Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.
Est 5:4 And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.
Est 7:2 And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.
1Sa 2:1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
1Ch 16:10 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
1Ch 16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.
Psa 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
Psa 5:12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
Psa 9:1 To the chief Musician upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David. I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
Psa 9:2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.
Psa 9:3 When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.
Psa 32:9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
Psa 32:10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
Psa 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
Psa 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Psa 28:8 The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.
Psa 34:1 A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psa 34:2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
Psa 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Psa 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Psa 34:5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
Psa 34:6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
Psa 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
Psa 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Psa 34:9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
