HoHum:
A commander of an infantry unit in Vietnam was frustrated in his efforst to make a soldier out of one particular PFC. The young man lagged behind on patrols, pretended to be ill, and managed to spend most of his time at headquarters. One day he changed his ways. When someone questioned the commander why the difference, he replied: “Threats and punishment didn’t work, so I had to use the ultimate weapon. I wrote his mother.”
WBTU:
Today is Mother’s Day. Mothers possess a great measure of influence. Women possess influence in abundance- much more than most of them know. Famous saying: “The hand that rocks the cradles rules the world.”
Today I want to introduce us to a woman named Esther. Don’t know whether she had children. Bible doesn’t say. Some women have difficulties on mother’s day because of difficulties with motherhood. Talking more about womanhood than motherhood today.
Some despise Esther because of her beauty but may we see her in a better light. As a sportscaster might say: “She stepped up to the plate, swung the bat, and drove in the winning run.” Esther is an example for women to follow especially when the times are desperate.
Tell the story:
Esther’s time in history was played out in the ancient world of the Persian Empire, some 450 to 500 years before the birth of Christ. The world in Esther’s time was full of sensuality, power and intrigue. The story opens in Susa, one of the 3 capitol cities in a massive empire that spread from Pakistan in the east to Ethiopia in the west. Xerxes, by his Greek name, or Ahasuerus, by his Hebrew name, sat on the throne of this massive political and military machine. He has been called one of the most famous rulers of the ancient world. Yet, he has also been referred to as a boisterous man of emotional extremes, whose actions were often strange and contradictory. At the beginning of book of Esther we come across the end of a 6 month long display of royal riches and regal glory in Esther 1:5-7.
At the conclusion of this 180 day festival, Ahasuerus decided to throw a 7 day party. Of course, everybody who was anybody was there. On the last day of this 7 day party King Ahasuerus gave orders that beautiful Queen Vashti be summoned to the banquet hall for the purpose of exhibiting her sexy good looks to all the guests. According to chapter 1:9-12 the Queen had been off having her own party and she refused to come.
Some see here a bold woman who refused to be pushed around by her chauvinist husband. Maybe but the king’s word was law in that day. For the Queen to refuse this request meant that she would be dethroned, divorced, or beheaded- or perhaps all three. Why didn’t she come? Well, this is speculation but perhaps she was too drunk to walk, talk or care.
Vashti’s refusal put something of a damper on what would have been, up to that moment, a high time. The end of chapter 1 tells of us what happened to Queen Vashti. She is not Queen
With Vashti gone from the throne, who would now be Queen? The king’s advisers decided to have a contest in which the most beautiful women throughout the kingdom would be brought to Susa for review by Ahasuerus. According to chapter 2, Ahasuerus had at least 4 requirements for the new Queen: 1) be a virgin 2) be beautiful 3) demonstrate wisdom 4) she must have the ability to carry on an interesting conversation.
At this point this story takes an unexpected turn. A man by the name of Mordecai kickes around the radical idea of placing Esther, his adopted daughter, into this beauty contest. The idea was radical because Mordecai was a Jew whose ancestors had been deported from Jerusalem to Babylon more than a century earlier. As a Jew, Mordecai would not be favorable to the politics or lifestyle of the Persians. He would not likely subject his family members to the brutality and superficiality of that time any more than was absolutely necessary. Mordecai was neither a man hungry for power nor did he fear those who were in power. Yet, here he is dropping Esther off at the palace gate for a look by the king.
3 strange things take place in chapter 2: 1) Mordecai puts Esther in the beauty contest 2) Esther wins and becomes Queen 3) Mordecai gets wind of a plot to kill Ahasuerus, and tells Queen Esther. Esther then tells the king and gives Mordecai the credit.
Next, we read that Ahasuerus promotes a man named Haman to the number 2 position in the entire kingdom. We should notice two things about Haman: 1) he not only loved power but he loved to flaunt his power 2) Haman hated Jews, and he especially hated Jews who refused to acknowledge his position.
Read Esther 3:2, 5-6. Haman persuades Ahasuerus to give orders to eliminate the Jews. This plan was to be executed in a few months.
After this we see Jews in every province weeping and wailing at the news of Haman’s plan. Mordecai sends a copy of the edict to Esther, requesting that she implore the favor of the king and plead for the life of her people. Here is part of their conversation: Read Esther 4:11-14, NIV.
3 days later Esther goes to see the king in the inner court knowing that her life was on the line. The king extends to her that golden sceptre, she got a favorable reception. With this, Esther invites the king and Haman to a private banquet she had already prepared. Here is the invitation: Read Esther 5:8, NIV. Not only was her invitation accepted, but vs. 9 says that Haman left “happy and in high spirits.”
Haman’s gladness of heart was so interrupted as he returned to the palace. Rest of vs. 9: “But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai.” After telling his wife and friends about his hatred for Mordecai, they advised Haman to have a gallows built for the purpose of hanging Mordecai.
The climax of the story is soon reached. Read 6:1-12, then chapter 7.
What a powerful, heart moving and soul stirring story! This is not just for the sake of our entertainment.
Thesis: 5 truths from this that apply to women today
For instances:
1. When life is not fair, Excel anyway
Ester was an orphan raised by her uncle. Esther knew her parents and lost them.
Esther had to face the cruelty of living in a male dominated society. In other words, only men mattered. If Esther were living today, our soceity would not only encourage her to lose herself in pity, but also shower upon her every possible reason for failure. However, Esther made no excuses. She simply got things done with the resources that she had.
"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Proverbs 31:29, NIV.
2. Offer ourselves
Esther teaches women and all of us that the greatest gift many times we have to offer is our true selves. Esther never sought to make herself a carbon copy of the women of the times.
In chapter 2 Esther stood before the king with no pretense, no hidden agenda and no phoniness. Yes, she had physical beauty and she was well groomed. However, her truest beauty sprang from her heart. “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewellery and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3:3, 4, NIV.
JONNY DIAZ "More Beautiful You": There could never be a more beautiful you Don't buy the lies, disguises and hoops, they make you jump through You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do So there could never be a more beautiful you
The difficulty for many women today is not that they are insufficient, but that the world keeps telling them that they are insufficient.
3. Listen to sound advice
Today’s world wants women who are independent. Esther had beauty and brains and having the brains meant knowing when she needed help and where to get it. She learned the wisdom of listening to a godly adult growing up (Mordecai), and she did not forsake it as an adult.
“Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.” Proverbs 19:20
4. Be Courageous
Esther teaches women that women can be as courageous as men. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”” Deuteronomy 31:6, NIV.
However, do not seek high positions but only seek to do what God wants us to do. Barbara Bush said this: At the end of life, you’ll never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal. You will regret the times not spent with a husband, a friend, a child, or a parent.
5. Have faith
Faith in God is our greatest asset.
Some people criticize Esther because no mention of God. To whom did they fast and pray? "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.” Esther 4:16, NIV.
