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.)
i. He valued money, riches, booze and sexual pleasure. He was self-centered, conceited, a people pleaser, easily lead astray, and very prideful.
ii. Consider how Xerxes dealt with women - Vashti, Esther, and the virgins of his kingdom. What good or bad examples did he set for men (especially husbands)? (See 1:10-12, 1:13:22, 2:1-4, 2:15-18, 5:1-8, 7:1-10, 8:1-8, 9:11-15.)
1. He definitely was not a Promise Keeper
a. The seven promises of a Promise Keeper.
i. He was not a man of God
ii. He was not a man with strong friendships that where healthy and Godly.
iii. He was not a man of integrity.
iv. He was not a man having high regard for his family.
v. He was not a man committed to his local church and the Body of Christ.
vi. He was not a man committed to loving his brothers in Christ.
vii. He was not a man committed to seeing the world saved and delivered from evil by spreading the Gospel.
iii. Queen Vashti a woman abused by a tyrant.
1. Note - He wanted her to parade around nude in front of everyone just wearing her crown.
2. This was a party where a bunch of drunken men wanted to show off their possessions.
a. Sad to say this still happens today!
b. There are those who treat their spouses as objects or possessions with no care or concern about their feelings or dignity.
c. He did regret what he did to her later. I imagine after he sobered up.
d. In our story we are told that he received pressure from other leaders to make the queen an example to all the women in the kingdoms because they wanted their wives to do what ever they wanted them to.
e. Being foolish and mislead by the other drunken leaders he disposes her.
i. I wish I had a dollar for every time someone has come to me and said I was drunk or high and “I did not realize what I was doing and it created a mess out of my life.”
3. She refused and paid the price but she kept her honor and dignity.
iv. He treated the Virgins as sex slaves.
1. Once he had slept with them they then lived in isolation from all others.
2. Family members could not even see them.
3. He used and abused women in my view.
v. How did he treat Esther? He treated her with respect and was good to her as far as we know. She had the ability to draw the good out of this man.
1. He even offered her half the Kingdom.
b. Yet God intervened in this man’s life through sleeplessness, for the Nation of Israel. Note Esther 6: 1-4:
6:1 That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. 2 It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 3 "What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?" the king asked. "Nothing has been done for him," his attendants answered. 4 The king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows he had erected for him.
i. King Xerxe’s is noted as being good to the people of Israel because of Mordecai’s influence and Mordecai is loved by the people.
T.S.- This man’s character caused him regret but he ended up with another chance with Esther a Godly women. I wonder if at the end of his life his ways changed. I will ask God one day. But lets now look at another main character in our text.
II. Our second character is Haman he is considered “the enemy of the Jews.”
a. His lineage paints a picture for us.
i. In Esther 3:1 he is described as an "Agagite". This means he was a descendant of King Agag the Amalekite.
ii. Do you remember the story of the Amalekites from Deut. 25:17 20:
17 Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. 18 When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and cut off all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God. 19 When the LORD your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land he is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!
1. The Amalekites were the ones who attacked the Israelites from behind as they left Egypt.
2. Do you also remember what God told Saul to do with King Agag and the Amalekites?I Samuel 15: 1-3
a. 15:1 Samuel said to Saul, "I am the one the LORD sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the LORD. 2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: `I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. 3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’"
b. Saul did not obey. Note I Sam. 15: 7-11:
7 Then Saul attacked the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, to the east of Egypt. 8 He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. 9 But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs--everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed. 10 Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel: 11 "I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions." Samuel was troubled, and he cried out to the LORD all that night.
c. Quick Note: Mordecai is one of Saul’s descendants. The battle was not won by Saul because he did not do as God said and his disobedience jeopardized Israel many years later.
d. Eckstein notes:Amalek and Haman became seen as the Jewish prototypes of pure, unadulterated evil, paradigms of the incarnation of radical and absolute evil in the world. In every generation, say the rabbis, there are Amalekites like Haman seeking to destroy the Jewish people of God. There are those who declare, "Come, let us wipe them out as a nation. Let the name of Israel be remembered no more!" (Ps. 83:4) God’s dominion over the world is incomplete so long as Amalek, symbolizing evil, exists. It is, therefore, humankind’s duty as co-partners with God to eradicate evil and to replace it with good.”
i. (Duet. 25:19) 19 When the LORD your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land he is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!
b. The character traits of Haman:
i. He in Esther 8:1 is called “The enemy of the Jews.”
ii. He is arrogant, boastful and prideful
iii. He is self-centered
iv. He is vindictive, and revengeful
v. He is a murderer
vi. He is a evil schemer, and liar
vii. He is a deceiver
viii. He is self-absorbed
ix. He is definitely not a servant leader
c. God’s intervention into this man’s life thwarted evil.
i. Haman’s plan, Esther 5: 9-14
ii. God’s plan carried out. Esther 6: 4-14; Esther 7
T.S.- Haman’s character traits lead to his death and destruction but Moredecai’s lead to blessing and honor. Lets explore.
III. Moredecai is our third character portrayed in the text and he is considered” God’s gatekeeper.”
a. Who was Modecai and what was his background: Mordecai was a Benjamite and a descendant of King Saul.
i. Esther was a cousin of Mordecai and Mordecai adopted her in her childhood.
ii. He would be her foster father.
b. Mordecai was a man who had the character traits to be used by God.
i. He was a man of integrity.
1. He refused to allow a conspiracy of the eunuchs 2:21-23 to overthrow Xerxes.
2. He would later be rewarded for this honorable action. Esther 6.
a. His reward came at the most opportune time for him.
ii. He was a caring individual.
1. He would check on Esther to see how she was doing.
2. He cared for her with a fatherly love. 2:11.
iii. Mordecai also was a man of wisdom.
1. He did not have Esther reveal her heritage 2:10.
2. He gave her sound advice at important times that always proved to be wise and correct.
3. He directed her and instructed her on how to win the king’s heart.
iv. He would not bow to the enemy of God’s people and forget God. 3:1-6.
1. Mordecai’s was faithful to God.
a. Mordecai’s faithfulness was honored by God.
b. He later is rewarded for his faithfulness, Esther 6, Xerxes made him Prime Minister.
v. He used his necessary resources to win a victory.
1. He knew when to pray and fast.
a. He knew he needed to call upon God for help.
b. This is what prayer and fasting does.
2. He went to Esther because he knew she could do something.
a. He was stern with her when he had to be and reminded her of Divine Providence. 4: 12-14
b. He let her know that even though they may die God would still deliver his people. He was a man who knew the promises of God and evil would never win out over God.
c. He reminded her that God was watching and if he had to he would use someone else and she would miss her divine opportunity to be used by God.
d. His persistence influenced Esther to risk for her people.
T.S.- Mordecai was a man after God’s own heart and his life influenced and affected Esther’s life. He was the Godly man behind her success in life.
IV. Our fourth main character in the text is Esther a woman placed in a position by God for a specific task.
a. Esther was placed in her position by the Lord to be the solution to the problem created by Haman.
b. Esther had the character traits that were imperative to become part of the solution to the impending disaster.
a. These are the traits of hero’s. These character traits reveal how to become part of the solution to problems.
i. She listened to others’ advice. Esther 2:10
1. She was beautiful and won favor with Xerxes because she listened to Godly advice.
2. Mordecai had instructed her on how to succeed at becoming queen and a great wife and she listened.
a. Martin Luther’s comment: "Let a wife make her husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave."
b. Ogden Nash stated: "To keep your marriage brimming with love in the loving cup, when you’re wrong, admit it. When you’re right, shut up."
c. She learned her character traits well from her stepfather.
d. She was instructed to be a woman of faith by Mordecai.
e. She willingly learned and listened and received the blessing of God.
ii. She knew how to handle the king but she did have the people praying and fasting for God’s intervention. 4: 15-17 - 5:1-7 - 7:1-10
1. More men and women need to learn this principle of praying and fasting before approaching their mate with big requests.
2. This is a lost discipline today in the church and we need to rediscover it.
a. Floyd stated, “When we fast and pray, God steps in and frees us from the perceived alienation with Him that has kept us immobilized, fearful, and disobedient for so long (66).
b. He also adds, “If we are going to come to Him, we must get on His ground, operate on His terms, and let God do what God wants to do.”
c. Floyd defines fasting as “The abstinence from food with a spiritual goal in mind or for a spiritual purpose” (3).
3. The Bible is full of individuals who knew the importance and power of prayer and fasting for God’s intervention.
a. Jehoshaphat the warrior king had this same character trait.
b. He too realized when it was time to fast and pray.
i. Floyd states, “Jehoshaphat knew that to fast before God was the best way to show his complete helplessness and humility before God. He learned something you and I must never forget: he renounced the natural to invoke the supernatural” (11).
ii. Esther and Mordecai’ knew that this action of the physical realm impacted the spiritual realm.
b. She was courageous in the midst of possible death.
i. She risked her position and her very life, interceded for her people and saved her people from being wiped out. (Barker, 102)
c. Her faithfulness to her people and to God won her the prize of being remembered forever as one of God’s hero’s. The Jewish nation still celebrate this great deliverance today in the Feast of Purim.
Conclusion: The book of Esther teaches us:
1. We may have to confront the enemies of God, but that God and the forces of good, will ultimately triumph over those of evil because God is at work in the background of life.
2. This book inspires us to have courage in the face of danger and adversity with the knowledge that God is working all things out to fulfill His plan and purpose
3. We also learn "not to be silent" in the presence of evil but confront it in God’s guidance to eliminate it.
4. We must be men and women who possess the Godly character traits of.
a. Faith in God – The belief that He is sovereign.
b. A teachable spirit
c. Determination to teach Godly principles to others
d. Integrity in all scenarios
e. Humility in our lives
f. The ability to hear the wisdom from God and live by it.
g. People who know when to pray and fast
h. Courage to stand against evil and trust God 100% for deliverance
Answers to the two questions first proposed:
Yes, God does have a specific plan and purpose for your life!
How to be ready to be used follow the examples of the teaching’s we discovered in Esther and follow the examples of Mordecai, and Esther. Who knows maybe you the next Vice President of the United States. Or the next First Lady in the White house!
